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[PATCH 11/13] pack-objects: thread the path-based compression

From
Derrick Stolee via GitGitGadget <gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
Date
Mar 10, 2025, 01:50 UTC
Message-ID
<cf990b90b34e96428d6b20e0a1334139fe8d3af4.1741571455.git.gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To
<pull.1819.git.1741571455.gitgitgadget@gmail.com>
From: Derrick Stolee <stolee@gmail.com>

Adapting the implementation of ll_find_deltas(), create a threaded version of the --path-walk compression step in 'git pack-objects'.

This involves adding a 'regions' member to the thread_params struct, allowing each thread to own a section of paths. We can simplify the way jobs are split because there is no value in extending the batch based on name-hash the way sections of the object entry array are attempted to be grouped. We re-use the 'list_size' and 'remaining' items for the purpose of borrowing work in progress from other "victim" threads when a thread has finished its batch of work more quickly.

Using the Git repository as a test repo, the p5313 performance test shows that the resulting size of the repo is the same, but the threaded implementation gives gains of varying degrees depending on the number of objects being packed. (This was tested on a 16-core machine.)

Test HEAD~1 HEAD --------------------------------------------------- 5313.20: big pack 2.38 1.99 -16.4% 5313.21: big pack size 16.1M 16.0M -0.2% 5313.24: repack 107.32 45.41 -57.7% 5313.25: repack size 213.3M 213.2M -0.0%

(Test output is formatted to better fit in message.)

This ~60% reduction in 'git repack --path-walk' time is typical across all repos I used for testing. What is interesting is to compare when the overall time improves enough to outperform the --name-hash-version=1 case. These time improvements correlate with repositories with data shapes that significantly improve their data size as well. The --path-walk feature frequently takes longer than --name-hash-verison=2, trading some extrac computation for some additional compression. The natural place where this additional computation comes from is the two compression passes that --path-walk takes, though the first pass is naturally faster due to the path boundaries avoiding a number of delta compression attempts.

For example, the microsoft/fluentui repo has significant size reduction from --name-hash-version=1 to --name-hash-version=2 followed by further improvements with --path-walk. The threaded computation makes --path-walk more competitive in time compared to --name-hash-version=2, though still ~31% more expensive in that metric.

Repack Method Pack Size Time ------------------------------------------ Hash v1 439.4M 87.24s Hash v2 161.7M 21.51s Path Walk (Before) 142.5M 81.29s Path Walk (After) 142.5M 28.16s

Similar results hold for the Git repository:

Repack Method Pack Size Time ------------------------------------------ Hash v1 248.8M 30.44s Hash v2 249.0M 30.15s Path Walk (Before) 213.2M 142.50s Path Walk (After) 213.3M 45.41s

...as well as the nodejs/node repository:

Repack Method Pack Size Time ------------------------------------------ Hash v1 739.9M 71.18s Hash v2 764.6M 67.82s Path Walk (Before) 698.1M 208.10s Path Walk (After) 698.0M 75.10s

Finally, the Linux kernel repository is a good test for this repacking time change, even though the space savings is more subtle:

Repack Method Pack Size Time ------------------------------------------ Hash v1 2.5G 554.41s Hash v2 2.5G 549.62s Path Walk (before) 2.2G 1562.36s Path Walk (before) 2.2G 559.00s

Signed-off-by: Derrick Stolee <stolee@gmail.com>
---
 builtin/pack-objects.c | 163 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 1 file changed, 161 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
diff --git a/builtin/pack-objects.c b/builtin/pack-objects.c
index c5a3129c88e..e8b1b057ec3 100644
--- a/builtin/pack-objects.c
+++ b/builtin/pack-objects.c
@@ -2964,6 +2964,7 @@ static void find_deltas(struct object_entry **list, unsigned *list_size,
 struct thread_params {
 	pthread_t thread;
 	struct object_entry **list;
+	struct packing_region *regions;
 	unsigned list_size;
 	unsigned remaining;
 	int window;
@@ -3278,6 +3279,164 @@ static void find_deltas_by_region(struct object_entry *list,
 	stop_progress(&progress_state);
 }
 
