[PATCH 7.2 0130/1815] perf evlist: Add reference count checking

[Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@linuxfoundation.org>]

7.2-stable review patch.  If anyone has any objections, please let me know.

------------------

From: Ian Rogers <irogers@google.com>

[ Upstream commit ab24487aaa42e7ca18580f6b4336615156d49452 ]

Now the evlist is reference counted, add reference count checking so
that gets and puts are paired and easy to debug. Reference count
checking is documented here:
https://perfwiki.github.io/main/reference-count-checking/

This large patch is adding accessors to evlist functions and switching
to their use. There was some minor renaming as evlist__mmap is now an
accessor to the mmap variable, and the original evlist__mmap is
renamed to evlist__do_mmap.

Signed-off-by: Ian Rogers <irogers@google.com>
Cc: Adrian Hunter <adrian.hunter@intel.com>
Cc: Alice Rogers <alice.mei.rogers@gmail.com>
Cc: Dapeng Mi <dapeng1.mi@linux.intel.com>
Cc: Ingo Molnar <mingo@redhat.com>
Cc: James Clark <james.clark@linaro.org>
Cc: Leo Yan <leo.yan@linux.dev>
Cc: Namhyung Kim <namhyung@kernel.org>
Cc: Peter Zijlstra <peterz@infradead.org>
Cc: Thomas Richter <tmricht@linux.ibm.com>
Signed-off-by: Arnaldo Carvalho de Melo <acme@redhat.com>
Signed-off-by: Namhyung Kim <namhyung@kernel.org>
Stable-dep-of: e6ad1fb3458f ("perf parse-events: Restrict core PMU bypass to --cputype option")
Signed-off-by: Sasha Levin <sashal@kernel.org>
---
 tools/perf/arch/arm/util/cs-etm.c           |  10 +-
 tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/arm-spe.c        |   8 +-
 tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/hisi-ptt.c       |   2 +-
 tools/perf/arch/x86/tests/hybrid.c          |  20 +-
 tools/perf/arch/x86/util/auxtrace.c         |   2 +-
 tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-bts.c        |   6 +-
 tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-pt.c         |   9 +-
 tools/perf/arch/x86/util/iostat.c           |  12 +-
 tools/perf/bench/evlist-open-close.c        |  11 +-
 tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c               |   7 +-
 tools/perf/builtin-ftrace.c                 |   6 +-
 tools/perf/builtin-inject.c                 |   4 +-
 tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c                    |  10 +-
 tools/perf/builtin-kwork.c                  |   8 +-
 tools/perf/builtin-lock.c                   |   2 +-
 tools/perf/builtin-record.c                 |  91 ++---
 tools/perf/builtin-report.c                 |   6 +-
 tools/perf/builtin-sched.c                  |  24 +-
 tools/perf/builtin-script.c                 |  13 +-
 tools/perf/builtin-stat.c                   |  73 ++--
 tools/perf/builtin-top.c                    |  52 +--
 tools/perf/builtin-trace.c                  |  22 +-
 tools/perf/tests/backward-ring-buffer.c     |   8 +-
 tools/perf/tests/code-reading.c             |  10 +-
 tools/perf/tests/event-times.c              |   2 +-
 tools/perf/tests/event_update.c             |   2 +-
 tools/perf/tests/expand-cgroup.c            |   4 +-
 tools/perf/tests/hwmon_pmu.c                |   5 +-
 tools/perf/tests/keep-tracking.c            |   8 +-
 tools/perf/tests/mmap-basic.c               |   6 +-
 tools/perf/tests/openat-syscall-tp-fields.c |   8 +-
 tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c             | 135 +++----
 tools/perf/tests/parse-metric.c             |   4 +-
 tools/perf/tests/perf-record.c              |  22 +-
 tools/perf/tests/perf-time-to-tsc.c         |  10 +-
 tools/perf/tests/pfm.c                      |   8 +-
 tools/perf/tests/pmu-events.c               |   5 +-
 tools/perf/tests/sample-parsing.c           |  45 +--
 tools/perf/tests/sw-clock.c                 |   6 +-
 tools/perf/tests/switch-tracking.c          |   9 +-
 tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c                |   6 +-
 tools/perf/tests/time-utils-test.c          |  14 +-
 tools/perf/tests/tool_pmu.c                 |   5 +-
 tools/perf/tests/topology.c                 |   2 +-
 tools/perf/tests/uncore-event-sorting.c     |   4 +-
 tools/perf/ui/browsers/annotate.c           |   2 +-
 tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c              |  22 +-
 tools/perf/util/amd-sample-raw.c            |   2 +-
 tools/perf/util/annotate-data.c             |   2 +-
 tools/perf/util/annotate.c                  |  10 +-
 tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c                  |  14 +-
 tools/perf/util/block-info.c                |   4 +-
 tools/perf/util/bpf_counter.c               |   2 +-
 tools/perf/util/bpf_counter_cgroup.c        |  12 +-
 tools/perf/util/bpf_ftrace.c                |   9 +-
 tools/perf/util/bpf_lock_contention.c       |  12 +-
 tools/perf/util/bpf_off_cpu.c               |  14 +-
 tools/perf/util/cgroup.c                    |  20 +-
 tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c                    |   5 +-
 tools/perf/util/evlist.c                    | 395 ++++++++++++--------
 tools/perf/util/evlist.h                    | 251 ++++++++++++-
 tools/perf/util/evsel.c                     |   6 +-
 tools/perf/util/evsel.h                     |   4 +-
 tools/perf/util/header.c                    |  47 +--
 tools/perf/util/header.h                    |   2 +-
 tools/perf/util/intel-tpebs.c               |   7 +-
 tools/perf/util/iostat.c                    |   2 +-
 tools/perf/util/iostat.h                    |   2 +-
 tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c               |   6 +-
 tools/perf/util/parse-events.c              |   6 +-
 tools/perf/util/pfm.c                       |   2 +-
 tools/perf/util/python.c                    |  90 +++--
 tools/perf/util/record.c                    |   9 +-
 tools/perf/util/sample-raw.c                |   4 +-
 tools/perf/util/session.c                   |  43 ++-
 tools/perf/util/sideband_evlist.c           |  24 +-
 tools/perf/util/sort.c                      |   2 +-
 tools/perf/util/stat-display.c              |   6 +-
 tools/perf/util/stat-shadow.c               |   4 +-
 tools/perf/util/stat.c                      |   4 +-
 tools/perf/util/stream.c                    |   4 +-
 tools/perf/util/synthetic-events.c          |  11 +-
 tools/perf/util/time-utils.c                |  12 +-
 tools/perf/util/top.c                       |   4 +-
 84 files changed, 1085 insertions(+), 718 deletions(-)

diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/cs-etm.c b/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/cs-etm.c
index cdf8e3e606067..d2861d66a6612 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/cs-etm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/cs-etm.c
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ static int cs_etm_validate_config(struct perf_pmu *cs_etm_pmu,
 {
 	unsigned int idx;
 	int err = 0;
-	struct perf_cpu_map *event_cpus = evsel->evlist->core.user_requested_cpus;
+	struct perf_cpu_map *event_cpus = evlist__core(evsel->evlist)->user_requested_cpus;
 	struct perf_cpu_map *intersect_cpus;
 	struct perf_cpu cpu;
 
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ static int cs_etm_recording_options(struct auxtrace_record *itr,
 				container_of(itr, struct cs_etm_recording, itr);
 	struct perf_pmu *cs_etm_pmu = ptr->cs_etm_pmu;
 	struct evsel *evsel, *cs_etm_evsel = NULL;
-	struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = evlist->core.user_requested_cpus;
+	struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus;
 	bool privileged = perf_event_paranoid_check(-1);
 	int err = 0;
 
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ cs_etm_info_priv_size(struct auxtrace_record *itr,
 {
 	unsigned int idx;
 	int etmv3 = 0, etmv4 = 0, ete = 0;
-	struct perf_cpu_map *event_cpus = evlist->core.user_requested_cpus;
+	struct perf_cpu_map *event_cpus = evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus;
 	struct perf_cpu_map *intersect_cpus;
 	struct perf_cpu cpu;
 	struct perf_pmu *cs_etm_pmu = cs_etm_get_pmu(itr);
@@ -790,7 +790,7 @@ static int cs_etm_info_fill(struct auxtrace_record *itr,
 	u32 offset;
 	u64 nr_cpu, type;
 	struct perf_cpu_map *cpu_map;
-	struct perf_cpu_map *event_cpus = session->evlist->core.user_requested_cpus;
+	struct perf_cpu_map *event_cpus = evlist__core(session->evlist)->user_requested_cpus;
 	struct perf_cpu_map *online_cpus = perf_cpu_map__new_online_cpus();
 	struct cs_etm_recording *ptr =
 			container_of(itr, struct cs_etm_recording, itr);
@@ -800,7 +800,7 @@ static int cs_etm_info_fill(struct auxtrace_record *itr,
 	if (priv_size != cs_etm_info_priv_size(itr, session->evlist))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	if (!session->evlist->core.nr_mmaps)
+	if (!evlist__core(session->evlist)->nr_mmaps)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	/* If the cpu_map has the "any" CPU all online CPUs are involved */
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/arm-spe.c b/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/arm-spe.c
index 91bb28cad79a5..1ba803a8d9b45 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/arm-spe.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/arm-spe.c
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ static bool arm_spe_is_set_freq(struct evsel *evsel)
  */
 static struct perf_cpu_map *arm_spe_find_cpus(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	struct perf_cpu_map *event_cpus = evlist->core.user_requested_cpus;
+	struct perf_cpu_map *event_cpus = evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus;
 	struct perf_cpu_map *online_cpus = perf_cpu_map__new_online_cpus();
 	struct perf_cpu_map *intersect_cpus;
 
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ static int arm_spe_info_fill(struct auxtrace_record *itr,
 	if (priv_size != arm_spe_info_priv_size(itr, session->evlist))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	if (!session->evlist->core.nr_mmaps)
+	if (!evlist__core(session->evlist)->nr_mmaps)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	cpu_map = arm_spe_find_cpus(session->evlist);
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ static int arm_spe_setup_tracking_event(struct evlist *evlist,
 {
 	int err;
 	struct evsel *tracking_evsel;
-	struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = evlist->core.user_requested_cpus;
+	struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus;
 
 	/* Add dummy event to keep tracking */
 	err = parse_event(evlist, "dummy:u");
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ static int arm_spe_recording_options(struct auxtrace_record *itr,
 	struct arm_spe_recording *sper =
 			container_of(itr, struct arm_spe_recording, itr);
 	struct evsel *evsel, *tmp;
-	struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = evlist->core.user_requested_cpus;
+	struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus;
 	bool discard = false;
 	int err;
 	u64 discard_bit;
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/hisi-ptt.c b/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/hisi-ptt.c
index fe457fd58c9e8..52257715d2b74 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/hisi-ptt.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/hisi-ptt.c
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ static int hisi_ptt_info_fill(struct auxtrace_record *itr,
 	if (priv_size != HISI_PTT_AUXTRACE_PRIV_SIZE)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	if (!session->evlist->core.nr_mmaps)
+	if (!evlist__core(session->evlist)->nr_mmaps)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	auxtrace_info->type = PERF_AUXTRACE_HISI_PTT;
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/x86/tests/hybrid.c b/tools/perf/arch/x86/tests/hybrid.c
index dfb0ffc0d030b..0477e17b8e53d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/x86/tests/hybrid.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/x86/tests/hybrid.c
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ static int test__hybrid_hw_event_with_pmu(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong hybrid type", test_hybrid_type(evsel, PERF_TYPE_RAW));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ static int test__hybrid_hw_group_event(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel, *leader;
 
 	evsel = leader = evlist__first(evlist);
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong hybrid type", test_hybrid_type(evsel, PERF_TYPE_RAW));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ static int test__hybrid_sw_hw_group_event(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel, *leader;
 
 	evsel = leader = evlist__first(evlist);
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_SOFTWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong leader", evsel__has_leader(evsel, leader));
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ static int test__hybrid_hw_sw_group_event(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel, *leader;
 
 	evsel = leader = evlist__first(evlist);
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong hybrid type", test_hybrid_type(evsel, PERF_TYPE_RAW));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ static int test__hybrid_group_modifier1(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel, *leader;
 
 	evsel = leader = evlist__first(evlist);
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong hybrid type", test_hybrid_type(evsel, PERF_TYPE_RAW));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ static int test__hybrid_raw1(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct perf_evsel *evsel;
 
-	perf_evlist__for_each_evsel(&evlist->core, evsel) {
+	perf_evlist__for_each_evsel(evlist__core(evlist), evsel) {
 		struct perf_pmu *pmu = perf_pmus__find_by_type(evsel->attr.type);
 
 		TEST_ASSERT_VAL("missing pmu", pmu);
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ static int test__hybrid_raw2(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_RAW == evsel->core.attr.type);
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, 0x1a));
 	return TEST_OK;
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ static int test__hybrid_cache_event(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HW_CACHE == evsel->core.attr.type);
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", 0x2 == (evsel->core.attr.config & 0xffffffff));
 	return TEST_OK;
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_pmu(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_RAW == evsel->core.attr.type);
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config",    10 == evsel->core.attr.config);
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config1",    1 == evsel->core.attr.config1);
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ static int test__hybrid_hw_group_event_2(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel, *leader;
 
 	evsel = leader = evlist__first(evlist);
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE == evsel->core.attr.type);
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong hybrid type", test_hybrid_type(evsel, PERF_TYPE_RAW));
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong config", test_config(evsel, PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES));
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/auxtrace.c b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/auxtrace.c
index ecbf61a7eb3a3..84fce0b51ccf7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/auxtrace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/auxtrace.c
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ struct auxtrace_record *auxtrace_record__init(struct evlist *evlist,
 					      int *err)
 {
 	char buffer[64];
-	struct perf_cpu cpu = perf_cpu_map__min(evlist->core.all_cpus);
+	struct perf_cpu cpu = perf_cpu_map__min(evlist__core(evlist)->all_cpus);
 	int ret;
 
 	*err = 0;
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-bts.c b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-bts.c
index 100a23d27998f..d44d568a6d210 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-bts.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-bts.c
@@ -79,10 +79,10 @@ static int intel_bts_info_fill(struct auxtrace_record *itr,
 	if (priv_size != INTEL_BTS_AUXTRACE_PRIV_SIZE)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	if (!session->evlist->core.nr_mmaps)
+	if (!evlist__core(session->evlist)->nr_mmaps)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	pc = session->evlist->mmap[0].core.base;
+	pc = evlist__mmap(session->evlist)[0].core.base;
 	if (pc) {
 		err = perf_read_tsc_conversion(pc, &tc);
 		if (err) {
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ static int intel_bts_recording_options(struct auxtrace_record *itr,
 			container_of(itr, struct intel_bts_recording, itr);
 	struct perf_pmu *intel_bts_pmu = btsr->intel_bts_pmu;
 	struct evsel *evsel, *intel_bts_evsel = NULL;
-	const struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = evlist->core.user_requested_cpus;
+	const struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus;
 	bool privileged = perf_event_paranoid_check(-1);
 
 	if (opts->auxtrace_sample_mode) {
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-pt.c b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-pt.c
index 0307ff15d9fc9..a533114c0048c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-pt.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-pt.c
@@ -360,10 +360,10 @@ static int intel_pt_info_fill(struct auxtrace_record *itr,
 	filter = intel_pt_find_filter(session->evlist, ptr->intel_pt_pmu);
 	filter_str_len = filter ? strlen(filter) : 0;
 
-	if (!session->evlist->core.nr_mmaps)
+	if (!evlist__core(session->evlist)->nr_mmaps)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	pc = session->evlist->mmap[0].core.base;
+	pc = evlist__mmap(session->evlist)[0].core.base;
 	if (pc) {
 		err = perf_read_tsc_conversion(pc, &tc);
 		if (err) {
@@ -376,7 +376,8 @@ static int intel_pt_info_fill(struct auxtrace_record *itr,
 			ui__warning("Intel Processor Trace: TSC not available\n");
 	}
 
-	per_cpu_mmaps = !perf_cpu_map__is_any_cpu_or_is_empty(session->evlist->core.user_requested_cpus);
+	per_cpu_mmaps = !perf_cpu_map__is_any_cpu_or_is_empty(
+		evlist__core(session->evlist)->user_requested_cpus);
 
 	auxtrace_info->type = PERF_AUXTRACE_INTEL_PT;
 	auxtrace_info->priv[INTEL_PT_PMU_TYPE] = intel_pt_pmu->type;
@@ -621,7 +622,7 @@ static int intel_pt_recording_options(struct auxtrace_record *itr,
 	struct perf_pmu *intel_pt_pmu = ptr->intel_pt_pmu;
 	bool have_timing_info, need_immediate = false;
 	struct evsel *evsel, *intel_pt_evsel = NULL;
-	const struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = evlist->core.user_requested_cpus;
+	const struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus;
 	bool privileged = perf_event_paranoid_check(-1);
 	u64 tsc_bit;
 	int err;
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/iostat.c b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/iostat.c
index e0417552b0cbd..b13abea3a6f48 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/iostat.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/iostat.c
@@ -332,13 +332,15 @@ static int iostat_event_group(struct evlist *evl,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int iostat_prepare(struct evlist *evlist, struct perf_stat_config *config)
+int iostat_prepare(struct evlist **evlist_ptr, struct perf_stat_config *config)
 {
-	if (evlist->core.nr_entries > 0) {
+	struct evlist *evlist = *evlist_ptr;
+
+	if (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) > 0) {
 		pr_warning("The -e and -M options are not supported."
 			   "All chosen events/metrics will be dropped\n");
 		evlist__put(evlist);
-		evlist = evlist__new();
+		*evlist_ptr = evlist = evlist__new();
 		if (!evlist)
 			return -ENOMEM;
 	}
@@ -400,7 +402,7 @@ void iostat_prefix(struct evlist *evlist,
 		   struct perf_stat_config *config,
 		   char *prefix, struct timespec *ts)
 {
-	struct iio_root_port *rp = evlist->selected->priv;
+	struct iio_root_port *rp = evlist__selected(evlist)->priv;
 
 	if (rp) {
 		/*
@@ -463,7 +465,7 @@ void iostat_print_counters(struct evlist *evlist,
 	iostat_prefix(evlist, config, prefix, ts);
 	fprintf(config->output, "%s", prefix);
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, counter) {
-		perf_device = evlist->selected->priv;
+		perf_device = evlist__selected(evlist)->priv;
 		if (perf_device && perf_device != counter->priv) {
 			evlist__set_selected(evlist, counter);
 			iostat_prefix(evlist, config, prefix, ts);
diff --git a/tools/perf/bench/evlist-open-close.c b/tools/perf/bench/evlist-open-close.c
index 304929d1f67f9..748ebbe458f49 100644
--- a/tools/perf/bench/evlist-open-close.c
+++ b/tools/perf/bench/evlist-open-close.c
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ static int bench__do_evlist_open_close(struct evlist *evlist)
 		return err;
 	}
 
-	err = evlist__mmap(evlist, opts.mmap_pages);
+	err = evlist__do_mmap(evlist, opts.mmap_pages);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_err("evlist__mmap: %s\n", str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
 		return err;
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ static int bench__do_evlist_open_close(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 	evlist__enable(evlist);
 	evlist__disable(evlist);
-	evlist__munmap(evlist);
+	evlist__do_munmap(evlist);
 	evlist__close(evlist);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -145,10 +145,11 @@ static int bench_evlist_open_close__run(char *evstr, const char *uid_str)
 
 	init_stats(&time_stats);
 
