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Explore the practical challenges of implementing Link Time Optimization (LTO) in production Linux kernels through this 23-minute conference talk from the Linux Plumbers Conference. Learn about Meta's multi-year experience with CONFIG_LTO_CLANG_THIN in production environments, examining both the performance benefits and significant operational hurdles encountered. Discover how LTO's selective inlining behavior creates confusion for kernel tracing users, as functions may be inlined at some call sites but not others, leading to missed tracing events that users may not realize they're losing. Understand the complexities LTO introduces to kernel live patching workflows, particularly with the kpatch-build toolchain, where LLVM IR object files complicate binary diff operations and patch correctness verification. Gain insights into the technical trade-offs between performance optimization and debugging/maintenance capabilities, and participate in community discussions about potential solutions to these infrastructure challenges facing modern kernel development.