+static void *threaded_find_deltas_by_path(void *arg)
+{
+	struct thread_params *me = arg;
+
+	progress_lock();
+	while (me->remaining) {
+		while (me->remaining) {
+			progress_unlock();
+			find_deltas_for_region(to_pack.objects,
+					       me->regions,
+					       me->processed);
+			progress_lock();
+			me->remaining--;
+			me->regions++;
+		}
+
+		me->working = 0;
+		pthread_cond_signal(&progress_cond);
+		progress_unlock();
+
+		/*
+		 * We must not set ->data_ready before we wait on the
+		 * condition because the main thread may have set it to 1
+		 * before we get here. In order to be sure that new
+		 * work is available if we see 1 in ->data_ready, it
+		 * was initialized to 0 before this thread was spawned
+		 * and we reset it to 0 right away.
+		 */
+		pthread_mutex_lock(&me->mutex);
+		while (!me->data_ready)
+			pthread_cond_wait(&me->cond, &me->mutex);
+		me->data_ready = 0;
+		pthread_mutex_unlock(&me->mutex);
+
+		progress_lock();
+	}
+	progress_unlock();
+	/* leave ->working 1 so that this doesn't get more work assigned */
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static void ll_find_deltas_by_region(struct object_entry *list,
+				     struct packing_region *regions,
+				     uint32_t start, uint32_t nr)
+{
+	struct thread_params *p;
+	int i, ret, active_threads = 0;
+	unsigned int processed = 0;
+	uint32_t progress_nr;
+	init_threaded_search();
+
+	if (!nr)
+		return;
+
+	progress_nr =  regions[nr - 1].start + regions[nr - 1].nr;
+	if (delta_search_threads <= 1) {
+		find_deltas_by_region(list, regions, start, nr);
+		cleanup_threaded_search();
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if (progress > pack_to_stdout)
+		fprintf_ln(stderr, _("Path-based delta compression using up to %d threads"),
+			   delta_search_threads);
+	CALLOC_ARRAY(p, delta_search_threads);
+
+	if (progress)
+		progress_state = start_progress(the_repository,
+						_("Compressing objects by path"),
+						progress_nr);
+	/* Partition the work amongst work threads. */
+	for (i = 0; i < delta_search_threads; i++) {
+		unsigned sub_size = nr / (delta_search_threads - i);
+
+		p[i].window = window;
+		p[i].depth = depth;
+		p[i].processed = &processed;
+		p[i].working = 1;
+		p[i].data_ready = 0;
+
+		p[i].regions = regions;
+		p[i].list_size = sub_size;
+		p[i].remaining = sub_size;
+
+		regions += sub_size;
+		nr -= sub_size;
+	}
+
+	/* Start work threads. */
+	for (i = 0; i < delta_search_threads; i++) {
+		if (!p[i].list_size)
+			continue;
+		pthread_mutex_init(&p[i].mutex, NULL);
+		pthread_cond_init(&p[i].cond, NULL);
+		ret = pthread_create(&p[i].thread, NULL,
+				     threaded_find_deltas_by_path, &p[i]);
+		if (ret)
+			die(_("unable to create thread: %s"), strerror(ret));
+		active_threads++;
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * Now let's wait for work completion.  Each time a thread is done
+	 * with its work, we steal half of the remaining work from the
+	 * thread with the largest number of unprocessed objects and give
+	 * it to that newly idle thread.  This ensure good load balancing
+	 * until the remaining object list segments are simply too short
+	 * to be worth splitting anymore.
+	 */
+	while (active_threads) {
+		struct thread_params *target = NULL;
+		struct thread_params *victim = NULL;
+		unsigned sub_size = 0;
+
+		progress_lock();
+		for (;;) {
+			for (i = 0; !target && i < delta_search_threads; i++)
+				if (!p[i].working)
+					target = &p[i];
+			if (target)
+				break;
+			pthread_cond_wait(&progress_cond, &progress_mutex);
+		}
+
+		for (i = 0; i < delta_search_threads; i++)
+			if (p[i].remaining > 2*window &&
+			    (!victim || victim->remaining < p[i].remaining))
+				victim = &p[i];
+		if (victim) {
+			sub_size = victim->remaining / 2;
+			target->regions = victim->regions + victim->remaining - sub_size;
+			victim->list_size -= sub_size;
+			victim->remaining -= sub_size;
+		}
+		target->list_size = sub_size;
+		target->remaining = sub_size;
+		target->working = 1;
+		progress_unlock();
+
+		pthread_mutex_lock(&target->mutex);
+		target->data_ready = 1;
+		pthread_cond_signal(&target->cond);
+		pthread_mutex_unlock(&target->mutex);
+
+		if (!sub_size) {
+			pthread_join(target->thread, NULL);
+			pthread_cond_destroy(&target->cond);
+			pthread_mutex_destroy(&target->mutex);
+			active_threads--;
+		}
+	}
+	cleanup_threaded_search();
+	free(p);
+
+	display_progress(progress_state, progress_nr);
+	stop_progress(&progress_state);
+}
+
 static void prepare_pack(int window, int depth)
 {
 	struct object_entry **delta_list;
@@ -3303,8 +3462,8 @@ static void prepare_pack(int window, int depth)
 		return;
 
 	if (path_walk)
-		find_deltas_by_region(to_pack.objects, to_pack.regions,
-				      0, to_pack.nr_regions);
+		ll_find_deltas_by_region(to_pack.objects, to_pack.regions,
+					 0, to_pack.nr_regions);
 