-	printf("  Number of cpus:\t%d\n", perf_cpu_map__nr(evlist->core.user_requested_cpus));
-	printf("  Number of threads:\t%d\n", evlist->core.threads->nr);
+	printf("  Number of cpus:\t%d\n",
+	       perf_cpu_map__nr(evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus));
+	printf("  Number of threads:\t%d\n", evlist__core(evlist)->threads->nr);
 	printf("  Number of events:\t%d (%d fds)\n",
-		evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist__count_evsel_fds(evlist));
+		evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist__count_evsel_fds(evlist));
 	printf("  Number of iterations:\t%d\n", iterations);
 
 	evlist__put(evlist);
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
index 8a0eb30eac24f..69cb72b2082a6 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ static int __cmd_annotate(struct perf_annotate *ann)
 		goto out;
 
 	if ((use_browser == 1 || ann->use_stdio2) && ann->has_br_stack)
-		if (session->evlist->nr_br_cntr > 0)
+		if (evlist__nr_br_cntr(session->evlist) > 0)
 			annotate_opts.show_br_cntr = true;
 
 	if (dump_trace) {
@@ -928,8 +928,11 @@ int cmd_annotate(int argc, const char **argv)
 	 * branch counters, if the corresponding branch info is available
 	 * in the perf data in the TUI mode.
 	 */
-	if ((use_browser == 1 || annotate.use_stdio2) && annotate.has_br_stack)
+	if ((use_browser == 1 || annotate.use_stdio2) && annotate.has_br_stack) {
 		sort__mode = SORT_MODE__BRANCH;
+		if (evlist__nr_br_cntr(annotate.session->evlist) > 0)
+			annotate_opts.show_br_cntr = true;
+	}
 
 	if (setup_sorting(/*evlist=*/NULL, perf_session__env(annotate.session)) < 0)
 		usage_with_options(annotate_usage, options);
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-ftrace.c b/tools/perf/builtin-ftrace.c
index 676239148b871..9e4c5220d43c2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-ftrace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-ftrace.c
@@ -377,9 +377,9 @@ static int set_tracing_pid(struct perf_ftrace *ftrace)
 	if (target__has_cpu(&ftrace->target))
 		return 0;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < perf_thread_map__nr(ftrace->evlist->core.threads); i++) {
+	for (i = 0; i < perf_thread_map__nr(evlist__core(ftrace->evlist)->threads); i++) {
 		scnprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%d",
-			  perf_thread_map__pid(ftrace->evlist->core.threads, i));
+			  perf_thread_map__pid(evlist__core(ftrace->evlist)->threads, i));
 		if (append_tracing_file("set_ftrace_pid", buf) < 0)
 			return -1;
 	}
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ static int set_tracing_cpumask(struct perf_cpu_map *cpumap)
 
 static int set_tracing_cpu(struct perf_ftrace *ftrace)
 {
-	struct perf_cpu_map *cpumap = ftrace->evlist->core.user_requested_cpus;
+	struct perf_cpu_map *cpumap = evlist__core(ftrace->evlist)->user_requested_cpus;
 
 	if (!target__has_cpu(&ftrace->target))
 		return 0;
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c b/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c
index 6d6cce4765a7f..b13ce4caf8098 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c
@@ -1520,7 +1520,7 @@ static int synthesize_id_index(struct perf_inject *inject, size_t new_cnt)
 	struct perf_session *session = inject->session;
 	struct evlist *evlist = session->evlist;
 	struct machine *machine = &session->machines.host;
-	size_t from = evlist->core.nr_entries - new_cnt;
+	size_t from = evlist__nr_entries(evlist) - new_cnt;
 
 	return __perf_event__synthesize_id_index(&inject->tool, perf_event__repipe,
 						 evlist, machine, from);
@@ -2055,7 +2055,7 @@ static int host__finished_init(const struct perf_tool *tool, struct perf_session
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	ret = synthesize_id_index(inject, gs->session->evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	ret = synthesize_id_index(inject, evlist__nr_entries(gs->session->evlist));
 	if (ret) {
 		pr_err("Failed to synthesize id_index\n");
 		return ret;
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c b/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
index 993dabff2a72e..2c6aef1e13a04 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
@@ -1221,7 +1221,7 @@ static s64 perf_kvm__mmap_read_idx(struct perf_kvm_stat *kvm, int idx,
 	int err;
 
 	*mmap_time = ULLONG_MAX;
-	md = &evlist->mmap[idx];
+	md = &evlist__mmap(evlist)[idx];
 	err = perf_mmap__read_init(&md->core);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return (err == -EAGAIN) ? 0 : -1;
@@ -1266,7 +1266,7 @@ static int perf_kvm__mmap_read(struct perf_kvm_stat *kvm)
 	s64 n, ntotal = 0;
 	u64 flush_time = ULLONG_MAX, mmap_time;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < kvm->evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(kvm->evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
 		n = perf_kvm__mmap_read_idx(kvm, i, &mmap_time);
 		if (n < 0)
 			return -1;
@@ -1449,7 +1449,7 @@ static int kvm_events_live_report(struct perf_kvm_stat *kvm)
 	evlist__enable(kvm->evlist);
 
 	while (!done) {
-		struct fdarray *fda = &kvm->evlist->core.pollfd;
+		struct fdarray *fda = &evlist__core(kvm->evlist)->pollfd;
 		int rc;
 
 		rc = perf_kvm__mmap_read(kvm);
@@ -1531,7 +1531,7 @@ static int kvm_live_open_events(struct perf_kvm_stat *kvm)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	if (evlist__mmap(evlist, kvm->opts.mmap_pages) < 0) {
+	if (evlist__do_mmap(evlist, kvm->opts.mmap_pages) < 0) {
 		ui__error("Failed to mmap the events: %s\n",
 			  str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
 		evlist__close(evlist);
@@ -1931,7 +1931,7 @@ static int kvm_events_live(struct perf_kvm_stat *kvm,
 	perf_session__set_id_hdr_size(kvm->session);
 	ordered_events__set_copy_on_queue(&kvm->session->ordered_events, true);
 	machine__synthesize_threads(&kvm->session->machines.host, &kvm->opts.target,
-				    kvm->evlist->core.threads, true, false, 1);
+				    evlist__core(kvm->evlist)->threads, true, false, 1);
 	err = kvm_live_open_events(kvm);
 	if (err)
 		goto out;
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-kwork.c b/tools/perf/builtin-kwork.c
index 7b61168e01e9d..fce588441e499 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-kwork.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-kwork.c
@@ -1814,7 +1814,7 @@ static int perf_kwork__check_config(struct perf_kwork *kwork,
 		}
 	}
 
-	list_for_each_entry(evsel, &session->evlist->core.entries, core.node) {
+	list_for_each_entry(evsel, &evlist__core(session->evlist)->entries, core.node) {
 		if (kwork->show_callchain && !evsel__has_callchain(evsel)) {
 			pr_debug("Samples do not have callchains\n");
 			kwork->show_callchain = 0;
@@ -1864,9 +1864,9 @@ static int perf_kwork__read_events(struct perf_kwork *kwork)
 		goto out_delete;
 	}
 
-	kwork->nr_events      = session->evlist->stats.nr_events[0];
-	kwork->nr_lost_events = session->evlist->stats.total_lost;
-	kwork->nr_lost_chunks = session->evlist->stats.nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST];
+	kwork->nr_events      = evlist__stats(session->evlist)->nr_events[0];
+	kwork->nr_lost_events = evlist__stats(session->evlist)->total_lost;
+	kwork->nr_lost_chunks = evlist__stats(session->evlist)->nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST];
 
 out_delete:
 	perf_session__delete(session);
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-lock.c b/tools/perf/builtin-lock.c
index d925543a68c07..d5c0d55cb82d9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-lock.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-lock.c
@@ -2129,7 +2129,7 @@ static int __cmd_contention(int argc, const char **argv)
 			evlist__start_workload(con.evlist);
 
 		while (!done) {
-			if (argc && waitpid(con.evlist->workload.pid, NULL, WNOHANG) > 0)
+			if (argc && waitpid(evlist__workload_pid(con.evlist), NULL, WNOHANG) > 0)
 				break;
 			sleep(1);
 		}
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
index e4fa77a40dacb..ebd3ed0c9b3e8 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
@@ -502,12 +502,12 @@ static void record__aio_mmap_read_sync(struct record *rec)
 {
 	int i;
 	struct evlist *evlist = rec->evlist;
-	struct mmap *maps = evlist->mmap;
+	struct mmap *maps = evlist__mmap(evlist);
 
 	if (!record__aio_enabled(rec))
 		return;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
 		struct mmap *map = &maps[i];
 
 		if (map->core.base)
@@ -811,8 +811,8 @@ static int record__auxtrace_read_snapshot_all(struct record *rec)
 	int i;
 	int rc = 0;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < rec->evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
-		struct mmap *map = &rec->evlist->mmap[i];
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(rec->evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
+		struct mmap *map = &evlist__mmap(rec->evlist)[i];
 
 		if (!map->auxtrace_mmap.base)
 			continue;
@@ -1055,15 +1055,15 @@ static void record__thread_data_close_pipes(struct record_thread *thread_data)
 
 static bool evlist__per_thread(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	return cpu_map__is_dummy(evlist->core.user_requested_cpus);
+	return cpu_map__is_dummy(evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus);
 }
 
 static int record__thread_data_init_maps(struct record_thread *thread_data, struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	int m, tm, nr_mmaps = evlist->core.nr_mmaps;
-	struct mmap *mmap = evlist->mmap;
-	struct mmap *overwrite_mmap = evlist->overwrite_mmap;
-	struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = evlist->core.all_cpus;
+	int m, tm, nr_mmaps = evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps;
+	struct mmap *mmap = evlist__mmap(evlist);
+	struct mmap *overwrite_mmap = evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist);
+	struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = evlist__core(evlist)->all_cpus;
 	bool per_thread = evlist__per_thread(evlist);
 
 	if (per_thread)
@@ -1118,16 +1118,17 @@ static int record__thread_data_init_pollfd(struct record_thread *thread_data, st
 		overwrite_map = thread_data->overwrite_maps ?
 				thread_data->overwrite_maps[tm] : NULL;
 
-		for (f = 0; f < evlist->core.pollfd.nr; f++) {
-			void *ptr = evlist->core.pollfd.priv[f].ptr;
+		for (f = 0; f < evlist__core(evlist)->pollfd.nr; f++) {
+			void *ptr = evlist__core(evlist)->pollfd.priv[f].ptr;
 
 			if ((map && ptr == map) || (overwrite_map && ptr == overwrite_map)) {
 				pos = fdarray__dup_entry_from(&thread_data->pollfd, f,
-							      &evlist->core.pollfd);
+							      &evlist__core(evlist)->pollfd);
 				if (pos < 0)
 					return pos;
 				pr_debug2("thread_data[%p]: pollfd[%d] <- event_fd=%d\n",
-					 thread_data, pos, evlist->core.pollfd.entries[f].fd);
+					 thread_data, pos,
+					 evlist__core(evlist)->pollfd.entries[f].fd);
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -1171,7 +1172,7 @@ static int record__update_evlist_pollfd_from_thread(struct record *rec,
 						    struct evlist *evlist,
 						    struct record_thread *thread_data)
 {
-	struct pollfd *e_entries = evlist->core.pollfd.entries;
+	struct pollfd *e_entries = evlist__core(evlist)->pollfd.entries;
 	struct pollfd *t_entries = thread_data->pollfd.entries;
 	int err = 0;
 	size_t i;
@@ -1195,7 +1196,7 @@ static int record__dup_non_perf_events(struct record *rec,
 				       struct evlist *evlist,
 				       struct record_thread *thread_data)
 {
-	struct fdarray *fda = &evlist->core.pollfd;
+	struct fdarray *fda = &evlist__core(evlist)->pollfd;
 	int i, ret;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < fda->nr; i++) {
@@ -1322,17 +1323,17 @@ static int record__mmap_evlist(struct record *rec,
 		return ret;
 
 	if (record__threads_enabled(rec)) {
-		ret = perf_data__create_dir(&rec->data, evlist->core.nr_mmaps);
+		ret = perf_data__create_dir(&rec->data, evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps);
 		if (ret) {
 			errno = -ret;
 			pr_err("Failed to create data directory: %m\n");
 			return ret;
 		}
-		for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
-			if (evlist->mmap)
-				evlist->mmap[i].file = &rec->data.dir.files[i];
-			if (evlist->overwrite_mmap)
-				evlist->overwrite_mmap[i].file = &rec->data.dir.files[i];
+		for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
+			if (evlist__mmap(evlist))
+				evlist__mmap(evlist)[i].file = &rec->data.dir.files[i];
+			if (evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist))
+				evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist)[i].file = &rec->data.dir.files[i];
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1481,11 +1482,11 @@ static int record__open(struct record *rec)
 
 static void set_timestamp_boundary(struct record *rec, u64 sample_time)
 {
-	if (rec->evlist->first_sample_time == 0)
-		rec->evlist->first_sample_time = sample_time;
+	if (evlist__first_sample_time(rec->evlist) == 0)
+		evlist__set_first_sample_time(rec->evlist, sample_time);
 
 	if (sample_time)
-		rec->evlist->last_sample_time = sample_time;
+		evlist__set_last_sample_time(rec->evlist, sample_time);
 }
 
 static int process_sample_event(const struct perf_tool *tool,
@@ -1653,7 +1654,7 @@ static int record__mmap_read_evlist(struct record *rec, struct evlist *evlist,
 	if (!maps)
 		return 0;
 
-	if (overwrite && evlist->bkw_mmap_state != BKW_MMAP_DATA_PENDING)
+	if (overwrite && evlist__bkw_mmap_state(evlist) != BKW_MMAP_DATA_PENDING)
 		return 0;
 
 	if (record__aio_enabled(rec))
@@ -1808,7 +1809,7 @@ static void record__init_features(struct record *rec)
 	if (rec->no_buildid)
 		perf_header__clear_feat(&session->header, HEADER_BUILD_ID);
 
-	if (!have_tracepoints(&rec->evlist->core.entries))
+	if (!have_tracepoints(&evlist__core(rec->evlist)->entries))
 		perf_header__clear_feat(&session->header, HEADER_TRACING_DATA);
 
 	if (!rec->opts.branch_stack)
@@ -1874,7 +1875,7 @@ static int record__synthesize_workload(struct record *rec, bool tail)
 	if (rec->opts.tail_synthesize != tail)
 		return 0;
 
-	thread_map = thread_map__new_by_tid(rec->evlist->workload.pid);
+	thread_map = thread_map__new_by_tid(evlist__workload_pid(rec->evlist));
 	if (thread_map == NULL)
 		return -1;
 
@@ -2067,10 +2068,10 @@ static void alarm_sig_handler(int sig);
 static const struct perf_event_mmap_page *evlist__pick_pc(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	if (evlist) {
-		if (evlist->mmap && evlist->mmap[0].core.base)
-			return evlist->mmap[0].core.base;
-		if (evlist->overwrite_mmap && evlist->overwrite_mmap[0].core.base)
-			return evlist->overwrite_mmap[0].core.base;
+		if (evlist__mmap(evlist) && evlist__mmap(evlist)[0].core.base)
+			return evlist__mmap(evlist)[0].core.base;
+		if (evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist) && evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist)[0].core.base)
+			return evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist)[0].core.base;
 	}
 	return NULL;
 }
@@ -2150,7 +2151,7 @@ static int record__synthesize(struct record *rec, bool tail)
 	if (err)
 		goto out;
 
-	err = perf_event__synthesize_thread_map2(&rec->tool, rec->evlist->core.threads,
+	err = perf_event__synthesize_thread_map2(&rec->tool, evlist__core(rec->evlist)->threads,
 						 process_synthesized_event,
 						NULL);
 	if (err < 0) {
@@ -2158,7 +2159,7 @@ static int record__synthesize(struct record *rec, bool tail)
 		return err;
 	}
 
-	err = perf_event__synthesize_cpu_map(&rec->tool, rec->evlist->core.all_cpus,
+	err = perf_event__synthesize_cpu_map(&rec->tool, evlist__core(rec->evlist)->all_cpus,
 					     process_synthesized_event, NULL);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_err("Couldn't synthesize cpu map.\n");
@@ -2191,7 +2192,7 @@ static int record__synthesize(struct record *rec, bool tail)
 		bool needs_mmap = rec->opts.synth & PERF_SYNTH_MMAP;
 
 		err = __machine__synthesize_threads(machine, tool, &opts->target,
-						    rec->evlist->core.threads,
+						    evlist__core(rec->evlist)->threads,
 						    f, needs_mmap, opts->record_data_mmap,
 						    rec->opts.nr_threads_synthesize);
 	}
@@ -2544,7 +2545,7 @@ static int __cmd_record(struct record *rec, int argc, const char **argv)
 	 * because we synthesize event name through the pipe
 	 * and need the id for that.
 	 */
-	if (data->is_pipe && rec->evlist->core.nr_entries == 1)
+	if (data->is_pipe && evlist__nr_entries(rec->evlist) == 1)
 		rec->opts.sample_id = true;
 
 	if (rec->timestamp_filename && perf_data__is_pipe(data)) {
@@ -2568,7 +2569,7 @@ static int __cmd_record(struct record *rec, int argc, const char **argv)
 	}
 	/* Debug message used by test scripts */
 	pr_debug3("perf record done opening and mmapping events\n");
-	env->comp_mmap_len = session->evlist->core.mmap_len;
+	env->comp_mmap_len = evlist__core(session->evlist)->mmap_len;
 
 	if (rec->opts.kcore) {
 		err = record__kcore_copy(&session->machines.host, data);
@@ -2669,7 +2670,7 @@ static int __cmd_record(struct record *rec, int argc, const char **argv)
 		 * Synthesize COMM event to prevent it.
 		 */
 		tgid = perf_event__synthesize_comm(tool, event,
-						   rec->evlist->workload.pid,
+						   evlist__workload_pid(rec->evlist),
 						   process_synthesized_event,
 						   machine);
 		free(event);
@@ -2689,7 +2690,7 @@ static int __cmd_record(struct record *rec, int argc, const char **argv)
 		 * Synthesize NAMESPACES event for the command specified.
 		 */
 		perf_event__synthesize_namespaces(tool, event,
-						  rec->evlist->workload.pid,
+						  evlist__workload_pid(rec->evlist),
 						  tgid, process_synthesized_event,
 						  machine);
 		free(event);
@@ -2706,7 +2707,7 @@ static int __cmd_record(struct record *rec, int argc, const char **argv)
 		}
 	}
 
-	err = event_enable_timer__start(rec->evlist->eet);
+	err = event_enable_timer__start(evlist__event_enable_timer(rec->evlist));
 	if (err)
 		goto out_child;
 
@@ -2768,7 +2769,7 @@ static int __cmd_record(struct record *rec, int argc, const char **argv)
 			 * record__mmap_read_all() didn't collect data from
 			 * overwritable ring buffer. Read again.
 			 */
-			if (rec->evlist->bkw_mmap_state == BKW_MMAP_RUNNING)
+			if (evlist__bkw_mmap_state(rec->evlist) == BKW_MMAP_RUNNING)
 				continue;
 			trigger_ready(&switch_output_trigger);
 
@@ -2837,7 +2838,7 @@ static int __cmd_record(struct record *rec, int argc, const char **argv)
 			}
 		}
 
-		err = event_enable_timer__process(rec->evlist->eet);
+		err = event_enable_timer__process(evlist__event_enable_timer(rec->evlist));
 		if (err < 0)
 			goto out_child;
 		if (err) {
@@ -2909,7 +2910,7 @@ static int __cmd_record(struct record *rec, int argc, const char **argv)
 		int exit_status;
 
 		if (!child_finished)
-			kill(rec->evlist->workload.pid, SIGTERM);
+			kill(evlist__workload_pid(rec->evlist), SIGTERM);
 
 		wait(&exit_status);
 
@@ -4032,7 +4033,7 @@ static int record__init_thread_default_masks(struct record *rec, struct perf_cpu
 static int record__init_thread_masks(struct record *rec)
 {
 	int ret = 0;
-	struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = rec->evlist->core.all_cpus;
+	struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = evlist__core(rec->evlist)->all_cpus;
 
 	if (!record__threads_enabled(rec))
 		return record__init_thread_default_masks(rec, cpus);
@@ -4283,14 +4284,14 @@ int cmd_record(int argc, const char **argv)
 	if (record.opts.overwrite)
 		record.opts.tail_synthesize = true;
 
-	if (rec->evlist->core.nr_entries == 0) {
+	if (evlist__nr_entries(rec->evlist) == 0) {
 		struct evlist *def_evlist = evlist__new_default(&rec->opts.target,
 								callchain_param.enabled);
 
 		if (!def_evlist)
 			goto out;
 
-		evlist__splice_list_tail(rec->evlist, &def_evlist->core.entries);
+		evlist__splice_list_tail(rec->evlist, &evlist__core(def_evlist)->entries);
 		evlist__put(def_evlist);
 	}
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
index dd1309c320943..10db1e5f1e6c4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ static int evlist__tty_browse_hists(struct evlist *evlist, struct report *rep, c
 
 	if (!quiet) {
 		fprintf(stdout, "#\n# Total Lost Samples: %" PRIu64 "\n#\n",
-			evlist->stats.total_lost_samples);
+			evlist__stats(evlist)->total_lost_samples);
 	}
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, pos) {
@@ -1156,7 +1156,7 @@ static int __cmd_report(struct report *rep)
 			PERF_HPP_REPORT__BLOCK_AVG_CYCLES,
 		};
 
-		if (session->evlist->nr_br_cntr > 0)
+		if (evlist__nr_br_cntr(session->evlist) > 0)
 			block_hpps[nr_hpps++] = PERF_HPP_REPORT__BLOCK_BRANCH_COUNTER;
 
 		block_hpps[nr_hpps++] = PERF_HPP_REPORT__BLOCK_RANGE;
@@ -1291,7 +1291,7 @@ static int process_attr(const struct perf_tool *tool __maybe_unused,
 	 * on events sample_type.
 	 */
 	sample_type = evlist__combined_sample_type(*pevlist);
-	session = (*pevlist)->session;
+	session = evlist__session(*pevlist);
 	callchain_param_setup(sample_type, perf_session__e_machine(session, /*e_flags=*/NULL));
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c b/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
index 54ce9933ef092..ae033ffd1079a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
@@ -2025,9 +2025,9 @@ static int perf_sched__read_events(struct perf_sched *sched)
 			goto out_delete;
 		}
 
-		sched->nr_events      = session->evlist->stats.nr_events[0];
-		sched->nr_lost_events = session->evlist->stats.total_lost;
-		sched->nr_lost_chunks = session->evlist->stats.nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST];
+		sched->nr_events      = evlist__stats(session->evlist)->nr_events[0];
+		sched->nr_lost_events = evlist__stats(session->evlist)->total_lost;
+		sched->nr_lost_chunks = evlist__stats(session->evlist)->nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST];
 	}
 
 	rc = 0;
@@ -3303,7 +3303,7 @@ static int timehist_check_attr(struct perf_sched *sched,
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 	struct evsel_runtime *er;
 
