STL question...

[Eddie Kohler]

Hi Thomas,

The reason that we don't use the STL is that the STL doesn't really fit
inside the Linux kernel. That's all!

We wanted to use only libraries we controlled, so that we could implement
them in a way compatible with the kernel -- using the kernel memory
allocator and so forth. We've tried halfheartedly to be STL-compatible as
far as method names and behavior, but rely only on portions of the standard
C library in our code -- namely, those portions implemented in the Linux
kernel.

If there's an egregious STL incompatibility, that's a bug we'd like to hear
about. Otherwise, it's better to keep your elements using our libraries
rather than the STL; or, alternatively, you can say
ELEMENT_REQUIRES(userlevel) and not let your elements go into the kernel.

It would be interesting to see an STL-backed implementation of our
libraries. Of course, it would only be useful at user level.

Thanks very much for the flattery! And let us know if you have other
questions, comments, or patches.

love,
ed