Re: Kernel for Spectre and Meltdown

[Michael Lange <klappnase@freenet.de>]

On Mon, 29 Jan 2018 19:29:19 +0100
"Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> Michael Lange wrote:
> > compiler that is "retpoline-aware" (as the
> > "checker"-script calls it, whatever that means)
> 
> The term was coined by Google engineers
> 
>   https://support.google.com/faqs/answer/7625886
>   "The name “retpoline” is a portmanteau of “return” and “trampoline.”
>    It is a trampoline construct constructed using return operations
> which also figuratively ensures that any associated speculative
> execution will “bounce” endlessly.  
> 
>    (If it brings you any amusement: imagine speculative execution as an
>     overly energetic 7-year old that we must now build a warehouse of
>     trampolines around.)"

Thanks, very well explained for technically limited people like me.
And this also explains why they made the common name of their fix sound
so similar to "Ritalin" :)

Regards

Michael


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