-	list_for_each_entry(evsel, &evlist->core.entries, core.node) {
+	list_for_each_entry(evsel, &evlist__core(evlist)->entries, core.node) {
 		er = evsel__get_runtime(evsel);
 		if (er == NULL) {
 			pr_err("Failed to allocate memory for evsel runtime data\n");
@@ -3475,9 +3475,9 @@ static int perf_sched__timehist(struct perf_sched *sched)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	sched->nr_events      = evlist->stats.nr_events[0];
-	sched->nr_lost_events = evlist->stats.total_lost;
-	sched->nr_lost_chunks = evlist->stats.nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST];
+	sched->nr_events      = evlist__stats(evlist)->nr_events[0];
+	sched->nr_lost_events = evlist__stats(evlist)->total_lost;
+	sched->nr_lost_chunks = evlist__stats(evlist)->nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST];
 
 	if (sched->summary)
 		timehist_print_summary(sched, session);
@@ -3982,7 +3982,7 @@ static int perf_sched__schedstat_record(struct perf_sched *sched,
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto out;
 
-	user_requested_cpus = evlist->core.user_requested_cpus;
+	user_requested_cpus = evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus;
 
 	err = perf_event__synthesize_schedstat(&(sched->tool),
 					       process_synthesized_schedstat_event,
@@ -3998,7 +3998,7 @@ static int perf_sched__schedstat_record(struct perf_sched *sched,
 		evlist__start_workload(evlist);
 
 	while (!done) {
-		if (argc && waitpid(evlist->workload.pid, NULL, WNOHANG) > 0)
+		if (argc && waitpid(evlist__workload_pid(evlist), NULL, WNOHANG) > 0)
 			break;
 		sleep(1);
 	}
@@ -4699,7 +4699,7 @@ static int perf_sched__schedstat_report(struct perf_sched *sched)
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto out;
 
-	user_requested_cpus = session->evlist->core.user_requested_cpus;
+	user_requested_cpus = evlist__core(session->evlist)->user_requested_cpus;
 
 	err = perf_session__process_events(session);
 
@@ -4875,7 +4875,7 @@ static int perf_sched__schedstat_live(struct perf_sched *sched,
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto out;
 
-	user_requested_cpus = evlist->core.user_requested_cpus;
+	user_requested_cpus = evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus;
 
 	err = perf_event__synthesize_schedstat(&(sched->tool),
 					       process_synthesized_event_live,
@@ -4891,7 +4891,7 @@ static int perf_sched__schedstat_live(struct perf_sched *sched,
 		evlist__start_workload(evlist);
 
 	while (!done) {
-		if (argc && waitpid(evlist->workload.pid, NULL, WNOHANG) > 0)
+		if (argc && waitpid(evlist__workload_pid(evlist), NULL, WNOHANG) > 0)
 			break;
 		sleep(1);
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-script.c b/tools/perf/builtin-script.c
index 0df13927001b0..47afd8cdc2b77 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-script.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-script.c
@@ -2229,9 +2229,10 @@ static int script_find_metrics(const struct pmu_metric *pm,
 	evlist__for_each_entry(metric_evlist, metric_evsel) {
 		struct evsel *script_evsel =
 			map_metric_evsel_to_script_evsel(script_evlist, metric_evsel);
-		struct metric_event *metric_me = metricgroup__lookup(&metric_evlist->metric_events,
-								     metric_evsel,
-								     /*create=*/false);
+		struct metric_event *metric_me =
+			metricgroup__lookup(evlist__metric_events(metric_evlist),
+					    metric_evsel,
+					    /*create=*/false);
 
 		if (script_evsel->metric_id == NULL) {
 			script_evsel->metric_id = metric_evsel->metric_id;
@@ -2251,7 +2252,7 @@ static int script_find_metrics(const struct pmu_metric *pm,
 		if (metric_me) {
 			struct metric_expr *expr;
 			struct metric_event *script_me =
-				metricgroup__lookup(&script_evlist->metric_events,
+				metricgroup__lookup(evlist__metric_events(script_evlist),
 						    script_evsel,
 						    /*create=*/true);
 
@@ -2321,7 +2322,7 @@ static void perf_sample__fprint_metric(struct thread *thread,
 			assert(stat_config.aggr_mode == AGGR_GLOBAL);
 			stat_config.aggr_get_id = script_aggr_cpu_id_get;
 			stat_config.aggr_map =
-				cpu_aggr_map__new(evsel->evlist->core.user_requested_cpus,
+				cpu_aggr_map__new(evlist__core(evsel->evlist)->user_requested_cpus,
 						  aggr_cpu_id__global, /*data=*/NULL,
 						  /*needs_sort=*/false);
 		}
@@ -3909,7 +3910,7 @@ static int set_maps(struct perf_script *script)
 	if (WARN_ONCE(script->allocated, "stats double allocation\n"))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, script->cpus, script->threads);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), script->cpus, script->threads);
 
 	if (evlist__alloc_stats(&stat_config, evlist, /*alloc_raw=*/true))
 		return -ENOMEM;
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c b/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c
index bf621202da697..3f897b2e86386 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ static int read_single_counter(struct evsel *counter, int cpu_map_idx, int threa
  */
 static int read_counter_cpu(struct evsel *counter, int cpu_map_idx)
 {
-	int nthreads = perf_thread_map__nr(evsel_list->core.threads);
+	int nthreads = perf_thread_map__nr(evlist__core(evsel_list)->threads);
 	int thread;
 
 	if (!counter->supported)
@@ -628,11 +628,12 @@ static int dispatch_events(bool forks, int timeout, int interval, int *times)
 	time_to_sleep = sleep_time;
 
 	while (!done) {
-		if (forks)
+		if (forks) {
 			child_exited = waitpid(child_pid, &status, WNOHANG);
-		else
-			child_exited = !is_target_alive(&target, evsel_list->core.threads) ? 1 : 0;
-
+		} else {
+			child_exited = !is_target_alive(&target,
+							evlist__core(evsel_list)->threads) ? 1 : 0;
+		}
 		if (child_exited)
 			break;
 
@@ -681,14 +682,15 @@ static enum counter_recovery stat_handle_error(struct evsel *counter, int err)
 		return COUNTER_RETRY;
 	}
 	if (target__has_per_thread(&target) && err != EOPNOTSUPP &&
-	    evsel_list->core.threads && evsel_list->core.threads->err_thread != -1) {
+	    evlist__core(evsel_list)->threads &&
+	    evlist__core(evsel_list)->threads->err_thread != -1) {
 		/*
 		 * For global --per-thread case, skip current
 		 * error thread.
 		 */
-		if (!thread_map__remove(evsel_list->core.threads,
-					evsel_list->core.threads->err_thread)) {
-			evsel_list->core.threads->err_thread = -1;
+		if (!thread_map__remove(evlist__core(evsel_list)->threads,
+					evlist__core(evsel_list)->threads->err_thread)) {
+			evlist__core(evsel_list)->threads->err_thread = -1;
 			counter->supported = true;
 			return COUNTER_RETRY;
 		}
@@ -787,11 +789,12 @@ static int __run_perf_stat(int argc, const char **argv, int run_idx)
 	bool second_pass = false, has_supported_counters;
 
 	if (forks) {
-		if (evlist__prepare_workload(evsel_list, &target, argv, is_pipe, workload_exec_failed_signal) < 0) {
+		if (evlist__prepare_workload(evsel_list, &target, argv, is_pipe,
+					     workload_exec_failed_signal) < 0) {
 			perror("failed to prepare workload");
 			return -1;
 		}
-		child_pid = evsel_list->workload.pid;
+		child_pid = evlist__workload_pid(evsel_list);
 	}
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evsel_list, counter) {
@@ -1199,7 +1202,7 @@ static int parse_cputype(const struct option *opt,
 	const struct perf_pmu *pmu;
 	struct evlist *evlist = *(struct evlist **)opt->value;
 
-	if (!list_empty(&evlist->core.entries)) {
+	if (!list_empty(&evlist__core(evlist)->entries)) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Must define cputype before events/metrics\n");
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -1220,7 +1223,7 @@ static int parse_pmu_filter(const struct option *opt,
 {
 	struct evlist *evlist = *(struct evlist **)opt->value;
 
-	if (!list_empty(&evlist->core.entries)) {
+	if (!list_empty(&evlist__core(evlist)->entries)) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Must define pmu-filter before events/metrics\n");
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -1586,8 +1589,9 @@ static int perf_stat_init_aggr_mode(void)
 
 	if (get_id) {
 		bool needs_sort = stat_config.aggr_mode != AGGR_NONE;
-		stat_config.aggr_map = cpu_aggr_map__new(evsel_list->core.user_requested_cpus,
-							 get_id, /*data=*/NULL, needs_sort);
+		stat_config.aggr_map = cpu_aggr_map__new(
+			evlist__core(evsel_list)->user_requested_cpus,
+			get_id, /*data=*/NULL, needs_sort);
 		if (!stat_config.aggr_map) {
 			pr_err("cannot build %s map\n", aggr_mode__string[stat_config.aggr_mode]);
 			return -1;
@@ -1596,7 +1600,7 @@ static int perf_stat_init_aggr_mode(void)
 	}
 
 	if (stat_config.aggr_mode == AGGR_THREAD) {
-		nr = perf_thread_map__nr(evsel_list->core.threads);
+		nr = perf_thread_map__nr(evlist__core(evsel_list)->threads);
 		stat_config.aggr_map = cpu_aggr_map__empty_new(nr);
 		if (stat_config.aggr_map == NULL)
 			return -ENOMEM;
@@ -1615,7 +1619,7 @@ static int perf_stat_init_aggr_mode(void)
 	 * taking the highest cpu number to be the size of
 	 * the aggregation translate cpumap.
 	 */
-	nr = perf_cpu_map__max(evsel_list->core.all_cpus).cpu + 1;
+	nr = perf_cpu_map__max(evlist__core(evsel_list)->all_cpus).cpu + 1;
 	stat_config.cpus_aggr_map = cpu_aggr_map__empty_new(nr);
 	return stat_config.cpus_aggr_map ? 0 : -ENOMEM;
 }
@@ -1902,7 +1906,7 @@ static int perf_stat_init_aggr_mode_file(struct perf_stat *st)
 	bool needs_sort = stat_config.aggr_mode != AGGR_NONE;
 
 	if (stat_config.aggr_mode == AGGR_THREAD) {
-		int nr = perf_thread_map__nr(evsel_list->core.threads);
+		int nr = perf_thread_map__nr(evlist__core(evsel_list)->threads);
 
 		stat_config.aggr_map = cpu_aggr_map__empty_new(nr);
 		if (stat_config.aggr_map == NULL)
@@ -1920,7 +1924,7 @@ static int perf_stat_init_aggr_mode_file(struct perf_stat *st)
 	if (!get_id)
 		return 0;
 
-	stat_config.aggr_map = cpu_aggr_map__new(evsel_list->core.user_requested_cpus,
+	stat_config.aggr_map = cpu_aggr_map__new(evlist__core(evsel_list)->user_requested_cpus,
 						 get_id, env, needs_sort);
 	if (!stat_config.aggr_map) {
 		pr_err("cannot build %s map\n", aggr_mode__string[stat_config.aggr_mode]);
@@ -2088,7 +2092,7 @@ static int add_default_events(void)
 	if (!stat_config.topdown_level)
 		stat_config.topdown_level = 1;
 
-	if (!evlist->core.nr_entries && !evsel_list->core.nr_entries) {
+	if (!evlist__nr_entries(evlist) && !evlist__nr_entries(evsel_list)) {
 		/*
 		 * Add Default metrics. To minimize multiplexing, don't request
 		 * threshold computation, but it will be computed if the events
@@ -2127,13 +2131,13 @@ static int add_default_events(void)
 			evlist__for_each_entry(metric_evlist, evsel)
 				evsel->default_metricgroup = true;
 
-			evlist__splice_list_tail(evlist, &metric_evlist->core.entries);
+			evlist__splice_list_tail(evlist, &evlist__core(metric_evlist)->entries);
 			metricgroup__copy_metric_events(evlist, /*cgrp=*/NULL,
-							&evlist->metric_events,
-							&metric_evlist->metric_events);
+							evlist__metric_events(evlist),
+							evlist__metric_events(metric_evlist));
 			evlist__put(metric_evlist);
 		}
-		list_sort(/*priv=*/NULL, &evlist->core.entries, default_evlist_evsel_cmp);
+		list_sort(/*priv=*/NULL, &evlist__core(evlist)->entries, default_evlist_evsel_cmp);
 
 	}
 out:
@@ -2148,10 +2152,10 @@ static int add_default_events(void)
 		}
 	}
 	parse_events_error__exit(&err);
-	evlist__splice_list_tail(evsel_list, &evlist->core.entries);
+	evlist__splice_list_tail(evsel_list, &evlist__core(evlist)->entries);
 	metricgroup__copy_metric_events(evsel_list, /*cgrp=*/NULL,
-					&evsel_list->metric_events,
-					&evlist->metric_events);
+					evlist__metric_events(evsel_list),
+					evlist__metric_events(evlist));
 	evlist__put(evlist);
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -2272,7 +2276,7 @@ static int set_maps(struct perf_stat *st)
 	if (WARN_ONCE(st->maps_allocated, "stats double allocation\n"))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evsel_list->core, st->cpus, st->threads);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evsel_list), st->cpus, st->threads);
 
 	if (evlist__alloc_stats(&stat_config, evsel_list, /*alloc_raw=*/true))
 		return -ENOMEM;
@@ -2424,7 +2428,7 @@ static void setup_system_wide(int forks)
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (evsel_list->core.nr_entries)
+		if (evlist__nr_entries(evsel_list))
 			target.system_wide = true;
 	}
 }
@@ -2651,7 +2655,7 @@ int cmd_stat(int argc, const char **argv)
 		stat_config.csv_sep = DEFAULT_SEPARATOR;
 
 	if (affinity_set)
-		evsel_list->no_affinity = !affinity;
+		evlist__set_no_affinity(evsel_list, !affinity);
 
 	if (argc && strlen(argv[0]) > 2 && strstarts("record", argv[0])) {
 		argc = __cmd_record(stat_options, &opt_mode, argc, argv);
@@ -2818,7 +2822,7 @@ int cmd_stat(int argc, const char **argv)
 	}
 
 	if (stat_config.iostat_run) {
-		status = iostat_prepare(evsel_list, &stat_config);
+		status = iostat_prepare(&evsel_list, &stat_config);
 		if (status)
 			goto out;
 		if (iostat_mode == IOSTAT_LIST) {
@@ -2882,9 +2886,10 @@ int cmd_stat(int argc, const char **argv)
 	}
 #ifdef HAVE_BPF_SKEL
 	if (target.use_bpf && nr_cgroups &&
-	    (evsel_list->core.nr_entries / nr_cgroups) > BPERF_CGROUP__MAX_EVENTS) {
+	    (evlist__nr_entries(evsel_list) / nr_cgroups) > BPERF_CGROUP__MAX_EVENTS) {
 		pr_warning("Disabling BPF counters due to more events (%d) than the max (%d)\n",
-			   evsel_list->core.nr_entries / nr_cgroups, BPERF_CGROUP__MAX_EVENTS);
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evsel_list) / nr_cgroups,
+			   BPERF_CGROUP__MAX_EVENTS);
 		target.use_bpf = false;
 	}
 #endif // HAVE_BPF_SKEL
@@ -2922,7 +2927,7 @@ int cmd_stat(int argc, const char **argv)
 	 * so we could print it out on output.
 	 */
 	if (stat_config.aggr_mode == AGGR_THREAD) {
-		thread_map__read_comms(evsel_list->core.threads);
+		thread_map__read_comms(evlist__core(evsel_list)->threads);
 	}
 
 	if (stat_config.aggr_mode == AGGR_NODE)
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index ff24ae35c67fc..5933c46ee137e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ static int perf_top__parse_source(struct perf_top *top, struct hist_entry *he)
 	notes = symbol__annotation(sym);
 	annotation__lock(notes);
 
-	if (!symbol__hists(sym, top->evlist->core.nr_entries)) {
+	if (!symbol__hists(sym, evlist__nr_entries(top->evlist))) {
 		annotation__unlock(notes);
 		pr_err("Not enough memory for annotating '%s' symbol!\n",
 		       sym->name);
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ static void perf_top__show_details(struct perf_top *top)
 
 	more = hist_entry__annotate_printf(he, top->sym_evsel);
 
-	if (top->evlist->enabled) {
+	if (evlist__enabled(top->evlist)) {
 		if (top->zero)
 			symbol__annotate_zero_histogram(symbol, top->sym_evsel);
 		else
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ static void perf_top__resort_hists(struct perf_top *t)
 		 */
 		hists__unlink(hists);
 
-		if (evlist->enabled) {
+		if (evlist__enabled(evlist)) {
 			if (t->zero) {
 				hists__delete_entries(hists);
 			} else {
@@ -334,13 +334,13 @@ static void perf_top__print_sym_table(struct perf_top *top)
 	printf("%-*.*s\n", win_width, win_width, graph_dotted_line);
 
 	if (!top->record_opts.overwrite &&
-	    (top->evlist->stats.nr_lost_warned !=
-	     top->evlist->stats.nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST])) {
-		top->evlist->stats.nr_lost_warned =
-			      top->evlist->stats.nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST];
+	    (evlist__stats(top->evlist)->nr_lost_warned !=
+	     evlist__stats(top->evlist)->nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST])) {
+		evlist__stats(top->evlist)->nr_lost_warned =
+			      evlist__stats(top->evlist)->nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST];
 		color_fprintf(stdout, PERF_COLOR_RED,
 			      "WARNING: LOST %d chunks, Check IO/CPU overload",
-			      top->evlist->stats.nr_lost_warned);
+			      evlist__stats(top->evlist)->nr_lost_warned);
 		++printed;
 	}
 
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ static void perf_top__print_mapped_keys(struct perf_top *top)
 	fprintf(stdout, "\t[d]     display refresh delay.             \t(%d)\n", top->delay_secs);
 	fprintf(stdout, "\t[e]     display entries (lines).           \t(%d)\n", top->print_entries);
 
-	if (top->evlist->core.nr_entries > 1)
+	if (evlist__nr_entries(top->evlist) > 1)
 		fprintf(stdout, "\t[E]     active event counter.              \t(%s)\n", evsel__name(top->sym_evsel));
 
 	fprintf(stdout, "\t[f]     profile display filter (count).    \t(%d)\n", top->count_filter);
@@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ static int perf_top__key_mapped(struct perf_top *top, int c)
 		case 'S':
 			return 1;
 		case 'E':
-			return top->evlist->core.nr_entries > 1 ? 1 : 0;
+			return evlist__nr_entries(top->evlist) > 1 ? 1 : 0;
 		default:
 			break;
 	}
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ static bool perf_top__handle_keypress(struct perf_top *top, int c)
 			}
 			break;
 		case 'E':
-			if (top->evlist->core.nr_entries > 1) {
+			if (evlist__nr_entries(top->evlist) > 1) {
 				/* Select 0 as the default event: */
 				int counter = 0;
 
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ static bool perf_top__handle_keypress(struct perf_top *top, int c)
 
 				prompt_integer(&counter, "Enter details event counter");
 
-				if (counter >= top->evlist->core.nr_entries) {
+				if (counter >= evlist__nr_entries(top->evlist)) {
 					top->sym_evsel = evlist__first(top->evlist);
 					fprintf(stderr, "Sorry, no such event, using %s.\n", evsel__name(top->sym_evsel));
 					sleep(1);
@@ -598,8 +598,8 @@ static void perf_top__sort_new_samples(void *arg)
 {
 	struct perf_top *t = arg;
 
-	if (t->evlist->selected != NULL)
-		t->sym_evsel = t->evlist->selected;
+	if (evlist__selected(t->evlist) != NULL)
+		t->sym_evsel = evlist__selected(t->evlist);
 
 	perf_top__resort_hists(t);
 
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ static void perf_event__process_sample(const struct perf_tool *tool,
 
 	if (!machine) {
 		pr_err("%u unprocessable samples recorded.\r",
-		       top->session->evlist->stats.nr_unprocessable_samples++);
+		       evlist__stats(top->session->evlist)->nr_unprocessable_samples++);
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -859,7 +859,7 @@ perf_top__process_lost(struct perf_top *top, union perf_event *event,
 {
 	top->lost += event->lost.lost;
 	top->lost_total += event->lost.lost;
-	evsel->evlist->stats.total_lost += event->lost.lost;
+	evlist__stats(evsel->evlist)->total_lost += event->lost.lost;
 }
 
 static void
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@ perf_top__process_lost_samples(struct perf_top *top,
 {
 	top->lost += event->lost_samples.lost;
 	top->lost_total += event->lost_samples.lost;
-	evsel->evlist->stats.total_lost_samples += event->lost_samples.lost;
+	evlist__stats(evsel->evlist)->total_lost_samples += event->lost_samples.lost;
 }
 
 static u64 last_timestamp;
@@ -881,7 +881,7 @@ static void perf_top__mmap_read_idx(struct perf_top *top, int idx)
 	struct mmap *md;
 	union perf_event *event;
 
