[LAU] denormals, cpu flags, and "minor" apps over-reaching

[Arnold Krille]

On Tuesday 16 March 2010 14:38:08 Paul Davis wrote:
> On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 11:41 PM, cal <cal at graggrag.com> wrote:
> > Long ago I added some code to yoshimi to deal with denormals (from Jens M
> > Andreasen, LAD
> > <http://lists.linuxaudio.org/pipermail/linux-audio-dev/2009-August/024707
> >.html>).
> >
> > Now I'm wondering if it's actually cool for a synth app or plugin to
> > arrogantly go about changing cpu flags underneath other running apps, eg
> > ardour. I'd like to hear the thoughts of the wise on whether that's a
> > very bad thing for a "minor" app to be doing.
> 
> the OS will restore CPU flags on a context switch. so, doing this in a
> plugin is an absolute no-no; doing it in a separate application is
> totally fine. i think.

Additionally I think this should be the task of the host, not the plugin if 
CPU-flags are concerned. There might be reasons why the host has already 
circumvented the denormals by other ways.

Arnold
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 197 bytes
Desc: This is a digitally signed message part.
Url : http://lists.linuxaudio.org/pipermail/linux-audio-user/attachments/20100316/29e2e075/attachment.pgp