 	ALLOC_ARRAY(delta_list, to_pack.nr_objects);
 	nr_deltas = n = 0;
-- 
gitgitgadget
Previous: Derrick StoleeNext: Derrick Stolee via GitGitGadget
Message 19 of 75 in “PATH WALK II: Add --path-walk option to 'git pack-objects'”
  1. 00/13 PATH WALK II: Add --path-walk option to 'git pack-objects'Derrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 10, 2025
  2. 01/13 pack-objects: extract should_attempt_deltas()Derrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 10, 2025
  3. Taylor BlauMar 12, 2025
  4. Derrick StoleeMar 20, 2025
  5. 03/13 pack-objects: update usage to match docsDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 10, 2025
  6. Taylor BlauMar 12, 2025
  7. 02/13 pack-objects: add --path-walk optionDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 10, 2025
  8. Taylor BlauMar 12, 2025
  9. Derrick StoleeMar 20, 2025
  10. 04/13 p5313: add performance tests for --path-walkDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 10, 2025
  11. 05/13 pack-objects: introduce GIT_TEST_PACK_PATH_WALKDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 10, 2025
  12. 06/13 t5538: add tests to confirm deltas in shallow pushesDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 10, 2025
  13. 07/13 repack: add --path-walk optionDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 10, 2025
  14. 08/13 pack-objects: enable --path-walk via configDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 10, 2025
  15. 09/13 scalar: enable path-walk during push via configDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 10, 2025
  16. 10/13 pack-objects: refactor path-walk delta phaseDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 10, 2025
  17. Taylor BlauMar 12, 2025
  18. Derrick StoleeMar 20, 2025
  19. 11/13 pack-objects: thread the path-based compressionDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 10, 2025
  20. 12/13 path-walk: add new 'edge_aggressive' optionDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 10, 2025
  21. 13/13 pack-objects: allow --shallow and --path-walkDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 10, 2025
  22. Junio C HamanoMar 10, 2025
  23. Taylor BlauMar 12, 2025
  24. Derrick StoleeMar 20, 2025
  25. 00/13 PATH WALK II: Add --path-walk option to 'git pack-objects'Derrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 24, 2025
  26. 01/13 pack-objects: extract should_attempt_deltas()Derrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 24, 2025
  27. Taylor BlauMay 2, 2025
  28. 02/13 pack-objects: add --path-walk optionDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 24, 2025
  29. Taylor BlauMay 2, 2025
  30. Derrick StoleeMay 6, 2025
  31. Derrick StoleeMay 16, 2025
  32. 03/13 pack-objects: update usage to match docsDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 24, 2025
  33. 04/13 p5313: add performance tests for --path-walkDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 24, 2025
  34. Taylor BlauMay 2, 2025
  35. 06/13 t5538: add tests to confirm deltas in shallow pushesDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 24, 2025
  36. Taylor BlauMay 2, 2025
  37. Derrick StoleeMay 16, 2025
  38. 05/13 pack-objects: introduce GIT_TEST_PACK_PATH_WALKDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 24, 2025
  39. Taylor BlauMay 2, 2025
  40. Derrick StoleeMay 6, 2025
  41. 07/13 repack: add --path-walk optionDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 24, 2025
  42. Taylor BlauMay 2, 2025
  43. 08/13 pack-objects: enable --path-walk via configDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 24, 2025
  44. Taylor BlauMay 2, 2025
  45. Derrick StoleeMay 6, 2025
  46. Derrick StoleeMay 16, 2025
  47. 09/13 scalar: enable path-walk during push via configDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 24, 2025
  48. Taylor BlauMay 7, 2025
  49. 10/13 pack-objects: refactor path-walk delta phaseDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 24, 2025
  50. Taylor BlauMay 7, 2025
  51. Derrick StoleeMay 16, 2025
  52. Taylor BlauMay 29, 2025
  53. 12/13 path-walk: add new 'edge_aggressive' optionDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 24, 2025
  54. 11/13 pack-objects: thread the path-based compressionDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 24, 2025
  55. Taylor BlauMay 7, 2025
  56. 13/13 pack-objects: allow --shallow and --path-walkDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, Mar 24, 2025
  57. Junio C HamanoMay 2, 2025
  58. Taylor BlauMay 2, 2025
  59. Taylor BlauMay 2, 2025
  60. Taylor BlauMay 7, 2025
  61. 00/13 PATH WALK II: Add --path-walk option to 'git pack-objects'Derrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, May 16, 2025
  62. 01/13 pack-objects: extract should_attempt_deltas()Derrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, May 16, 2025
  63. 02/13 pack-objects: add --path-walk optionDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, May 16, 2025
  64. 03/13 pack-objects: update usage to match docsDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, May 16, 2025
  65. 04/13 p5313: add performance tests for --path-walkDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, May 16, 2025
  66. 05/13 pack-objects: introduce GIT_TEST_PACK_PATH_WALKDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, May 16, 2025
  67. 06/13 t5538: add tests to confirm deltas in shallow pushesDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, May 16, 2025
  68. 07/13 repack: add --path-walk optionDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, May 16, 2025
  69. 08/13 pack-objects: enable --path-walk via configDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, May 16, 2025
  70. 09/13 scalar: enable path-walk during push via configDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, May 16, 2025
  71. 10/13 pack-objects: refactor path-walk delta phaseDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, May 16, 2025
  72. 11/13 pack-objects: thread the path-based compressionDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, May 16, 2025
  73. 12/13 path-walk: add new 'edge_aggressive' optionDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, May 16, 2025
  74. 13/13 pack-objects: allow --shallow and --path-walkDerrick Stolee via GitGitGadget, May 16, 2025
  75. Taylor BlauMay 29, 2025

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