-	md = opts->overwrite ? &evlist->overwrite_mmap[idx] : &evlist->mmap[idx];
+	md = opts->overwrite ? &evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist)[idx] : &evlist__mmap(evlist)[idx];
 	if (perf_mmap__read_init(&md->core) < 0)
 		return;
 
@@ -918,7 +918,7 @@ static void perf_top__mmap_read(struct perf_top *top)
 	if (overwrite)
 		evlist__toggle_bkw_mmap(evlist, BKW_MMAP_DATA_PENDING);
 
-	for (i = 0; i < top->evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++)
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(top->evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++)
 		perf_top__mmap_read_idx(top, i);
 
 	if (overwrite) {
@@ -1063,7 +1063,7 @@ static int perf_top__start_counters(struct perf_top *top)
 		goto out_err;
 	}
 
-	if (evlist__mmap(evlist, opts->mmap_pages) < 0) {
+	if (evlist__do_mmap(evlist, opts->mmap_pages) < 0) {
 		ui__error("Failed to mmap with %d (%s)\n",
 			    errno, str_error_r(errno, msg, sizeof(msg)));
 		goto out_err;
@@ -1218,10 +1218,10 @@ static int deliver_event(struct ordered_events *qe,
 	} else if (event->header.type == PERF_RECORD_LOST_SAMPLES) {
 		perf_top__process_lost_samples(top, event, evsel);
 	} else if (event->header.type < PERF_RECORD_MAX) {
-		events_stats__inc(&session->evlist->stats, event->header.type);
+		events_stats__inc(evlist__stats(session->evlist), event->header.type);
 		machine__process_event(machine, event, &sample);
 	} else
-		++session->evlist->stats.nr_unknown_events;
+		++evlist__stats(session->evlist)->nr_unknown_events;
 
 	ret = 0;
 next_event:
@@ -1296,7 +1296,7 @@ static int __cmd_top(struct perf_top *top)
 		pr_debug("Couldn't synthesize cgroup events.\n");
 
 	machine__synthesize_threads(&top->session->machines.host, &opts->target,
-				    top->evlist->core.threads, true, false,
+				    evlist__core(top->evlist)->threads, true, false,
 				    top->nr_threads_synthesize);
 
 	perf_set_multithreaded();
@@ -1714,13 +1714,13 @@ int cmd_top(int argc, const char **argv)
 	if (target__none(target))
 		target->system_wide = true;
 
-	if (!top.evlist->core.nr_entries) {
+	if (!evlist__nr_entries(top.evlist)) {
 		struct evlist *def_evlist = evlist__new_default(target, callchain_param.enabled);
 
 		if (!def_evlist)
 			goto out_put_evlist;
 
-		evlist__splice_list_tail(top.evlist, &def_evlist->core.entries);
+		evlist__splice_list_tail(top.evlist, &evlist__core(def_evlist)->entries);
 		evlist__put(def_evlist);
 	}
 
@@ -1797,7 +1797,7 @@ int cmd_top(int argc, const char **argv)
 		top.session = NULL;
 		goto out_put_evlist;
 	}
-	top.evlist->session = top.session;
+	evlist__set_session(top.evlist, top.session);
 
 	if (setup_sorting(top.evlist, perf_session__env(top.session)) < 0) {
 		if (sort_order)
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
index 496863e825023..b605bd7e519e1 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
@@ -2023,7 +2023,7 @@ static int trace__symbols_init(struct trace *trace, int argc, const char **argv,
 		goto out;
 
 	err = __machine__synthesize_threads(trace->host, &trace->tool, &trace->opts.target,
-					    evlist->core.threads, trace__tool_process,
+					    evlist__core(evlist)->threads, trace__tool_process,
 					    /*needs_mmap=*/callchain_param.enabled &&
 							   !trace->summary_only,
 					    /*mmap_data=*/false,
@@ -4216,7 +4216,7 @@ static int trace__set_filter_pids(struct trace *trace)
 			err = augmented_syscalls__set_filter_pids(trace->filter_pids.nr,
 						       trace->filter_pids.entries);
 		}
-	} else if (perf_thread_map__pid(trace->evlist->core.threads, 0) == -1) {
+	} else if (perf_thread_map__pid(evlist__core(trace->evlist)->threads, 0) == -1) {
 		err = trace__set_filter_loop_pids(trace);
 	}
 
@@ -4530,7 +4530,7 @@ static int trace__run(struct trace *trace, int argc, const char **argv)
 			fprintf(trace->output, "Couldn't run the workload!\n");
 			goto out_put_evlist;
 		}
-		workload_pid = evlist->workload.pid;
+		workload_pid = evlist__workload_pid(evlist);
 	}
 
 	err = evlist__open(evlist);
@@ -4582,7 +4582,7 @@ static int trace__run(struct trace *trace, int argc, const char **argv)
 		goto out_error_apply_filters;
 
 	if (!trace->summary_only || !trace->summary_bpf) {
-		err = evlist__mmap(evlist, trace->opts.mmap_pages);
+		err = evlist__do_mmap(evlist, trace->opts.mmap_pages);
 		if (err < 0)
 			goto out_error_mmap;
 	}
@@ -4601,8 +4601,8 @@ static int trace__run(struct trace *trace, int argc, const char **argv)
 	if (trace->summary_bpf)
 		trace_start_bpf_summary();
 
-	trace->multiple_threads = perf_thread_map__pid(evlist->core.threads, 0) == -1 ||
-		perf_thread_map__nr(evlist->core.threads) > 1 ||
+	trace->multiple_threads = perf_thread_map__pid(evlist__core(evlist)->threads, 0) == -1 ||
+		perf_thread_map__nr(evlist__core(evlist)->threads) > 1 ||
 		evlist__first(evlist)->core.attr.inherit;
 
 	/*
@@ -4619,11 +4619,11 @@ static int trace__run(struct trace *trace, int argc, const char **argv)
 again:
 	before = trace->nr_events;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
 		union perf_event *event;
 		struct mmap *md;
 
-		md = &evlist->mmap[i];
+		md = &evlist__mmap(evlist)[i];
 		if (perf_mmap__read_init(&md->core) < 0)
 			continue;
 
@@ -5325,7 +5325,7 @@ static int trace__parse_cgroups(const struct option *opt, const char *str, int u
 {
 	struct trace *trace = opt->value;
 
-	if (!list_empty(&trace->evlist->core.entries)) {
+	if (!list_empty(&evlist__core(trace->evlist)->entries)) {
 		struct option o = {
 			.value = &trace->evlist,
 		};
@@ -5599,7 +5599,7 @@ int cmd_trace(int argc, const char **argv)
 	 * .perfconfig trace.add_events, and filter those out.
 	 */
 	if (!trace.trace_syscalls && !trace.trace_pgfaults &&
-	    trace.evlist->core.nr_entries == 0 /* Was --events used? */) {
+	    evlist__nr_entries(trace.evlist) == 0 /* Was --events used? */) {
 		trace.trace_syscalls = true;
 	}
 	/*
@@ -5685,7 +5685,7 @@ int cmd_trace(int argc, const char **argv)
 		symbol_conf.use_callchain = true;
 	}
 
-	if (trace.evlist->core.nr_entries > 0) {
+	if (evlist__nr_entries(trace.evlist) > 0) {
 		bool use_btf = false;
 
 		evlist__set_default_evsel_handler(trace.evlist, trace__event_handler);
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/backward-ring-buffer.c b/tools/perf/tests/backward-ring-buffer.c
index 2b49b002d749e..2735cc26d7eec 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/backward-ring-buffer.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/backward-ring-buffer.c
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ static int count_samples(struct evlist *evlist, int *sample_count,
 {
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
-		struct mmap *map = &evlist->overwrite_mmap[i];
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
+		struct mmap *map = &evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist)[i];
 		union perf_event *event;
 
 		perf_mmap__read_init(&map->core);
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ static int do_test(struct evlist *evlist, int mmap_pages,
 	int err;
 	char sbuf[STRERR_BUFSIZE];
 
-	err = evlist__mmap(evlist, mmap_pages);
+	err = evlist__do_mmap(evlist, mmap_pages);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_debug("evlist__mmap: %s\n",
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ static int do_test(struct evlist *evlist, int mmap_pages,
 	evlist__disable(evlist);
 
 	err = count_samples(evlist, sample_count, comm_count);
-	evlist__munmap(evlist);
+	evlist__do_munmap(evlist);
 	return err;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/code-reading.c b/tools/perf/tests/code-reading.c
index 3c88b7e8387a5..f0e8ea8754ef5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/code-reading.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/code-reading.c
@@ -592,8 +592,8 @@ static int process_events(struct machine *machine, struct evlist *evlist,
 	struct mmap *md;
 	int i, ret;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
-		md = &evlist->mmap[i];
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
+		md = &evlist__mmap(evlist)[i];
 		if (perf_mmap__read_init(&md->core) < 0)
 			continue;
 
@@ -781,7 +781,7 @@ static int do_test_code_reading(bool try_kcore)
 			goto out_put;
 		}
 
-		perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, cpus, threads);
+		perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), cpus, threads);
 
 		str = events[evidx];
 		pr_debug("Parsing event '%s'\n", str);
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ static int do_test_code_reading(bool try_kcore)
 				pr_debug("perf_evlist__open() failed!\n%s\n", errbuf);
 			}
 
-			perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, NULL, NULL);
+			perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), NULL, NULL);
 			evlist__put(evlist);
 			evlist = NULL;
 			continue;
@@ -820,7 +820,7 @@ static int do_test_code_reading(bool try_kcore)
 	if (events[evidx] == NULL)
 		goto out_put;
 
-	ret = evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX);
+	ret = evlist__do_mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX);
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		pr_debug("evlist__mmap failed\n");
 		goto out_put;
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/event-times.c b/tools/perf/tests/event-times.c
index 94ab54ecd3f92..56dd37ca760ec 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/event-times.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/event-times.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ static int attach__enable_on_exec(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 static int detach__enable_on_exec(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	waitpid(evlist->workload.pid, NULL, 0);
+	waitpid(evlist__workload_pid(evlist), NULL, 0);
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/event_update.c b/tools/perf/tests/event_update.c
index 73141b122d2fc..220cc0347747d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/event_update.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/event_update.c
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ static int test__event_update(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subtes
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("failed to allocate ids",
 			!perf_evsel__alloc_id(&evsel->core, 1, 1));
 
-	perf_evlist__id_add(&evlist->core, &evsel->core, 0, 0, 123);
+	perf_evlist__id_add(evlist__core(evlist), &evsel->core, 0, 0, 123);
 
 	free((char *)evsel->unit);
 	evsel->unit = strdup("KRAVA");
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/expand-cgroup.c b/tools/perf/tests/expand-cgroup.c
index a7a445f126935..549fbd473ab74 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/expand-cgroup.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/expand-cgroup.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ static int test_expand_events(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("evlist is empty", !evlist__empty(evlist));
 
-	nr_events = evlist->core.nr_entries;
+	nr_events = evlist__nr_entries(evlist);
 	ev_name = calloc(nr_events, sizeof(*ev_name));
 	if (ev_name == NULL) {
 		pr_debug("memory allocation failure\n");
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ static int test_expand_events(struct evlist *evlist)
 	}
 
 	ret = TEST_FAIL;
-	if (evlist->core.nr_entries != nr_events * nr_cgrps) {
+	if (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) != nr_events * nr_cgrps) {
 		pr_debug("event count doesn't match\n");
 		goto out;
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/hwmon_pmu.c b/tools/perf/tests/hwmon_pmu.c
index 9e89051e7fdc4..e26b3fe3fab15 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/hwmon_pmu.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/hwmon_pmu.c
@@ -184,9 +184,10 @@ static int do_test(size_t i, bool with_pmu, bool with_alias)
 	}
 
 	ret = TEST_OK;
-	if (with_pmu ? (evlist->core.nr_entries != 1) : (evlist->core.nr_entries < 1)) {
+	if (with_pmu ? (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) != 1)
+		     : (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) < 1)) {
 		pr_debug("FAILED %s:%d Unexpected number of events for '%s' of %d\n",
-			 __FILE__, __LINE__, str, evlist->core.nr_entries);
+			 __FILE__, __LINE__, str, evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 		ret = TEST_FAIL;
 		goto out;
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/keep-tracking.c b/tools/perf/tests/keep-tracking.c
index 51cfd65228676..b760041bed307 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/keep-tracking.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/keep-tracking.c
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ static int find_comm(struct evlist *evlist, const char *comm)
 	int i, found;
 
 	found = 0;
-	for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
-		md = &evlist->mmap[i];
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
+		md = &evlist__mmap(evlist)[i];
 		if (perf_mmap__read_init(&md->core) < 0)
 			continue;
 		while ((event = perf_mmap__read_event(&md->core)) != NULL) {
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ static int test__keep_tracking(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subte
 	evlist = evlist__new();
 	CHECK_NOT_NULL__(evlist);
 
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, cpus, threads);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), cpus, threads);
 
 	CHECK__(parse_event(evlist, "dummy:u"));
 	CHECK__(parse_event(evlist, "cpu-cycles:u"));
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ static int test__keep_tracking(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subte
 		goto out_err;
 	}
 
-	CHECK__(evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX));
+	CHECK__(evlist__do_mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX));
 
 	/*
 	 * First, test that a 'comm' event can be found when the event is
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/mmap-basic.c b/tools/perf/tests/mmap-basic.c
index 5ff58eb2af8de..5cec7644952c7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/mmap-basic.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/mmap-basic.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ static int test__basic_mmap(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subtest
 		goto out_free_cpus;
 	}
 
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, cpus, threads);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), cpus, threads);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < nsyscalls; ++i) {
 		char name[64];
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ static int test__basic_mmap(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subtest
 		expected_nr_events[i] = 1 + rand() % 127;
 	}
 
-	if (evlist__mmap(evlist, 128) < 0) {
+	if (evlist__do_mmap(evlist, 128) < 0) {
 		pr_debug("failed to mmap events: %d (%s)\n", errno,
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
 		goto out_put_evlist;
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ static int test__basic_mmap(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subtest
 			syscalls[i]();
 		}
 
-	md = &evlist->mmap[0];
+	md = &evlist__mmap(evlist)[0];
 	if (perf_mmap__read_init(&md->core) < 0)
 		goto out_init;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/openat-syscall-tp-fields.c b/tools/perf/tests/openat-syscall-tp-fields.c
index b30f286fb421c..5365889d326f8 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/openat-syscall-tp-fields.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/openat-syscall-tp-fields.c
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ static int test__syscall_openat_tp_fields(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused
 
 	evsel__config(evsel, &opts, NULL);
 
-	perf_thread_map__set_pid(evlist->core.threads, 0, getpid());
+	perf_thread_map__set_pid(evlist__core(evlist)->threads, 0, getpid());
 
 	err = evlist__open(evlist);
 	if (err < 0) {
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ static int test__syscall_openat_tp_fields(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused
 		goto out_put_evlist;
 	}
 
-	err = evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX);
+	err = evlist__do_mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_debug("evlist__mmap: %s\n",
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
@@ -90,11 +90,11 @@ static int test__syscall_openat_tp_fields(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused
 	while (1) {
 		int before = nr_events;
 
-		for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
+		for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
 			union perf_event *event;
 			struct mmap *md;
 
-			md = &evlist->mmap[i];
+			md = &evlist__mmap(evlist)[i];
 			if (perf_mmap__read_init(&md->core) < 0)
 				continue;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c
index 19dc7b7475d2d..0ad0273da923a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_tracepoint(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of groups", 0 == evlist__nr_groups(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_TRACEPOINT == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong sample_type",
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_tracepoint_multi(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", evlist->core.nr_entries > 1, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", evlist__nr_entries(evlist) > 1, evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of groups", 0 == evlist__nr_groups(evlist), evlist);
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_raw(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 	bool raw_type_match = false;
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 0 != evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 0 != evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
 		struct perf_pmu *pmu __maybe_unused = NULL;
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_numeric(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", 1 == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong config", 1 == evsel->core.attr.config, evsel);
 	return TEST_OK;
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_symbolic_name(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 0 != evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 0 != evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
 		TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("unexpected event",
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_symbolic_name_config(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 0 != evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 0 != evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
 		TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("unexpected event",
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_symbolic_alias(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type/config", evsel__match(evsel, SOFTWARE, SW_PAGE_FAULTS),
 			  evsel);
 	return TEST_OK;
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_genhw(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 0 != evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 0 != evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
 		TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_HW_CACHE == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_breakpoint(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_BREAKPOINT == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong config", 0 == evsel->core.attr.config, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong bp_type",
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_breakpoint_x(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_BREAKPOINT == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong config", 0 == evsel->core.attr.config, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong bp_type", HW_BREAKPOINT_X == evsel->core.attr.bp_type, evsel);
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_breakpoint_r(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_BREAKPOINT == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong config", 0 == evsel->core.attr.config, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong bp_type", HW_BREAKPOINT_R == evsel->core.attr.bp_type, evsel);
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_breakpoint_w(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_BREAKPOINT == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong config", 0 == evsel->core.attr.config, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong bp_type", HW_BREAKPOINT_W == evsel->core.attr.bp_type, evsel);
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_breakpoint_rw(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_BREAKPOINT == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong config", 0 == evsel->core.attr.config, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong bp_type",
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_tracepoint_modifier(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_user", evsel->core.attr.exclude_user, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_kernel", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv, evsel);
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ test__checkevent_tracepoint_multi_modifier(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", evlist->core.nr_entries > 1, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", evlist__nr_entries(evlist) > 1, evlist);
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
 		TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user, evsel);
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_raw_modifier(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
 		TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_user", evsel->core.attr.exclude_user, evsel);
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_numeric_modifier(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
 		TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_user", evsel->core.attr.exclude_user, evsel);
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_symbolic_name_modifier(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_exclude_host_modifier(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_exclude_guest_modifier(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
@@ -423,7 +423,8 @@ static int test__checkevent_symbolic_alias_modifier(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
+			   1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_kernel", evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv, evsel);
@@ -437,7 +438,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_genhw_modifier(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
@@ -454,7 +455,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_exclude_idle_modifier(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude idle", evsel->core.attr.exclude_idle, evsel);
@@ -473,7 +474,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_exclude_idle_modifier_1(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude idle", evsel->core.attr.exclude_idle, evsel);
@@ -622,7 +623,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_breakpoint_2_events(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evsel);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evsel);
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_BREAKPOINT == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong name", evsel__name_is(evsel, "breakpoint1"), evsel);
@@ -641,7 +642,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_pmu(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 	struct perf_pmu *core_pmu = perf_pmus__find_core_pmu();
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evsel);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", core_pmu->type == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong config",    test_hw_config(evsel, 10), evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong config1",    1 == evsel->core.attr.config1, evsel);
@@ -661,7 +662,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_list(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong number of entries", 3 <= evlist->core.nr_entries, evsel);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong number of entries", 3 <= evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evsel);
 
 	/* r1 */
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_TRACEPOINT != evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
@@ -707,14 +708,15 @@ static int test__checkevent_pmu_name(struct evlist *evlist)
 	char buf[256];
 
 	/* default_core/config=1,name=krava/u */
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
+			   2 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", core_pmu->type == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong config", 1 == evsel->core.attr.config, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong name", evsel__name_is(evsel, "krava"), evsel);
 
 	/* default_core/config=2/u" */
 	evsel = evsel__next(evsel);
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evsel);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", core_pmu->type == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong config", 2 == evsel->core.attr.config, evsel);
 	snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%s/config=2/u", core_pmu->name);
@@ -729,7 +731,8 @@ static int test__checkevent_pmu_partial_time_callgraph(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct perf_pmu *core_pmu = perf_pmus__find_core_pmu();
 
