Re: Xorg process priority relative to applications causing apparent desktop lockup

[Nicolas George <george@nsup.org>]

Glen Wetzel (HE12025-07-24):
> __Problem description:_
> I have noticed that when desktop screen applications peg cpu usage, such as
> by having many browser tabs open or a bug in a web page's javascript, the
> windowing system X appears to freeze so that the offending application
> cannot be closed by the user.  The mouse and keyboard are non-responsive
> requiring a power cycle reboot.
> 
> _To replicate:_
> Open many tabs on your browser to heavy javascript pages or other high
> screen usage sites such as youtube.com.  System will become non-responsive. 
> Mouse with lag and then freezes.  Keyboard and mouse become useless.

Does your problem happen also when the programs eating the CPU are not
graphical? You can test with this:

for i in $(seq 50) ; do openssl speed & done

Also, I do not observe the issue you mention. I suspect a problem with
your video drivers is more likely.

> It seems also desirable that some screen apps have high process priority
> than other apps.

Linux has since a long time heuristics to adjust the priority of apps
depending on their use (interactive or batch) and their interactions;
niceness is only one parameter in these heuristics.

Regards,

-- 
  Nicolas George