Hello, Roman. > > > > So, does it mean that this function always returns two following elements? > > Can't it return a single element using the return statement instead? > > The second one can be calculated as ->next? > > > Yes, they follow each other and if you return "prev" for example you can easily > refer to next. But you will need to access "next" anyway. I would rather keep > implementation, because it strictly clear what it return when you look at this > function. > > But if there are some objections and we can simplify, let's discuss :) > > > > + } > > > + } else { > > > + /* > > > + * The red-black tree where we try to find VA neighbors > > > + * before merging or inserting is empty, i.e. it means > > > + * there is no free vmap space. Normally it does not > > > + * happen but we handle this case anyway. > > > + */ > > > + *prev = *next = &free_vmap_area_list; > > > > And for example, return NULL in this case. > > > Then we will need to check in the __merge_or_add_vmap_area() that > next/prev are not NULL and not head. But i do not like current implementation > as well, since it is hardcoded to specific list head. > Like you said, it is more clever to return only one element, for example next. After that just simply access to the previous one. If nothing is found return NULL. static inline struct list_head * __get_va_next_sibling(struct rb_node *parent, struct rb_node **link) { struct list_head *list; if (likely(parent)) { list = &rb_entry(parent, struct vmap_area, rb_node)->list; return (&parent->rb_right == link ? list->next:list); } /* * The red-black tree where we try to find VA neighbors * before merging or inserting is empty, i.e. it means * there is no free vmap space. Normally it does not * happen but we handle this case anyway. */ return NULL; } ... static inline void __merge_or_add_vmap_area(struct vmap_area *va, struct rb_root *root, struct list_head *head) { ... /* * Get next node of VA to check if merging can be done. */ next = __get_va_next_sibling(parent, link); if (unlikely(next == NULL)) goto insert; ... } Agree with your point and comment. Thanks! -- Vlad Rezki