 	/* default_core/config=1,call-graph=fp,time,period=100000/ */
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 2 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
+			   2 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", core_pmu->type == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong config", 1 == evsel->core.attr.config, evsel);
 	/*
@@ -760,7 +763,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_pmu_events(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 	struct perf_pmu *core_pmu = perf_pmus__find_core_pmu();
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 <= evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 <= evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
 		TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type",
@@ -787,8 +790,9 @@ static int test__checkevent_pmu_events_mix(struct evlist *evlist)
 	 * The wild card event will be opened at least once, but it may be
 	 * opened on each core PMU.
 	 */
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", evlist->core.nr_entries >= 2, evlist);
-	for (int i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_entries - 1; i++) {
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) >= 2, evlist);
+	for (int i = 0; i < evlist__nr_entries(evlist) - 1; i++) {
 		evsel = (i == 0 ? evlist__first(evlist) : evsel__next(evsel));
 		/* pmu-event:u */
 		TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user, evsel);
@@ -905,7 +909,7 @@ static int test__group1(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = NULL, *leader;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == (num_core_entries(evlist) * 2),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == (num_core_entries(evlist) * 2),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of groups",
 			   evlist__nr_groups(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
@@ -950,7 +954,7 @@ static int test__group2(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel, *leader = NULL;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == (2 * num_core_entries(evlist) + 1),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == (2 * num_core_entries(evlist) + 1),
 			   evlist);
 	/*
 	 * TODO: Currently the software event won't be grouped with the hardware
@@ -1018,7 +1022,7 @@ static int test__group3(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 	struct evsel *evsel, *group1_leader = NULL, *group2_leader = NULL;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == (3 * perf_pmus__num_core_pmus() + 2),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == (3 * perf_pmus__num_core_pmus() + 2),
 			   evlist);
 	/*
 	 * Currently the software event won't be grouped with the hardware event
@@ -1144,7 +1148,7 @@ static int test__group4(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 	struct evsel *evsel = NULL, *leader;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == (num_core_entries(evlist) * 2),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == (num_core_entries(evlist) * 2),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of groups",
 			   num_core_entries(evlist) == evlist__nr_groups(evlist),
@@ -1191,7 +1195,7 @@ static int test__group5(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 	struct evsel *evsel = NULL, *leader;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == (5 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == (5 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of groups",
 			   evlist__nr_groups(evlist) == (2 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
@@ -1284,7 +1288,7 @@ static int test__group_gh1(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = NULL, *leader;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == (2 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == (2 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of groups",
 			   evlist__nr_groups(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
@@ -1329,7 +1333,7 @@ static int test__group_gh2(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = NULL, *leader;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == (2 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == (2 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of groups",
 			   evlist__nr_groups(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
@@ -1374,7 +1378,7 @@ static int test__group_gh3(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = NULL, *leader;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == (2 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == (2 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of groups",
 			   evlist__nr_groups(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
@@ -1419,7 +1423,7 @@ static int test__group_gh4(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = NULL, *leader;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == (2 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == (2 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of groups",
 			   evlist__nr_groups(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
@@ -1464,7 +1468,7 @@ static int test__leader_sample1(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = NULL, *leader;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == (3 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == (3 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
 			   evlist);
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(evlist); i++) {
@@ -1520,7 +1524,7 @@ static int test__leader_sample2(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
 	struct evsel *evsel = NULL, *leader;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == (2 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == (2 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
 			   evlist);
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(evlist); i++) {
@@ -1562,7 +1566,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_pinned_modifier(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = NULL;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(evlist); i++) {
@@ -1581,7 +1585,7 @@ static int test__pinned_group(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = NULL, *leader;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == (3 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == (3 * num_core_entries(evlist)),
 			   evlist);
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(evlist); i++) {
@@ -1618,7 +1622,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_exclusive_modifier(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_kernel", evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel, evsel);
@@ -1634,7 +1638,7 @@ static int test__exclusive_group(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = NULL, *leader;
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == 3 * num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == 3 * num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < num_core_entries(evlist); i++) {
@@ -1669,7 +1673,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_breakpoint_len(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_BREAKPOINT == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong config", 0 == evsel->core.attr.config, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong bp_type",
@@ -1684,7 +1688,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_breakpoint_len_w(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_BREAKPOINT == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong config", 0 == evsel->core.attr.config, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong bp_type", HW_BREAKPOINT_W == evsel->core.attr.bp_type, evsel);
@@ -1698,7 +1702,7 @@ test__checkevent_breakpoint_len_rw_modifier(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_user", !evsel->core.attr.exclude_user, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_kernel", evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_hv", evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv, evsel);
@@ -1712,7 +1716,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_precise_max_modifier(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == 1 + num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == 1 + num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type/config", evsel__match(evsel, SOFTWARE, SW_TASK_CLOCK), evsel);
 	return TEST_OK;
@@ -1723,7 +1727,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_config_symbol(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong name setting", evsel__name_is(evsel, "insn"), evsel);
 	return TEST_OK;
@@ -1733,7 +1737,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_config_raw(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong name setting", evsel__name_is(evsel, "rawpmu"), evsel);
 	return TEST_OK;
 }
@@ -1742,7 +1746,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_config_num(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong name setting", evsel__name_is(evsel, "numpmu"), evsel);
 	return TEST_OK;
 }
@@ -1752,7 +1756,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_config_cache(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong name setting", evsel__name_is(evsel, "cachepmu"), evsel);
 	return test__checkevent_genhw(evlist);
@@ -1777,7 +1781,7 @@ static int test__intel_pt(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong name setting", evsel__name_is(evsel, "intel_pt//u"), evsel);
 	return TEST_OK;
 }
@@ -1798,7 +1802,8 @@ static int test__ratio_to_prev(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel, *leader;
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries", 2 * perf_pmus__num_core_pmus() == evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong number of entries",
+			2 * perf_pmus__num_core_pmus() == evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
 		if (evsel != evsel__leader(evsel) ||
@@ -1842,7 +1847,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_complex_name(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong complex name parsing",
 			  evsel__name_is(evsel,
@@ -1855,7 +1860,7 @@ static int test__checkevent_raw_pmu(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist->core.nr_entries, evlist);
+	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries", 1 == evlist__nr_entries(evlist), evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong type", PERF_TYPE_SOFTWARE == evsel->core.attr.type, evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong config", 0x1a == evsel->core.attr.config, evsel);
 	return TEST_OK;
@@ -1866,7 +1871,7 @@ static int test__sym_event_slash(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("unexpected event", evsel__match(evsel, HARDWARE, HW_CPU_CYCLES), evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_kernel", evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel, evsel);
@@ -1878,7 +1883,7 @@ static int test__sym_event_dc(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("unexpected event", evsel__match(evsel, HARDWARE, HW_CPU_CYCLES), evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong exclude_user", evsel->core.attr.exclude_user, evsel);
@@ -1890,7 +1895,7 @@ static int test__term_equal_term(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("unexpected event", evsel__match(evsel, HARDWARE, HW_CPU_CYCLES), evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong name setting", strcmp(evsel->name, "name") == 0, evsel);
@@ -1902,7 +1907,7 @@ static int test__term_equal_legacy(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct evsel *evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
 
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVLIST("wrong number of entries",
-			   evlist->core.nr_entries == num_core_entries(evlist),
+			   evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == num_core_entries(evlist),
 			   evlist);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("unexpected event", evsel__match(evsel, HARDWARE, HW_CPU_CYCLES), evsel);
 	TEST_ASSERT_EVSEL("wrong name setting", strcmp(evsel->name, "l1d") == 0, evsel);
@@ -1958,7 +1963,7 @@ static int count_tracepoints(void)
 static int test__all_tracepoints(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("wrong events count",
-			count_tracepoints() == evlist->core.nr_entries);
+			count_tracepoints() == evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 
 	return test__checkevent_tracepoint_multi(evlist);
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/parse-metric.c b/tools/perf/tests/parse-metric.c
index 3f0ec839c056a..8f9211eaf341e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/parse-metric.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/parse-metric.c
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ static double compute_single(struct evlist *evlist, const char *name)
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
-		me = metricgroup__lookup(&evlist->metric_events, evsel, false);
+		me = metricgroup__lookup(evlist__metric_events(evlist), evsel, false);
 		if (me != NULL) {
 			list_for_each_entry (mexp, &me->head, nd) {
 				if (strcmp(mexp->metric_name, name))
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ static int __compute_metric(const char *name, struct value *vals,
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, cpus, NULL);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), cpus, NULL);
 
 	/* Parse the metric into metric_events list. */
 	pme_test = find_core_metrics_table("testarch", "testcpu");
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/perf-record.c b/tools/perf/tests/perf-record.c
index f95752b2ed1c0..0cac6ae1a1fc0 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/perf-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/perf-record.c
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ static int test__PERF_RECORD(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subtest
 	evsel__set_sample_bit(evsel, TIME);
 	evlist__config(evlist, &opts, NULL);
 
-	err = sched__get_first_possible_cpu(evlist->workload.pid, cpu_mask);
+	err = sched__get_first_possible_cpu(evlist__workload_pid(evlist), cpu_mask);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_debug("sched__get_first_possible_cpu: %s\n",
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ static int test__PERF_RECORD(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subtest
 	/*
 	 * So that we can check perf_sample.cpu on all the samples.
 	 */
-	if (sched_setaffinity(evlist->workload.pid, cpu_mask_size, cpu_mask) < 0) {
+	if (sched_setaffinity(evlist__workload_pid(evlist), cpu_mask_size, cpu_mask) < 0) {
 		pr_debug("sched_setaffinity: %s\n",
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
 		evlist__cancel_workload(evlist);
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ static int test__PERF_RECORD(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subtest
 	 * fds in the same CPU to be injected in the same mmap ring buffer
 	 * (using ioctl(PERF_EVENT_IOC_SET_OUTPUT)).
 	 */
-	err = evlist__mmap(evlist, opts.mmap_pages);
+	err = evlist__do_mmap(evlist, opts.mmap_pages);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_debug("evlist__mmap: %s\n",
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
@@ -188,11 +188,11 @@ static int test__PERF_RECORD(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subtest
 	while (1) {
 		int before = total_events;
 
-		for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
+		for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
 			union perf_event *event;
 			struct mmap *md;
 
-			md = &evlist->mmap[i];
+			md = &evlist__mmap(evlist)[i];
 			if (perf_mmap__read_init(&md->core) < 0)
 				continue;
 
@@ -231,15 +231,15 @@ static int test__PERF_RECORD(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subtest
 					++errs;
 				}
 
-				if ((pid_t)sample.pid != evlist->workload.pid) {
+				if ((pid_t)sample.pid != evlist__workload_pid(evlist)) {
 					pr_debug("%s with unexpected pid, expected %d, got %d\n",
-						 name, evlist->workload.pid, sample.pid);
+						 name, evlist__workload_pid(evlist), sample.pid);
 					++errs;
 				}
 
-				if ((pid_t)sample.tid != evlist->workload.pid) {
+				if ((pid_t)sample.tid != evlist__workload_pid(evlist)) {
 					pr_debug("%s with unexpected tid, expected %d, got %d\n",
-						 name, evlist->workload.pid, sample.tid);
+						 name, evlist__workload_pid(evlist), sample.tid);
 					++errs;
 				}
 
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ static int test__PERF_RECORD(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subtest
 				     type == PERF_RECORD_MMAP2 ||
 				     type == PERF_RECORD_FORK ||
 				     type == PERF_RECORD_EXIT) &&
-				     (pid_t)event->comm.pid != evlist->workload.pid) {
+				     (pid_t)event->comm.pid != evlist__workload_pid(evlist)) {
 					pr_debug("%s with unexpected pid/tid\n", name);
 					++errs;
 				}
@@ -352,9 +352,9 @@ static int test__PERF_RECORD(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subtest
 	}
 out_put_evlist:
 	CPU_FREE(cpu_mask);
-	evlist__put(evlist);
 out:
 	perf_sample__exit(&sample);
+	evlist__put(evlist);
 	if (err == -EACCES)
 		return TEST_SKIP;
 	if (err < 0 || errs != 0)
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/perf-time-to-tsc.c b/tools/perf/tests/perf-time-to-tsc.c
index d3538fa20af30..f8f71fdd32b1b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/perf-time-to-tsc.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/perf-time-to-tsc.c
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ static int test__perf_time_to_tsc(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int su
 	evlist = evlist__new();
 	CHECK_NOT_NULL__(evlist);
 
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, cpus, threads);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), cpus, threads);
 
 	CHECK__(parse_event(evlist, "cpu-cycles:u"));
 
@@ -121,9 +121,9 @@ static int test__perf_time_to_tsc(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int su
 		goto out_err;
 	}
 
-	CHECK__(evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX));
+	CHECK__(evlist__do_mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX));
 
-	pc = evlist->mmap[0].core.base;
+	pc = evlist__mmap(evlist)[0].core.base;
 	ret = perf_read_tsc_conversion(pc, &tc);
 	if (ret) {
 		if (ret == -EOPNOTSUPP) {
@@ -145,8 +145,8 @@ static int test__perf_time_to_tsc(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int su
 
 	evlist__disable(evlist);
 
-	for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
-		md = &evlist->mmap[i];
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
+		md = &evlist__mmap(evlist)[i];
 		if (perf_mmap__read_init(&md->core) < 0)
 			continue;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/pfm.c b/tools/perf/tests/pfm.c
index 8d19b1bfecbca..f7bf55be5e6ee 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/pfm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/pfm.c
@@ -69,12 +69,12 @@ static int test__pfm_events(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused,
 		if (evlist == NULL)
 			return -ENOMEM;
 
-		opt.value = evlist;
+		opt.value = &evlist;
 		parse_libpfm_events_option(&opt,
 					table[i].events,
 					0);
 		TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(table[i].events,
-				count_pfm_events(&evlist->core),
+				count_pfm_events(evlist__core(evlist)),
 				table[i].nr_events);
 		TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(table[i].events,
 				evlist__nr_groups(evlist),
@@ -154,12 +154,12 @@ static int test__pfm_group(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused,
 		if (evlist == NULL)
 			return -ENOMEM;
 
-		opt.value = evlist;
+		opt.value = &evlist;
 		parse_libpfm_events_option(&opt,
 					table[i].events,
 					0);
 		TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(table[i].events,
-				count_pfm_events(&evlist->core),
+				count_pfm_events(evlist__core(evlist)),
 				table[i].nr_events);
 		TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL(table[i].events,
 				evlist__nr_groups(evlist),
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/pmu-events.c b/tools/perf/tests/pmu-events.c
index 4ea6d392085b2..4c6fc1207b6de 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/pmu-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/pmu-events.c
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@ static int test__parsing_callback(const struct pmu_metric *pm,
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, cpus, NULL);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), cpus, NULL);
 
 	err = metricgroup__parse_groups_test(evlist, table, pm->metric_name);
 	if (err) {
@@ -895,7 +895,8 @@ static int test__parsing_callback(const struct pmu_metric *pm,
 		k++;
 	}
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
-		struct metric_event *me = metricgroup__lookup(&evlist->metric_events, evsel, false);
+		struct metric_event *me = metricgroup__lookup(evlist__metric_events(evlist),
+							      evsel, false);
 
 		if (me != NULL) {
 			struct metric_expr *mexp;
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/sample-parsing.c b/tools/perf/tests/sample-parsing.c
index 55f0b73ca20e0..20cab91ceaeb2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/sample-parsing.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/sample-parsing.c
@@ -205,15 +205,11 @@ static bool samples_same(struct perf_sample *s1,
 
 static int do_test(u64 sample_type, u64 sample_regs, u64 read_format)
 {
-	struct evsel evsel = {
-		.needs_swap = false,
-		.core = {
-			. attr = {
-				.sample_type = sample_type,
-				.read_format = read_format,
-			},
-		},
+	struct perf_event_attr attr = {
+		.sample_type = sample_type,
+		.read_format = read_format,
 	};
+	struct evsel *evsel;
 	union perf_event *event;
 	union {
 		struct ip_callchain callchain;
@@ -287,16 +283,21 @@ static int do_test(u64 sample_type, u64 sample_regs, u64 read_format)
 	size_t i, sz, bufsz;
 	int err, ret = -1;
 
+	evsel = evsel__new(&attr);
+	if (!evsel) {
+		pr_debug("evsel__new failed\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
 	perf_sample__init(&sample_out, /*all=*/false);
 	perf_sample__init(&sample_out_endian, /*all=*/false);
 	if (sample_type & PERF_SAMPLE_REGS_USER)
-		evsel.core.attr.sample_regs_user = sample_regs;
+		evsel->core.attr.sample_regs_user = sample_regs;
 
 	if (sample_type & PERF_SAMPLE_REGS_INTR)
-		evsel.core.attr.sample_regs_intr = sample_regs;
+		evsel->core.attr.sample_regs_intr = sample_regs;
 
 	if (sample_type & PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_STACK)
-		evsel.core.attr.branch_sample_type |= PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_HW_INDEX;
+		evsel->core.attr.branch_sample_type |= PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_HW_INDEX;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < sizeof(regs); i++)
 		*(i + (u8 *)regs) = i & 0xfe;
@@ -311,12 +312,12 @@ static int do_test(u64 sample_type, u64 sample_regs, u64 read_format)
 	}
 
 	sz = perf_event__sample_event_size(&sample, sample_type, read_format,
-					   evsel.core.attr.branch_sample_type);
+					   evsel->core.attr.branch_sample_type);
 	bufsz = sz + 4096; /* Add a bit for overrun checking */
 	event = malloc(bufsz);
 	if (!event) {
 		pr_debug("malloc failed\n");
-		return -1;
+		goto out_free;
 	}
 
 	memset(event, 0xff, bufsz);
@@ -325,7 +326,7 @@ static int do_test(u64 sample_type, u64 sample_regs, u64 read_format)
 	event->header.size = sz;
 
 	err = perf_event__synthesize_sample(event, sample_type, read_format,
-					    evsel.core.attr.branch_sample_type, &sample);
+					    evsel->core.attr.branch_sample_type, &sample);
 	if (err) {
 		pr_debug("%s failed for sample_type %#"PRIx64", error %d\n",
 			 "perf_event__synthesize_sample", sample_type, err);
@@ -343,32 +344,33 @@ static int do_test(u64 sample_type, u64 sample_regs, u64 read_format)
 		goto out_free;
 	}
 
-	evsel.sample_size = __evsel__sample_size(sample_type);
+	evsel->sample_size = __evsel__sample_size(sample_type);
 
-	err = evsel__parse_sample(&evsel, event, &sample_out);
+	err = evsel__parse_sample(evsel, event, &sample_out);
 	if (err) {
 		pr_debug("%s failed for sample_type %#"PRIx64", error %d\n",
 			 "evsel__parse_sample", sample_type, err);
 		goto out_free;
 	}
 
-	if (!samples_same(&sample, &sample_out, sample_type, read_format, evsel.needs_swap)) {
+	if (!samples_same(&sample, &sample_out, sample_type, read_format, evsel->needs_swap)) {
 		pr_debug("parsing failed for sample_type %#"PRIx64"\n",
 			 sample_type);
 		goto out_free;
 	}
 
 	if (sample_type == PERF_SAMPLE_BRANCH_STACK) {
-		evsel.needs_swap = true;
-		evsel.sample_size = __evsel__sample_size(sample_type);
-		err = evsel__parse_sample(&evsel, event, &sample_out_endian);
+		evsel->needs_swap = true;
+		evsel->sample_size = __evsel__sample_size(sample_type);
+		err = evsel__parse_sample(evsel, event, &sample_out_endian);
 		if (err) {
 			pr_debug("%s failed for sample_type %#"PRIx64", error %d\n",
 				 "evsel__parse_sample", sample_type, err);
 			goto out_free;
 		}
 
-		if (!samples_same(&sample, &sample_out_endian, sample_type, read_format, evsel.needs_swap)) {
+		if (!samples_same(&sample, &sample_out_endian, sample_type,
+				  read_format, evsel->needs_swap)) {
 			pr_debug("parsing failed for sample_type %#"PRIx64"\n",
 				 sample_type);
 			goto out_free;
@@ -380,6 +382,7 @@ static int do_test(u64 sample_type, u64 sample_regs, u64 read_format)
 	free(event);
 	perf_sample__exit(&sample_out_endian);
 	perf_sample__exit(&sample_out);
+	evsel__put(evsel);
 	if (ret && read_format)
 		pr_debug("read_format %#"PRIx64"\n", read_format);
 	return ret;
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/sw-clock.c b/tools/perf/tests/sw-clock.c
index bb6b62cf51d17..d181858816352 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/sw-clock.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/sw-clock.c
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ static int __test__sw_clock_freq(enum perf_sw_ids clock_id)
 		goto out_put_evlist;
 	}
 
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, cpus, threads);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), cpus, threads);
 
 	if (evlist__open(evlist)) {
 		const char *knob = "/proc/sys/kernel/perf_event_max_sample_rate";
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ static int __test__sw_clock_freq(enum perf_sw_ids clock_id)
 		goto out_put_evlist;
 	}
 
-	err = evlist__mmap(evlist, 128);
+	err = evlist__do_mmap(evlist, 128);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_debug("failed to mmap event: %d (%s)\n", errno,
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ static int __test__sw_clock_freq(enum perf_sw_ids clock_id)
 
 	evlist__disable(evlist);
 
-	md = &evlist->mmap[0];
+	md = &evlist__mmap(evlist)[0];
 	if (perf_mmap__read_init(&md->core) < 0)
 		goto out_init;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/switch-tracking.c b/tools/perf/tests/switch-tracking.c
index abd08d60179c5..73568c782d72b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/switch-tracking.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/switch-tracking.c
@@ -237,6 +237,7 @@ static int add_event(struct evlist *evlist, struct list_head *events,
 
 	if (evlist__parse_sample(evlist, event, &sample)) {
 		pr_debug("evlist__parse_sample failed\n");
+		perf_sample__exit(&sample);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
@@ -282,8 +283,8 @@ static int process_events(struct evlist *evlist,
 	struct mmap *md;
 	int i, ret;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
-		md = &evlist->mmap[i];
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
+		md = &evlist__mmap(evlist)[i];
 		if (perf_mmap__read_init(&md->core) < 0)
 			continue;
 
@@ -374,7 +375,7 @@ static int test__switch_tracking(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int sub
 		goto out_err;
 	}
 
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, cpus, threads);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), cpus, threads);
 
 	/* First event */
 	err = parse_event(evlist, "cpu-clock:u");
@@ -471,7 +472,7 @@ static int test__switch_tracking(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int sub
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	err = evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX);
+	err = evlist__do_mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX);
 	if (err) {
 		pr_debug("evlist__mmap failed!\n");
 		goto out_err;
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c b/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c
index a46650b10689e..95393edbfe363 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ static int test__task_exit(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subtest _
 		goto out_put_evlist;
 	}
 
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, cpus, threads);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), cpus, threads);
 
 	err = evlist__prepare_workload(evlist, &target, argv, false, workload_exec_failed_signal);
 	if (err < 0) {
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ static int test__task_exit(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subtest _
 		goto out_put_evlist;
 	}
 
-	if (evlist__mmap(evlist, 128) < 0) {
+	if (evlist__do_mmap(evlist, 128) < 0) {
 		pr_debug("failed to mmap events: %d (%s)\n", errno,
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
 		err = -1;
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ static int test__task_exit(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused, int subtest _
 	evlist__start_workload(evlist);
 
 retry:
-	md = &evlist->mmap[0];
+	md = &evlist__mmap(evlist)[0];
 	if (perf_mmap__read_init(&md->core) < 0)
 		goto out_init;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/time-utils-test.c b/tools/perf/tests/time-utils-test.c
index 38df10373c1e1..90a9a4b4f1789 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/time-utils-test.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/time-utils-test.c
@@ -69,16 +69,19 @@ struct test_data {
 
 static bool test__perf_time__parse_for_ranges(struct test_data *d)
 {
-	struct evlist evlist = {
-		.first_sample_time = d->first,
-		.last_sample_time = d->last,
-	};
-	struct perf_session session = { .evlist = &evlist };
+	struct evlist *evlist = evlist__new();
+	struct perf_session session = { .evlist = evlist };
 	struct perf_time_interval *ptime = NULL;
 	int range_size, range_num;
 	bool pass = false;
 	int i, err;
 
+	if (!evlist) {
+		pr_debug("Missing evlist\n");
+		return false;
+	}
+	evlist__set_first_sample_time(evlist, d->first);
+	evlist__set_last_sample_time(evlist, d->last);
 	pr_debug("\nperf_time__parse_for_ranges(\"%s\")\n", d->str);
 
 	if (strchr(d->str, '%'))
@@ -127,6 +130,7 @@ static bool test__perf_time__parse_for_ranges(struct test_data *d)
 
 	pass = true;
 out:
+	evlist__put(evlist);
 	free(ptime);
 	return pass;
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/tool_pmu.c b/tools/perf/tests/tool_pmu.c
index e78ff9dcea97f..c6c5ebf0e935f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/tool_pmu.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/tool_pmu.c
@@ -40,9 +40,10 @@ static int do_test(enum tool_pmu_event ev, bool with_pmu)
 	}
 
 	ret = TEST_OK;
-	if (with_pmu ? (evlist->core.nr_entries != 1) : (evlist->core.nr_entries < 1)) {
+	if (with_pmu ? (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) != 1)
+		     : (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) < 1)) {
 		pr_debug("FAILED %s:%d Unexpected number of events for '%s' of %d\n",
-			 __FILE__, __LINE__, str, evlist->core.nr_entries);
+			 __FILE__, __LINE__, str, evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 		ret = TEST_FAIL;
 		goto out;
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/topology.c b/tools/perf/tests/topology.c
index 15741abec8c6d..77cb8318c0b18 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/topology.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/topology.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ static int session_write_header(char *path)
 
 	session->evlist = evlist__new_default(&target, /*sample_callchains=*/false);
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("can't get evlist", session->evlist);
-	session->evlist->session = session;
+	evlist__set_session(session->evlist, session);
 
 	perf_header__set_feat(&session->header, HEADER_CPU_TOPOLOGY);
 	perf_header__set_feat(&session->header, HEADER_NRCPUS);
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/uncore-event-sorting.c b/tools/perf/tests/uncore-event-sorting.c
index 2e741aef4a59d..7756777c54c2e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/uncore-event-sorting.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/uncore-event-sorting.c
@@ -147,8 +147,8 @@ static int test__uncore_event_sorting(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused,
 		goto out_err;
 	}
 
-	CHECK_COND(evlist->core.nr_entries >= 4, "Number of events is >= 4");
-	CHECK_EQUAL(evlist->core.nr_entries % 2, 0, "Number of events is a multiple of 2");
+	CHECK_COND(evlist__nr_entries(evlist) >= 4, "Number of events is >= 4");
+	CHECK_EQUAL(evlist__nr_entries(evlist) % 2, 0, "Number of events is a multiple of 2");
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
 		struct evsel *next;
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/annotate.c b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/annotate.c
index 97ae4c86bebbe..d25761a8d25eb 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/annotate.c
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ static bool annotate_browser__callq(struct annotate_browser *browser,
 	notes = symbol__annotation(dl->ops.target.sym);
 	annotation__lock(notes);
 
-	if (!symbol__hists(dl->ops.target.sym, evsel->evlist->core.nr_entries)) {
+	if (!symbol__hists(dl->ops.target.sym, evlist__nr_entries(evsel->evlist))) {
 		annotation__unlock(notes);
 		ui__warning("Not enough memory for annotating '%s' symbol!\n",
 			    dl->ops.target.sym->name);
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
index cfa6386e6e1da..da7cc195b9f41 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
@@ -688,10 +688,10 @@ static int hist_browser__handle_hotkey(struct hist_browser *browser, bool warn_l
 		ui_browser__update_nr_entries(&browser->b, nr_entries);
 
 		if (warn_lost_event &&
-		    (evsel->evlist->stats.nr_lost_warned !=
-		     evsel->evlist->stats.nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST])) {
-			evsel->evlist->stats.nr_lost_warned =
-				evsel->evlist->stats.nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST];
+		    (evlist__stats(evsel->evlist)->nr_lost_warned !=
+		     evlist__stats(evsel->evlist)->nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST])) {
+			evlist__stats(evsel->evlist)->nr_lost_warned =
+				evlist__stats(evsel->evlist)->nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST];
 			ui_browser__warn_lost_events(&browser->b);
 		}
 
@@ -3321,7 +3321,7 @@ static int evsel__hists_browse(struct evsel *evsel, int nr_events, const char *h
 				 * No need to refresh, resort/decay histogram
 				 * entries if we are not collecting samples:
 				 */
-				if (top->evlist->enabled) {
+				if (evlist__enabled(top->evlist)) {
 					helpline = "Press 'f' to disable the events or 'h' to see other hotkeys";
 					hbt->refresh = delay_secs;
 				} else {
@@ -3493,7 +3493,7 @@ static void perf_evsel_menu__write(struct ui_browser *browser,
 			   unit, unit == ' ' ? "" : " ", ev_name);
 	ui_browser__printf(browser, "%s", bf);
 
-	nr_events = evsel->evlist->stats.nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST];
+	nr_events = evlist__stats(evsel->evlist)->nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST];
 	if (nr_events != 0) {
 		menu->lost_events = true;
 		if (!current_entry)
@@ -3559,13 +3559,13 @@ static int perf_evsel_menu__run(struct evsel_menu *menu,
 			ui_browser__show_title(&menu->b, title);
 			switch (key) {
 			case K_TAB:
-				if (pos->core.node.next == &evlist->core.entries)
+				if (pos->core.node.next == &evlist__core(evlist)->entries)
 					pos = evlist__first(evlist);
 				else
 					pos = evsel__next(pos);
 				goto browse_hists;
 			case K_UNTAB:
-				if (pos->core.node.prev == &evlist->core.entries)
+				if (pos->core.node.prev == &evlist__core(evlist)->entries)
 					pos = evlist__last(evlist);
 				else
 					pos = evsel__prev(pos);
@@ -3618,7 +3618,7 @@ static int __evlist__tui_browse_hists(struct evlist *evlist, int nr_entries, con
 	struct evsel *pos;
 	struct evsel_menu menu = {
 		.b = {
-			.entries    = &evlist->core.entries,
+			.entries    = &evlist__core(evlist)->entries,
 			.refresh    = ui_browser__list_head_refresh,
 			.seek	    = ui_browser__list_head_seek,
 			.write	    = perf_evsel_menu__write,
@@ -3646,7 +3646,7 @@ static int __evlist__tui_browse_hists(struct evlist *evlist, int nr_entries, con
 
 static bool evlist__single_entry(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	int nr_entries = evlist->core.nr_entries;
+	int nr_entries = evlist__nr_entries(evlist);
 
 	if (nr_entries == 1)
 	       return true;
@@ -3664,7 +3664,7 @@ static bool evlist__single_entry(struct evlist *evlist)
 int evlist__tui_browse_hists(struct evlist *evlist, const char *help, struct hist_browser_timer *hbt,
 			     float min_pcnt, struct perf_env *env, bool warn_lost_event)
 {
-	int nr_entries = evlist->core.nr_entries;
+	int nr_entries = evlist__nr_entries(evlist);
 
 	if (evlist__single_entry(evlist)) {
 single_entry: {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/amd-sample-raw.c b/tools/perf/util/amd-sample-raw.c
index 394c061fbeb38..cda3836329c3a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/amd-sample-raw.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/amd-sample-raw.c
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ static void parse_cpuid(struct perf_env *env)
  */
 bool evlist__has_amd_ibs(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	struct perf_env *env = perf_session__env(evlist->session);
+	struct perf_env *env = perf_session__env(evlist__session(evlist));
 	int ret, nr_pmu_mappings = perf_env__nr_pmu_mappings(env);
 	const char *pmu_mapping = perf_env__pmu_mappings(env);
 	char name[sizeof("ibs_fetch")];
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/annotate-data.c b/tools/perf/util/annotate-data.c
index 63e3c54fab421..4e4c587640823 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/annotate-data.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/annotate-data.c
@@ -1829,7 +1829,7 @@ int annotated_data_type__update_samples(struct annotated_data_type *adt,
 		return 0;
 
 	if (adt->histograms == NULL) {
-		int nr = evsel->evlist->core.nr_entries;
+		int nr = evlist__nr_entries(evsel->evlist);
 
 		if (alloc_data_type_histograms(adt, nr) < 0)
 			return -1;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/annotate.c b/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
index 02505222d8c2d..53b2a224b21df 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ static int symbol__inc_addr_samples(struct map_symbol *ms,
 
 	if (sym == NULL)
 		return 0;
-	src = symbol__hists(sym, sample->evsel->evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	src = symbol__hists(sym, evlist__nr_entries(sample->evsel->evlist));
 	return src ? __symbol__inc_addr_samples(ms, src, addr, sample) : 0;
 }
 
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ static int symbol__account_br_cntr(struct annotated_branch *branch,
 {
 	unsigned int br_cntr_nr = evsel__leader(evsel)->br_cntr_nr;
 	unsigned int base = evsel__leader(evsel)->br_cntr_idx;
-	unsigned int off = offset * evsel->evlist->nr_br_cntr;
+	unsigned int off = offset * evlist__nr_br_cntr(evsel->evlist);
 	u64 *branch_br_cntr = branch->br_cntr;
 	unsigned int i, mask, width;
 
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ static int symbol__account_cycles(u64 addr, u64 start, struct symbol *sym,
 
 	if (sym == NULL)
 		return 0;
-	branch = symbol__find_branch_hist(sym, evsel->evlist->nr_br_cntr);
+	branch = symbol__find_branch_hist(sym, evlist__nr_br_cntr(evsel->evlist));
 	if (!branch)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	if (addr < sym->start || addr >= sym->end)
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ static void annotation__count_and_fill(struct annotation *notes, u64 start, u64
 static int annotation__compute_ipc(struct annotation *notes, size_t size,
 				   struct evsel *evsel)
 {
-	unsigned int br_cntr_nr = evsel->evlist->nr_br_cntr;
+	unsigned int br_cntr_nr = evlist__nr_br_cntr(evsel->evlist);
 	int err = 0;
 	s64 offset;
 
@@ -1813,7 +1813,7 @@ int annotation_br_cntr_abbr_list(char **str, struct evsel *evsel, bool header)
 	struct evsel *pos;
 	struct strbuf sb;
 
-	if (evsel->evlist->nr_br_cntr <= 0)
+	if (evlist__nr_br_cntr(evsel->evlist) <= 0)
 		return -ENOTSUP;
 
 	strbuf_init(&sb, /*hint=*/ 0);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c b/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c
index 4cd2caf540152..0b851f32e98c8 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ void auxtrace_mmap_params__set_idx(struct auxtrace_mmap_params *mp,
 				   struct evlist *evlist,
 				   struct evsel *evsel, int idx)
 {
-	bool per_cpu = !perf_cpu_map__has_any_cpu(evlist->core.user_requested_cpus);
+	bool per_cpu = !perf_cpu_map__has_any_cpu(evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus);
 
 	mp->mmap_needed = evsel->needs_auxtrace_mmap;
 
@@ -201,11 +201,11 @@ void auxtrace_mmap_params__set_idx(struct auxtrace_mmap_params *mp,
 	mp->idx = idx;
 
 	if (per_cpu) {
-		mp->cpu = perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist->core.all_cpus, idx);
-		mp->tid = perf_thread_map__pid(evlist->core.threads, 0);
+		mp->cpu = perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist__core(evlist)->all_cpus, idx);
+		mp->tid = perf_thread_map__pid(evlist__core(evlist)->threads, 0);
 	} else {
 		mp->cpu.cpu = -1;
-		mp->tid = perf_thread_map__pid(evlist->core.threads, idx);
+		mp->tid = perf_thread_map__pid(evlist__core(evlist)->threads, idx);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -668,10 +668,10 @@ int auxtrace_parse_snapshot_options(struct auxtrace_record *itr,
 
 static int evlist__enable_event_idx(struct evlist *evlist, struct evsel *evsel, int idx)
 {
-	bool per_cpu_mmaps = !perf_cpu_map__has_any_cpu(evlist->core.user_requested_cpus);
+	bool per_cpu_mmaps = !perf_cpu_map__has_any_cpu(evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus);
 
 	if (per_cpu_mmaps) {
-		struct perf_cpu evlist_cpu = perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist->core.all_cpus, idx);
+		struct perf_cpu evlist_cpu = perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist__core(evlist)->all_cpus, idx);
 		int cpu_map_idx = perf_cpu_map__idx(evsel->core.cpus, evlist_cpu);
 
 		if (cpu_map_idx == -1)
@@ -1838,7 +1838,7 @@ void perf_session__auxtrace_error_inc(struct perf_session *session,
 	struct perf_record_auxtrace_error *e = &event->auxtrace_error;
 
 	if (e->type < PERF_AUXTRACE_ERROR_MAX)
-		session->evlist->stats.nr_auxtrace_errors[e->type] += 1;
+		evlist__stats(session->evlist)->nr_auxtrace_errors[e->type] += 1;
 }
 
 void events_stats__auxtrace_error_warn(const struct events_stats *stats)
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/block-info.c b/tools/perf/util/block-info.c
index 8d3a9a661f267..1135e54f4c7fc 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/block-info.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/block-info.c
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ struct block_report *block_info__create_report(struct evlist *evlist,
 					       int *nr_reps)
 {
 	struct block_report *block_reports;
-	int nr_hists = evlist->core.nr_entries, i = 0;
+	int nr_hists = evlist__nr_entries(evlist), i = 0;
 	struct evsel *pos;
 
 	block_reports = calloc(nr_hists, sizeof(struct block_report));
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ struct block_report *block_info__create_report(struct evlist *evlist,
 		struct hists *hists = evsel__hists(pos);
 
 		process_block_report(hists, &block_reports[i], total_cycles,
-				     block_hpps, nr_hpps, evlist->nr_br_cntr);
+				     block_hpps, nr_hpps, evlist__nr_br_cntr(evlist));
 		i++;
 	}
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/bpf_counter.c b/tools/perf/util/bpf_counter.c
index 34b6b0da18b73..9362e45e17ceb 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/bpf_counter.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/bpf_counter.c
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ static int bperf_check_target(struct evsel *evsel,
 	} else if (target->tid) {
 		*filter_type = BPERF_FILTER_PID;
 		*filter_entry_cnt = perf_thread_map__nr(evsel->core.threads);
-	} else if (target->pid || evsel->evlist->workload.pid != -1) {
+	} else if (target->pid || evlist__workload_pid(evsel->evlist) != -1) {
 		*filter_type = BPERF_FILTER_TGID;
 		*filter_entry_cnt = perf_thread_map__nr(evsel->core.threads);
 	} else {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/bpf_counter_cgroup.c b/tools/perf/util/bpf_counter_cgroup.c
index 6842c9f6d71e3..4e5f4b9dd4428 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/bpf_counter_cgroup.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/bpf_counter_cgroup.c
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ static int bperf_load_program(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 	set_max_rlimit();
 
-	if (nr_cgroups == 0 || evlist->core.nr_entries % nr_cgroups != 0) {
+	if (nr_cgroups == 0 || evlist__nr_entries(evlist) % nr_cgroups != 0) {
 		pr_err("Invalid cgroup or event count\n");
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ static int bperf_load_program(struct evlist *evlist)
 		pr_err("Failed to open cgroup skeleton\n");
 		return -1;
 	}
-	setup_rodata(skel, evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	setup_rodata(skel, evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 
 	err = bperf_cgroup_bpf__load(skel);
 	if (err) {
@@ -127,12 +127,12 @@ static int bperf_load_program(struct evlist *evlist)
 	err = -1;
 
 	cgrp_switch = evsel__new(&cgrp_switch_attr);
-	if (evsel__open_per_cpu(cgrp_switch, evlist->core.all_cpus, -1) < 0) {
+	if (evsel__open_per_cpu(cgrp_switch, evlist__core(evlist)->all_cpus, -1) < 0) {
 		pr_err("Failed to open cgroup switches event\n");
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	perf_cpu_map__for_each_cpu(cpu, i, evlist->core.all_cpus) {
+	perf_cpu_map__for_each_cpu(cpu, i, evlist__core(evlist)->all_cpus) {
 		link = bpf_program__attach_perf_event(skel->progs.on_cgrp_switch,
 						      FD(cgrp_switch, i));
 		if (IS_ERR(link)) {
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ static int bperf_load_program(struct evlist *evlist)
 	 */
 	{
 		struct evsel *leader;
-		int num_events = evlist->core.nr_entries / nr_cgroups;
+		int num_events = evlist__nr_entries(evlist) / nr_cgroups;
 
 		evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
 			leader = evlist__find_evsel(evlist, evsel->core.idx % num_events);
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ static int bperf_cgrp__sync_counters(struct evlist *evlist)
 	unsigned int idx;
 	int prog_fd = bpf_program__fd(skel->progs.trigger_read);
 
-	perf_cpu_map__for_each_cpu(cpu, idx, evlist->core.all_cpus)
+	perf_cpu_map__for_each_cpu(cpu, idx, evlist__core(evlist)->all_cpus)
 		bperf_trigger_reading(prog_fd, cpu.cpu);
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/bpf_ftrace.c b/tools/perf/util/bpf_ftrace.c
index c456d24efa308..abeafd406e8e0 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/bpf_ftrace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/bpf_ftrace.c
@@ -59,13 +59,13 @@ int perf_ftrace__latency_prepare_bpf(struct perf_ftrace *ftrace)
 
 	/* don't need to set cpu filter for system-wide mode */
 	if (ftrace->target.cpu_list) {
-		ncpus = perf_cpu_map__nr(ftrace->evlist->core.user_requested_cpus);
+		ncpus = perf_cpu_map__nr(evlist__core(ftrace->evlist)->user_requested_cpus);
 		bpf_map__set_max_entries(skel->maps.cpu_filter, ncpus);
 		skel->rodata->has_cpu = 1;
 	}
 
 	if (target__has_task(&ftrace->target) || target__none(&ftrace->target)) {
-		ntasks = perf_thread_map__nr(ftrace->evlist->core.threads);
+		ntasks = perf_thread_map__nr(evlist__core(ftrace->evlist)->threads);
 		bpf_map__set_max_entries(skel->maps.task_filter, ntasks);
 		skel->rodata->has_task = 1;
 	}
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ int perf_ftrace__latency_prepare_bpf(struct perf_ftrace *ftrace)
 		fd = bpf_map__fd(skel->maps.cpu_filter);
 
 		for (i = 0; i < ncpus; i++) {
-			cpu = perf_cpu_map__cpu(ftrace->evlist->core.user_requested_cpus, i).cpu;
+			cpu = perf_cpu_map__cpu(
+				evlist__core(ftrace->evlist)->user_requested_cpus, i).cpu;
 			bpf_map_update_elem(fd, &cpu, &val, BPF_ANY);
 		}
 	}
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ int perf_ftrace__latency_prepare_bpf(struct perf_ftrace *ftrace)
 		fd = bpf_map__fd(skel->maps.task_filter);
 
 		for (i = 0; i < ntasks; i++) {
-			pid = perf_thread_map__pid(ftrace->evlist->core.threads, i);
+			pid = perf_thread_map__pid(evlist__core(ftrace->evlist)->threads, i);
 			bpf_map_update_elem(fd, &pid, &val, BPF_ANY);
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/bpf_lock_contention.c b/tools/perf/util/bpf_lock_contention.c
index b1cfa63a488fa..c20bd075664e1 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/bpf_lock_contention.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/bpf_lock_contention.c
@@ -223,11 +223,11 @@ int lock_contention_prepare(struct lock_contention *con)
 
 	if (target__has_cpu(target)) {
 		skel->rodata->has_cpu = 1;
-		ncpus = perf_cpu_map__nr(evlist->core.user_requested_cpus);
+		ncpus = perf_cpu_map__nr(evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus);
 	}
 	if (target__has_task(target)) {
 		skel->rodata->has_task = 1;
-		ntasks = perf_thread_map__nr(evlist->core.threads);
+		ntasks = perf_thread_map__nr(evlist__core(evlist)->threads);
 	}
 	if (con->filters->nr_types) {
 		skel->rodata->has_type = 1;
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ int lock_contention_prepare(struct lock_contention *con)
 		fd = bpf_map__fd(skel->maps.cpu_filter);
 
 		for (i = 0; i < ncpus; i++) {
-			cpu = perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist->core.user_requested_cpus, i).cpu;
+			cpu = perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus, i).cpu;
 			bpf_map_update_elem(fd, &cpu, &val, BPF_ANY);
 		}
 	}
@@ -346,13 +346,13 @@ int lock_contention_prepare(struct lock_contention *con)
 		fd = bpf_map__fd(skel->maps.task_filter);
 
 		for (i = 0; i < ntasks; i++) {
-			pid = perf_thread_map__pid(evlist->core.threads, i);
+			pid = perf_thread_map__pid(evlist__core(evlist)->threads, i);
 			bpf_map_update_elem(fd, &pid, &val, BPF_ANY);
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (target__none(target) && evlist->workload.pid > 0) {
-		u32 pid = evlist->workload.pid;
+	if (target__none(target) && evlist__workload_pid(evlist) > 0) {
+		u32 pid = evlist__workload_pid(evlist);
 		u8 val = 1;
 
 		fd = bpf_map__fd(skel->maps.task_filter);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/bpf_off_cpu.c b/tools/perf/util/bpf_off_cpu.c
index 48cb930cdd2e7..c4639f6a57766 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/bpf_off_cpu.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/bpf_off_cpu.c
@@ -73,13 +73,13 @@ static void off_cpu_start(void *arg)
 
 	/* update task filter for the given workload */
 	if (skel->rodata->has_task && skel->rodata->uses_tgid &&
-	    perf_thread_map__pid(evlist->core.threads, 0) != -1) {
+	    perf_thread_map__pid(evlist__core(evlist)->threads, 0) != -1) {
 		int fd;
 		u32 pid;
 		u8 val = 1;
 
 		fd = bpf_map__fd(skel->maps.task_filter);
-		pid = perf_thread_map__pid(evlist->core.threads, 0);
+		pid = perf_thread_map__pid(evlist__core(evlist)->threads, 0);
 		bpf_map_update_elem(fd, &pid, &val, BPF_ANY);
 	}
 
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ int off_cpu_prepare(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target,
 
 	/* don't need to set cpu filter for system-wide mode */
 	if (target->cpu_list) {
-		ncpus = perf_cpu_map__nr(evlist->core.user_requested_cpus);
+		ncpus = perf_cpu_map__nr(evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus);
 		bpf_map__set_max_entries(skel->maps.cpu_filter, ncpus);
 		skel->rodata->has_cpu = 1;
 	}
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ int off_cpu_prepare(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target,
 		skel->rodata->has_task = 1;
 		skel->rodata->uses_tgid = 1;
 	} else if (target__has_task(target)) {
-		ntasks = perf_thread_map__nr(evlist->core.threads);
+		ntasks = perf_thread_map__nr(evlist__core(evlist)->threads);
 		bpf_map__set_max_entries(skel->maps.task_filter, ntasks);
 		skel->rodata->has_task = 1;
 	} else if (target__none(target)) {
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ int off_cpu_prepare(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target,
 	}
 
 	if (evlist__first(evlist)->cgrp) {
-		ncgrps = evlist->core.nr_entries - 1; /* excluding a dummy */
+		ncgrps = evlist__nr_entries(evlist) - 1; /* excluding a dummy */
 		bpf_map__set_max_entries(skel->maps.cgroup_filter, ncgrps);
 
 		if (!cgroup_is_v2("perf_event"))
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ int off_cpu_prepare(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target,
 		fd = bpf_map__fd(skel->maps.cpu_filter);
 
 		for (i = 0; i < ncpus; i++) {
-			cpu = perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist->core.user_requested_cpus, i).cpu;
+			cpu = perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus, i).cpu;
 			bpf_map_update_elem(fd, &cpu, &val, BPF_ANY);
 		}
 	}
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ int off_cpu_prepare(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target,
 		fd = bpf_map__fd(skel->maps.task_filter);
 
 		for (i = 0; i < ntasks; i++) {
-			pid = perf_thread_map__pid(evlist->core.threads, i);
+			pid = perf_thread_map__pid(evlist__core(evlist)->threads, i);
 			bpf_map_update_elem(fd, &pid, &val, BPF_ANY);
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/cgroup.c b/tools/perf/util/cgroup.c
index 9147447244674..c7be16a7915e6 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/cgroup.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/cgroup.c
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ int parse_cgroups(const struct option *opt, const char *str,
 	char *s;
 	int ret, i;
 
-	if (list_empty(&evlist->core.entries)) {
+	if (list_empty(&evlist__core(evlist)->entries)) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "must define events before cgroups\n");
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ int evlist__expand_cgroup(struct evlist *evlist, const char *str, bool open_cgro
 	int ret = -1;
 	int prefix_len;
 
-	if (evlist->core.nr_entries == 0) {
+	if (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "must define events before cgroups\n");
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
@@ -436,11 +436,11 @@ int evlist__expand_cgroup(struct evlist *evlist, const char *str, bool open_cgro
 	}
 
 	/* save original events and init evlist */
-	evlist__splice_list_tail(orig_list, &evlist->core.entries);
-	evlist->core.nr_entries = 0;
+	evlist__splice_list_tail(orig_list, &evlist__core(evlist)->entries);
+	evlist__core(evlist)->nr_entries = 0;
 
-	orig_metric_events = evlist->metric_events;
-	metricgroup__rblist_init(&evlist->metric_events);
+	orig_metric_events = *evlist__metric_events(evlist);
+	metricgroup__rblist_init(evlist__metric_events(evlist));
 
 	if (has_pattern_string(str))
 		prefix_len = match_cgroups(str);
@@ -503,15 +503,15 @@ int evlist__expand_cgroup(struct evlist *evlist, const char *str, bool open_cgro
 		nr_cgroups++;
 
 		if (metricgroup__copy_metric_events(tmp_list, cgrp,
-						    &evlist->metric_events,
+						    evlist__metric_events(evlist),
 						    &orig_metric_events) < 0)
 			goto out_err;
 
-		evlist__splice_list_tail(evlist, &tmp_list->core.entries);
-		tmp_list->core.nr_entries = 0;
+		evlist__splice_list_tail(evlist, &evlist__core(tmp_list)->entries);
+		evlist__core(tmp_list)->nr_entries = 0;
 	}
 
-	if (list_empty(&evlist->core.entries)) {
+	if (list_empty(&evlist__core(evlist)->entries)) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "no cgroup matched: %s\n", str);
 		goto out_err;
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c b/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
index 5d0664ff73b79..2284cda78abe1 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
@@ -1691,8 +1691,9 @@ static int cs_etm__synth_branch_sample(struct cs_etm_queue *etmq,
 {
 	int ret = 0;
 	struct cs_etm_auxtrace *etm = etmq->etm;
-	struct perf_sample sample = {.ip = 0,};
+	struct perf_sample sample;
 	union perf_event *event = tidq->event_buf;
+
 	struct dummy_branch_stack {
 		u64			nr;
 		u64			hw_idx;
@@ -1700,6 +1701,7 @@ static int cs_etm__synth_branch_sample(struct cs_etm_queue *etmq,
 	} dummy_bs;
 	u64 ip;
 
+	perf_sample__init(&sample, /*all=*/true);
 	ip = cs_etm__last_executed_instr(tidq->prev_packet);
 
 	event->sample.header.type = PERF_RECORD_SAMPLE;
@@ -1752,6 +1754,7 @@ static int cs_etm__synth_branch_sample(struct cs_etm_queue *etmq,
 		"CS ETM Trace: failed to deliver instruction event, error %d\n",
 		ret);
 
+	perf_sample__exit(&sample);
 	return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
index 1721a2470fb67..eb7c0d7be064e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 
 #include <api/fs/fs.h>
 #include <internal/lib.h> // page_size
+#include <internal/rc_check.h>
 #include <internal/xyarray.h>
 #include <perf/cpumap.h>
 #include <perf/evlist.h>
@@ -75,30 +76,31 @@ int sigqueue(pid_t pid, int sig, const union sigval value);
 #define FD(e, x, y) (*(int *)xyarray__entry(e->core.fd, x, y))
 #define SID(e, x, y) xyarray__entry(e->core.sample_id, x, y)
 
-static void evlist__init(struct evlist *evlist, struct perf_cpu_map *cpus,
-		  struct perf_thread_map *threads)
-{
-	perf_evlist__init(&evlist->core);
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, cpus, threads);
-	evlist->workload.pid = -1;
-	evlist->bkw_mmap_state = BKW_MMAP_NOTREADY;
-	evlist->ctl_fd.fd = -1;
-	evlist->ctl_fd.ack = -1;
-	evlist->ctl_fd.pos = -1;
-	evlist->nr_br_cntr = -1;
-	metricgroup__rblist_init(&evlist->metric_events);
-	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&evlist->deferred_samples);
-	refcount_set(&evlist->refcnt, 1);
-}
+static void event_enable_timer__exit(struct event_enable_timer **ep);
 
 struct evlist *evlist__new(void)
 {
-	struct evlist *evlist = zalloc(sizeof(*evlist));
-
-	if (evlist != NULL)
-		evlist__init(evlist, NULL, NULL);
-
-	return evlist;
+	struct evlist *result;
+	RC_STRUCT(evlist) *evlist;
+
+	evlist = zalloc(sizeof(*evlist));
+	if (ADD_RC_CHK(result, evlist)) {
+		perf_evlist__init(evlist__core(result));
+		perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(result), /*cpus=*/NULL, /*threads=*/NULL);
+		evlist__set_workload_pid(result, -1);
+		evlist__set_bkw_mmap_state(result, BKW_MMAP_NOTREADY);
+		evlist__set_ctl_fd_fd(result, -1);
+		evlist__set_ctl_fd_ack(result, -1);
+		evlist__set_ctl_fd_pos(result, -1);
+		evlist__set_nr_br_cntr(result, -1);
+		metricgroup__rblist_init(evlist__metric_events(result));
+		INIT_LIST_HEAD(&evlist->deferred_samples);
+		refcount_set(evlist__refcnt(result), 1);
+	} else {
+		free(evlist);
+		result = NULL;
+	}
+	return result;
 }
 
 struct evlist *evlist__new_default(const struct target *target, bool sample_callchains)
@@ -106,7 +108,6 @@ struct evlist *evlist__new_default(const struct target *target, bool sample_call
 	struct evlist *evlist = evlist__new();
 	bool can_profile_kernel;
 	struct perf_pmu *pmu = NULL;
-	struct evsel *evsel;
 	char buf[256];
 	int err;
 
@@ -133,7 +134,9 @@ struct evlist *evlist__new_default(const struct target *target, bool sample_call
 	}
 
 	/* If there is only 1 event a sample identifier isn't necessary. */
-	if (evlist->core.nr_entries > 1) {
+	if (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) > 1) {
+		struct evsel *evsel;
+
 		evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel)
 			evsel__set_sample_id(evsel, /*can_sample_identifier=*/false);
 	}
@@ -158,8 +161,12 @@ struct evlist *evlist__new_dummy(void)
 
 struct evlist *evlist__get(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	refcount_inc(&evlist->refcnt);
-	return evlist;
+	struct evlist *result;
+
+	if (RC_CHK_GET(result, evlist))
+		refcount_inc(evlist__refcnt(evlist));
+
+	return result;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -173,8 +180,8 @@ void evlist__set_id_pos(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *first = evlist__first(evlist);
 
-	evlist->id_pos = first->id_pos;
-	evlist->is_pos = first->is_pos;
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->id_pos =  first->id_pos;
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->is_pos =  first->is_pos;
 }
 
 static void evlist__update_id_pos(struct evlist *evlist)
@@ -193,52 +200,85 @@ static void evlist__purge(struct evlist *evlist)
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry_safe(evlist, n, pos) {
 		list_del_init(&pos->core.node);
+		if (pos->evlist) {
+			if (!RC_CHK_EQUAL(pos->evlist, evlist)) {
+				evlist__put(pos->evlist);
+			} else {
+				refcount_dec_and_test(evlist__refcnt(pos->evlist));
+				RC_CHK_PUT(pos->evlist);
+			}
+		}
 		pos->evlist = NULL;
 		evsel__put(pos);
 	}
 
-	evlist->core.nr_entries = 0;
+	evlist__core(evlist)->nr_entries = 0;
 }
 
 static void evlist__exit(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	metricgroup__rblist_exit(&evlist->metric_events);
-	event_enable_timer__exit(&evlist->eet);
-	zfree(&evlist->mmap);
-	zfree(&evlist->overwrite_mmap);
-	perf_evlist__exit(&evlist->core);
+	metricgroup__rblist_exit(evlist__metric_events(evlist));
+	event_enable_timer__exit(&RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->eet);
+	free(evlist__mmap(evlist));
+	free(evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist));
+	perf_evlist__exit(evlist__core(evlist));
 }
 
 void evlist__put(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
+	struct evsel *evsel;
+	unsigned int count, ref_cnt;
+
 	if (evlist == NULL)
 		return;
 
-	if (!refcount_dec_and_test(&evlist->refcnt))
-		return;
+	if (refcount_dec_and_test(evlist__refcnt(evlist)))
+		goto out_delete;
+
+retry:
+	count = refcount_read(evlist__refcnt(evlist));
+	ref_cnt = count;
+	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
+		if (RC_CHK_EQUAL(evsel->evlist, evlist) && count &&
+		    refcount_read(&evsel->refcnt) == 1)
+			count--;
+	}
+	if (refcount_read(evlist__refcnt(evlist)) != ref_cnt)
+		goto retry;
 
+	if (count != 0) {
+		/*
+		 * Not the last reference except for back references from
+		 * evsels.
+		 */
+		RC_CHK_PUT(evlist);
+		return;
+	}
+out_delete:
 	evlist__free_stats(evlist);
-	evlist__munmap(evlist);
+	evlist__do_munmap(evlist);
 	evlist__close(evlist);
 	evlist__purge(evlist);
 	evlist__exit(evlist);
-	free(evlist);
+	RC_CHK_FREE(evlist);
 }
 
 void evlist__add(struct evlist *evlist, struct evsel *entry)
 {
-	perf_evlist__add(&evlist->core, &entry->core);
-	entry->evlist = evlist;
+	perf_evlist__add(evlist__core(evlist), &entry->core);
+	evlist__put(entry->evlist);
+	entry->evlist = evlist__get(evlist);
 	entry->tracking = !entry->core.idx;
 
-	if (evlist->core.nr_entries == 1)
+	if (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == 1)
 		evlist__set_id_pos(evlist);
 }
 
 void evlist__remove(struct evlist *evlist, struct evsel *evsel)
 {
+	perf_evlist__remove(evlist__core(evlist), &evsel->core);
+	evlist__put(evsel->evlist);
 	evsel->evlist = NULL;
-	perf_evlist__remove(&evlist->core, &evsel->core);
 }
 
 void evlist__splice_list_tail(struct evlist *evlist, struct list_head *list)
@@ -287,7 +327,7 @@ int __evlist__set_tracepoints_handlers(struct evlist *evlist,
 
 static void evlist__set_leader(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	perf_evlist__set_leader(&evlist->core);
+	perf_evlist__set_leader(evlist__core(evlist));
 }
 
 static struct evsel *evlist__dummy_event(struct evlist *evlist)
@@ -301,7 +341,7 @@ static struct evsel *evlist__dummy_event(struct evlist *evlist)
 		.sample_period = 1,
 	};
 
-	return evsel__new_idx(&attr, evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	return evsel__new_idx(&attr, evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 }
 
 int evlist__add_dummy(struct evlist *evlist)
@@ -390,8 +430,8 @@ static bool evlist__use_affinity(struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct perf_cpu_map *used_cpus = NULL;
 	bool ret = false;
 
-	if (evlist->no_affinity || !evlist->core.user_requested_cpus ||
-	    cpu_map__is_dummy(evlist->core.user_requested_cpus))
+	if (evlist__no_affinity(evlist) || !evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus ||
+	    cpu_map__is_dummy(evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus))
 		return false;
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, pos) {
@@ -446,7 +486,7 @@ void evlist_cpu_iterator__init(struct evlist_cpu_iterator *itr, struct evlist *e
 		.evsel = NULL,
 		.cpu_map_idx = 0,
 		.evlist_cpu_map_idx = 0,
-		.evlist_cpu_map_nr = perf_cpu_map__nr(evlist->core.all_cpus),
+		.evlist_cpu_map_nr = perf_cpu_map__nr(evlist__core(evlist)->all_cpus),
 		.cpu = (struct perf_cpu){ .cpu = -1},
 		.affinity = NULL,
 	};
@@ -462,7 +502,7 @@ void evlist_cpu_iterator__init(struct evlist_cpu_iterator *itr, struct evlist *e
 			itr->affinity = &itr->saved_affinity;
 	}
 	itr->evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
-	itr->cpu = perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist->core.all_cpus, 0);
+	itr->cpu = perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist__core(evlist)->all_cpus, 0);
 	if (itr->affinity)
 		affinity__set(itr->affinity, itr->cpu.cpu);
 	itr->cpu_map_idx = perf_cpu_map__idx(itr->evsel->core.cpus, itr->cpu);
@@ -497,7 +537,7 @@ void evlist_cpu_iterator__next(struct evlist_cpu_iterator *evlist_cpu_itr)
 	if (evlist_cpu_itr->evlist_cpu_map_idx < evlist_cpu_itr->evlist_cpu_map_nr) {
 		evlist_cpu_itr->evsel = evlist__first(evlist_cpu_itr->container);
 		evlist_cpu_itr->cpu =
-			perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist_cpu_itr->container->core.all_cpus,
+			perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist__core(evlist_cpu_itr->container)->all_cpus,
 					  evlist_cpu_itr->evlist_cpu_map_idx);
 		if (evlist_cpu_itr->affinity)
 			affinity__set(evlist_cpu_itr->affinity, evlist_cpu_itr->cpu.cpu);
@@ -524,7 +564,7 @@ static int evsel__strcmp(struct evsel *pos, char *evsel_name)
 	return !evsel__name_is(pos, evsel_name);
 }
 
-static int evlist__is_enabled(struct evlist *evlist)
+static bool evlist__is_enabled(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *pos;
 
@@ -581,10 +621,7 @@ static void __evlist__disable(struct evlist *evlist, char *evsel_name, bool excl
 	 * If we disabled only single event, we need to check
 	 * the enabled state of the evlist manually.
 	 */
-	if (evsel_name)
-		evlist->enabled = evlist__is_enabled(evlist);
-	else
-		evlist->enabled = false;
+	evlist__set_enabled(evlist, evsel_name ? evlist__is_enabled(evlist) : false);
 }
 
 void evlist__disable(struct evlist *evlist)
@@ -635,7 +672,7 @@ static void __evlist__enable(struct evlist *evlist, char *evsel_name, bool excl_
 	 * so the toggle can work properly and toggle to
 	 * 'disabled' state.
 	 */
-	evlist->enabled = true;
+	evlist__set_enabled(evlist, true);
 }
 
 void evlist__enable(struct evlist *evlist)
@@ -655,23 +692,24 @@ void evlist__enable_evsel(struct evlist *evlist, char *evsel_name)
 
 void evlist__toggle_enable(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	(evlist->enabled ? evlist__disable : evlist__enable)(evlist);
+	(evlist__enabled(evlist) ? evlist__disable : evlist__enable)(evlist);
 }
 
 int evlist__add_pollfd(struct evlist *evlist, int fd)
 {
-	return perf_evlist__add_pollfd(&evlist->core, fd, NULL, POLLIN, fdarray_flag__default);
+	return perf_evlist__add_pollfd(evlist__core(evlist), fd, NULL, POLLIN,
+				       fdarray_flag__default);
 }
 
 int evlist__filter_pollfd(struct evlist *evlist, short revents_and_mask)
 {
-	return perf_evlist__filter_pollfd(&evlist->core, revents_and_mask);
+	return perf_evlist__filter_pollfd(evlist__core(evlist), revents_and_mask);
 }
 
 #ifdef HAVE_EVENTFD_SUPPORT
 int evlist__add_wakeup_eventfd(struct evlist *evlist, int fd)
 {
-	return perf_evlist__add_pollfd(&evlist->core, fd, NULL, POLLIN,
+	return perf_evlist__add_pollfd(evlist__core(evlist), fd, NULL, POLLIN,
 				       fdarray_flag__nonfilterable |
 				       fdarray_flag__non_perf_event);
 }
@@ -679,7 +717,7 @@ int evlist__add_wakeup_eventfd(struct evlist *evlist, int fd)
 
 int evlist__poll(struct evlist *evlist, int timeout)
 {
-	return perf_evlist__poll(&evlist->core, timeout);
+	return perf_evlist__poll(evlist__core(evlist), timeout);
 }
 
 struct perf_sample_id *evlist__id2sid(struct evlist *evlist, u64 id)
@@ -689,7 +727,7 @@ struct perf_sample_id *evlist__id2sid(struct evlist *evlist, u64 id)
 	int hash;
 
 	hash = hash_64(id, PERF_EVLIST__HLIST_BITS);
-	head = &evlist->core.heads[hash];
+	head = &evlist__core(evlist)->heads[hash];
 
 	hlist_for_each_entry(sid, head, node)
 		if (sid->id == id)
@@ -702,7 +740,7 @@ struct evsel *evlist__id2evsel(struct evlist *evlist, u64 id)
 {
 	struct perf_sample_id *sid;
 
-	if (evlist->core.nr_entries == 1 || !id)
+	if (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == 1 || !id)
 		return evlist__first(evlist);
 
 	sid = evlist__id2sid(evlist, id);
@@ -737,13 +775,13 @@ static int evlist__event2id(struct evlist *evlist, union perf_event *event, u64
 	n = (event->header.size - sizeof(event->header)) >> 3;
 
 	if (event->header.type == PERF_RECORD_SAMPLE) {
-		if (evlist->id_pos >= n)
+		if (evlist__id_pos(evlist) >= n)
 			return -1;
-		*id = array[evlist->id_pos];
+		*id = array[evlist__id_pos(evlist)];
 	} else {
-		if (evlist->is_pos > n)
+		if (evlist__is_pos(evlist) > n)
 			return -1;
-		n -= evlist->is_pos;
+		n -= evlist__is_pos(evlist);
 		*id = array[n];
 	}
 	return 0;
@@ -757,7 +795,7 @@ struct evsel *evlist__event2evsel(struct evlist *evlist, union perf_event *event
 	int hash;
 	u64 id;
 
-	if (evlist->core.nr_entries == 1)
+	if (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == 1)
 		return first;
 
 	if (!first->core.attr.sample_id_all &&
@@ -772,7 +810,7 @@ struct evsel *evlist__event2evsel(struct evlist *evlist, union perf_event *event
 		return first;
 
 	hash = hash_64(id, PERF_EVLIST__HLIST_BITS);
-	head = &evlist->core.heads[hash];
+	head = &evlist__core(evlist)->heads[hash];
 
 	hlist_for_each_entry(sid, head, node) {
 		if (sid->id == id)
@@ -785,11 +823,11 @@ static int evlist__set_paused(struct evlist *evlist, bool value)
 {
 	int i;
 
-	if (!evlist->overwrite_mmap)
+	if (!evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist))
 		return 0;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
-		int fd = evlist->overwrite_mmap[i].core.fd;
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
+		int fd = evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist)[i].core.fd;
 		int err;
 
 		if (fd < 0)
@@ -815,20 +853,20 @@ static void evlist__munmap_nofree(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	int i;
 
-	if (evlist->mmap)
-		for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++)
-			perf_mmap__munmap(&evlist->mmap[i].core);
+	if (evlist__mmap(evlist))
+		for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++)
+			perf_mmap__munmap(&evlist__mmap(evlist)[i].core);
 
-	if (evlist->overwrite_mmap)
-		for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++)
-			perf_mmap__munmap(&evlist->overwrite_mmap[i].core);
+	if (evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist))
+		for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++)
+			perf_mmap__munmap(&evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist)[i].core);
 }
 
-void evlist__munmap(struct evlist *evlist)
+void evlist__do_munmap(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	evlist__munmap_nofree(evlist);
-	zfree(&evlist->mmap);
-	zfree(&evlist->overwrite_mmap);
+	zfree(&RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->mmap);
+	zfree(&RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->overwrite_mmap);
 }
 
 static void perf_mmap__unmap_cb(struct perf_mmap *map)
@@ -842,12 +880,12 @@ static struct mmap *evlist__alloc_mmap(struct evlist *evlist,
 				       bool overwrite)
 {
 	int i;
-	struct mmap *map = calloc(evlist->core.nr_mmaps, sizeof(struct mmap));
+	struct mmap *map = calloc(evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps, sizeof(struct mmap));
 
 	if (!map)
 		return NULL;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
 		struct perf_mmap *prev = i ? &map[i - 1].core : NULL;
 
 		/*
@@ -865,41 +903,73 @@ static struct mmap *evlist__alloc_mmap(struct evlist *evlist,
 	return map;
 }
 
+static struct evlist *from_list_start(struct perf_evlist *core)
+{
+#ifdef REFCNT_CHECKING
+	RC_STRUCT(evlist) *core_evlist = container_of(core, RC_STRUCT(evlist), core);
+	struct evlist *evlist;
+
+	if (ADD_RC_CHK(evlist, core_evlist))
+		refcount_inc(evlist__refcnt(evlist));
+
+	return evlist;
+#else
+	return container_of(core, struct evlist, core);
+#endif
+}
+
+static void from_list_end(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused)
+{
+#ifdef REFCNT_CHECKING
+	evlist__put(evlist);
+#endif
+}
+
 static void
 perf_evlist__mmap_cb_idx(struct perf_evlist *_evlist,
 			 struct perf_evsel *_evsel,
 			 struct perf_mmap_param *_mp,
 			 int idx)
 {
-	struct evlist *evlist = container_of(_evlist, struct evlist, core);
+	struct evlist *evlist = from_list_start(_evlist);
 	struct mmap_params *mp = container_of(_mp, struct mmap_params, core);
 	struct evsel *evsel = container_of(_evsel, struct evsel, core);
 
+	if (!evlist)
+		return;
+
 	auxtrace_mmap_params__set_idx(&mp->auxtrace_mp, evlist, evsel, idx);
+
+	from_list_end(evlist);
 }
 
 static struct perf_mmap*
 perf_evlist__mmap_cb_get(struct perf_evlist *_evlist, bool overwrite, int idx)
 {
-	struct evlist *evlist = container_of(_evlist, struct evlist, core);
+	struct evlist *evlist = from_list_start(_evlist);
 	struct mmap *maps;
 
-	maps = overwrite ? evlist->overwrite_mmap : evlist->mmap;
+	if (!evlist)
+		return NULL;
+
+	maps = overwrite ? evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist) : evlist__mmap(evlist);
 
 	if (!maps) {
 		maps = evlist__alloc_mmap(evlist, overwrite);
-		if (!maps)
+		if (!maps) {
+			from_list_end(evlist);
 			return NULL;
+		}
 
 		if (overwrite) {
-			evlist->overwrite_mmap = maps;
-			if (evlist->bkw_mmap_state == BKW_MMAP_NOTREADY)
+			RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->overwrite_mmap = maps;
+			if (evlist__bkw_mmap_state(evlist) == BKW_MMAP_NOTREADY)
 				evlist__toggle_bkw_mmap(evlist, BKW_MMAP_RUNNING);
 		} else {
-			evlist->mmap = maps;
+			RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->mmap = maps;
 		}
 	}
-
+	from_list_end(evlist);
 	return &maps[idx].core;
 }
 
@@ -1056,16 +1126,16 @@ int evlist__mmap_ex(struct evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages,
 		.mmap = perf_evlist__mmap_cb_mmap,
 	};
 
-	evlist->core.mmap_len = evlist__mmap_size(pages);
-	pr_debug("mmap size %zuB\n", evlist->core.mmap_len);
+	evlist__core(evlist)->mmap_len = evlist__mmap_size(pages);
+	pr_debug("mmap size %zuB\n", evlist__core(evlist)->mmap_len);
 
-	auxtrace_mmap_params__init(&mp.auxtrace_mp, evlist->core.mmap_len,
+	auxtrace_mmap_params__init(&mp.auxtrace_mp, evlist__core(evlist)->mmap_len,
 				   auxtrace_pages, auxtrace_overwrite);
 
-	return perf_evlist__mmap_ops(&evlist->core, &ops, &mp.core);
+	return perf_evlist__mmap_ops(evlist__core(evlist), &ops, &mp.core);
 }
 
-int evlist__mmap(struct evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages)
+int evlist__do_mmap(struct evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages)
 {
 	return evlist__mmap_ex(evlist, pages, 0, false, 0, PERF_AFFINITY_SYS, 1, 0);
 }
@@ -1107,9 +1177,9 @@ int evlist__create_maps(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target)
 	if (!cpus)
 		goto out_delete_threads;
 
-	evlist->core.has_user_cpus = !!target->cpu_list;
+	evlist__core(evlist)->has_user_cpus = !!target->cpu_list;
 
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, cpus, threads);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), cpus, threads);
 
 	/* as evlist now has references, put count here */
 	perf_cpu_map__put(cpus);
@@ -1249,15 +1319,15 @@ bool evlist__valid_sample_type(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *pos;
 
-	if (evlist->core.nr_entries == 1)
+	if (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) == 1)
 		return true;
 
-	if (evlist->id_pos < 0 || evlist->is_pos < 0)
+	if (evlist__id_pos(evlist) < 0 || evlist__is_pos(evlist) < 0)
 		return false;
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, pos) {
-		if (pos->id_pos != evlist->id_pos ||
-		    pos->is_pos != evlist->is_pos)
+		if (pos->id_pos != evlist__id_pos(evlist) ||
+		    pos->is_pos != evlist__is_pos(evlist))
 			return false;
 	}
 
@@ -1268,18 +1338,18 @@ u64 __evlist__combined_sample_type(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 
-	if (evlist->combined_sample_type)
-		return evlist->combined_sample_type;
+	if (RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->combined_sample_type)
+		return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->combined_sample_type;
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel)
-		evlist->combined_sample_type |= evsel->core.attr.sample_type;
+		RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->combined_sample_type |= evsel->core.attr.sample_type;
 
-	return evlist->combined_sample_type;
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->combined_sample_type;
 }
 
 u64 evlist__combined_sample_type(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	evlist->combined_sample_type = 0;
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->combined_sample_type = 0;
 	return __evlist__combined_sample_type(evlist);
 }
 
@@ -1356,7 +1426,7 @@ void evlist__update_br_cntr(struct evlist *evlist)
 				evlist__new_abbr_name(evsel->abbr_name);
 		}
 	}
-	evlist->nr_br_cntr = i;
+	evlist__set_nr_br_cntr(evlist, i);
 }
 
 bool evlist__valid_read_format(struct evlist *evlist)
@@ -1406,11 +1476,6 @@ bool evlist__sample_id_all(struct evlist *evlist)
 	return first->core.attr.sample_id_all;
 }
 
-void evlist__set_selected(struct evlist *evlist, struct evsel *evsel)
-{
-	evlist->selected = evsel;
-}
-
 void evlist__close(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel;
@@ -1427,7 +1492,7 @@ void evlist__close(struct evlist *evlist)
 		perf_evsel__free_fd(&evsel->core);
 		perf_evsel__free_id(&evsel->core);
 	}
-	perf_evlist__reset_id_hash(&evlist->core);
+	perf_evlist__reset_id_hash(evlist__core(evlist));
 }
 
 static int evlist__create_syswide_maps(struct evlist *evlist)
@@ -1454,7 +1519,7 @@ static int evlist__create_syswide_maps(struct evlist *evlist)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, cpus, threads);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), cpus, threads);
 	perf_thread_map__put(threads);
 	perf_cpu_map__put(cpus);
 	return 0;
@@ -1469,7 +1534,8 @@ int evlist__open(struct evlist *evlist)
 	 * Default: one fd per CPU, all threads, aka systemwide
 	 * as sys_perf_event_open(cpu = -1, thread = -1) is EINVAL
 	 */
-	if (evlist->core.threads == NULL && evlist->core.user_requested_cpus == NULL) {
+	if (evlist__core(evlist)->threads == NULL &&
+	    evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus == NULL) {
 		err = evlist__create_syswide_maps(evlist);
 		if (err < 0)
 			goto out_err;
@@ -1496,7 +1562,7 @@ int evlist__prepare_workload(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target, const
 	int child_ready_pipe[2], go_pipe[2];
 	char bf;
 
-	evlist->workload.cork_fd = -1;
+	evlist__set_workload_cork_fd(evlist, -1);
 
 	if (pipe(child_ready_pipe) < 0) {
 		perror("failed to create 'ready' pipe");
@@ -1508,13 +1574,13 @@ int evlist__prepare_workload(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target, const
 		goto out_close_ready_pipe;
 	}
 
-	evlist->workload.pid = fork();
-	if (evlist->workload.pid < 0) {
+	evlist__set_workload_pid(evlist, fork());
+	if (evlist__workload_pid(evlist) < 0) {
 		perror("failed to fork");
 		goto out_close_pipes;
 	}
 
-	if (!evlist->workload.pid) {
+	if (!evlist__workload_pid(evlist)) {
 		int ret;
 
 		if (pipe_output)
@@ -1580,12 +1646,13 @@ int evlist__prepare_workload(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target, const
 	}
 
 	if (target__none(target)) {
-		if (evlist->core.threads == NULL) {
+		if (evlist__core(evlist)->threads == NULL) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "FATAL: evlist->threads need to be set at this point (%s:%d).\n",
 				__func__, __LINE__);
 			goto out_close_pipes;
 		}
-		perf_thread_map__set_pid(evlist->core.threads, 0, evlist->workload.pid);
+		perf_thread_map__set_pid(evlist__core(evlist)->threads, 0,
+					 evlist__workload_pid(evlist));
 	}
 
 	close(child_ready_pipe[1]);
@@ -1599,7 +1666,7 @@ int evlist__prepare_workload(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target, const
 	}
 
 	fcntl(go_pipe[1], F_SETFD, FD_CLOEXEC);
-	evlist->workload.cork_fd = go_pipe[1];
+	evlist__set_workload_cork_fd(evlist, go_pipe[1]);
 	close(child_ready_pipe[0]);
 	return 0;
 
@@ -1614,18 +1681,18 @@ int evlist__prepare_workload(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target, const
 
 int evlist__start_workload(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	if (evlist->workload.cork_fd >= 0) {
+	if (evlist__workload_cork_fd(evlist) >= 0) {
 		char bf = 0;
 		int ret;
 		/*
 		 * Remove the cork, let it rip!
 		 */
-		ret = write(evlist->workload.cork_fd, &bf, 1);
+		ret = write(evlist__workload_cork_fd(evlist), &bf, 1);
 		if (ret < 0)
 			perror("unable to write to pipe");
 
-		close(evlist->workload.cork_fd);
-		evlist->workload.cork_fd = -1;
+		close(evlist__workload_cork_fd(evlist));
+		evlist__set_workload_cork_fd(evlist, -1);
 		return ret;
 	}
 
@@ -1636,10 +1703,10 @@ void evlist__cancel_workload(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	int status;
 
-	if (evlist->workload.cork_fd >= 0) {
-		close(evlist->workload.cork_fd);
-		evlist->workload.cork_fd = -1;
-		waitpid(evlist->workload.pid, &status, WNOHANG);
+	if (evlist__workload_cork_fd(evlist) >= 0) {
+		close(evlist__workload_cork_fd(evlist));
+		evlist__set_workload_cork_fd(evlist, -1);
+		waitpid(evlist__workload_pid(evlist), &status, WNOHANG);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1733,7 +1800,8 @@ int evlist__strerror_open(struct evlist *evlist, int err, char *buf, size_t size
 
 int evlist__strerror_mmap(struct evlist *evlist, int err, char *buf, size_t size)
 {
-	int pages_attempted = evlist->core.mmap_len / 1024, pages_max_per_user, printed = 0;
+	int pages_attempted = evlist__core(evlist)->mmap_len / 1024;
+	int pages_max_per_user, printed = 0;
 
 	switch (err) {
 	case EPERM:
@@ -1776,7 +1844,7 @@ void evlist__to_front(struct evlist *evlist, struct evsel *move_evsel)
 			list_move_tail(&evsel->core.node, &move);
 	}
 
-	list_splice(&move, &evlist->core.entries);
+	list_splice(&move, &evlist__core(evlist)->entries);
 }
 
 struct evsel *evlist__get_tracking_event(struct evlist *evlist)
@@ -1818,7 +1886,7 @@ struct evsel *evlist__findnew_tracking_event(struct evlist *evlist, bool system_
 
 		evlist__set_tracking_event(evlist, evsel);
 	} else if (system_wide) {
-		perf_evlist__go_system_wide(&evlist->core, &evsel->core);
+		perf_evlist__go_system_wide(evlist__core(evlist), &evsel->core);
 	}
 
 	return evsel;
@@ -1840,14 +1908,14 @@ struct evsel *evlist__find_evsel_by_str(struct evlist *evlist, const char *str)
 
 void evlist__toggle_bkw_mmap(struct evlist *evlist, enum bkw_mmap_state state)
 {
-	enum bkw_mmap_state old_state = evlist->bkw_mmap_state;
+	enum bkw_mmap_state old_state = evlist__bkw_mmap_state(evlist);
 	enum action {
 		NONE,
 		PAUSE,
 		RESUME,
 	} action = NONE;
 
-	if (!evlist->overwrite_mmap)
+	if (!evlist__overwrite_mmap(evlist))
 		return;
 
 	switch (old_state) {
@@ -1877,7 +1945,7 @@ void evlist__toggle_bkw_mmap(struct evlist *evlist, enum bkw_mmap_state state)
 		WARN_ONCE(1, "Shouldn't get there\n");
 	}
 
-	evlist->bkw_mmap_state = state;
+	evlist__set_bkw_mmap_state(evlist, state);
 
 	switch (action) {
 	case PAUSE:
@@ -2055,40 +2123,41 @@ int evlist__initialize_ctlfd(struct evlist *evlist, int fd, int ack)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	evlist->ctl_fd.pos = perf_evlist__add_pollfd(&evlist->core, fd, NULL, POLLIN,
-						     fdarray_flag__nonfilterable |
-						     fdarray_flag__non_perf_event);
-	if (evlist->ctl_fd.pos < 0) {
-		evlist->ctl_fd.pos = -1;
+	evlist__set_ctl_fd_pos(evlist,
+			       perf_evlist__add_pollfd(evlist__core(evlist), fd, NULL, POLLIN,
+						       fdarray_flag__nonfilterable |
+						       fdarray_flag__non_perf_event));
+	if (evlist__ctl_fd_pos(evlist) < 0) {
+		evlist__set_ctl_fd_pos(evlist, -1);
 		pr_err("Failed to add ctl fd entry: %m\n");
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	evlist->ctl_fd.fd = fd;
-	evlist->ctl_fd.ack = ack;
+	evlist__set_ctl_fd_fd(evlist, fd);
+	evlist__set_ctl_fd_ack(evlist, ack);
 
 	return 0;
 }
 
 bool evlist__ctlfd_initialized(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	return evlist->ctl_fd.pos >= 0;
+	return evlist__ctl_fd_pos(evlist) >= 0;
 }
 
 int evlist__finalize_ctlfd(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	struct pollfd *entries = evlist->core.pollfd.entries;
+	struct pollfd *entries = evlist__core(evlist)->pollfd.entries;
 
 	if (!evlist__ctlfd_initialized(evlist))
 		return 0;
 
-	entries[evlist->ctl_fd.pos].fd = -1;
-	entries[evlist->ctl_fd.pos].events = 0;
-	entries[evlist->ctl_fd.pos].revents = 0;
+	entries[evlist__ctl_fd_pos(evlist)].fd = -1;
+	entries[evlist__ctl_fd_pos(evlist)].events = 0;
+	entries[evlist__ctl_fd_pos(evlist)].revents = 0;
 
-	evlist->ctl_fd.pos = -1;
-	evlist->ctl_fd.ack = -1;
-	evlist->ctl_fd.fd = -1;
+	evlist__set_ctl_fd_pos(evlist, -1);
+	evlist__set_ctl_fd_ack(evlist, -1);
+	evlist__set_ctl_fd_fd(evlist, -1);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -2105,7 +2174,7 @@ static int evlist__ctlfd_recv(struct evlist *evlist, enum evlist_ctl_cmd *cmd,
 	data_size--;
 
 	do {
-		err = read(evlist->ctl_fd.fd, &c, 1);
+		err = read(evlist__ctl_fd_fd(evlist), &c, 1);
 		if (err > 0) {
 			if (c == '\n' || c == '\0')
 				break;
@@ -2119,7 +2188,8 @@ static int evlist__ctlfd_recv(struct evlist *evlist, enum evlist_ctl_cmd *cmd,
 			if (errno == EAGAIN || errno == EWOULDBLOCK)
 				err = 0;
 			else
-				pr_err("Failed to read from ctlfd %d: %m\n", evlist->ctl_fd.fd);
+				pr_err("Failed to read from ctlfd %d: %m\n",
+				       evlist__ctl_fd_fd(evlist));
 		}
 		break;
 	} while (1);
@@ -2157,13 +2227,13 @@ int evlist__ctlfd_ack(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	int err;
 
-	if (evlist->ctl_fd.ack == -1)
+	if (evlist__ctl_fd_ack(evlist) == -1)
 		return 0;
 
-	err = write(evlist->ctl_fd.ack, EVLIST_CTL_CMD_ACK_TAG,
+	err = write(evlist__ctl_fd_ack(evlist), EVLIST_CTL_CMD_ACK_TAG,
 		    sizeof(EVLIST_CTL_CMD_ACK_TAG));
 	if (err == -1)
-		pr_err("failed to write to ctl_ack_fd %d: %m\n", evlist->ctl_fd.ack);
+		pr_err("failed to write to ctl_ack_fd %d: %m\n", evlist__ctl_fd_ack(evlist));
 
 	return err;
 }
@@ -2264,8 +2334,8 @@ int evlist__ctlfd_process(struct evlist *evlist, enum evlist_ctl_cmd *cmd)
 {
 	int err = 0;
 	char cmd_data[EVLIST_CTL_CMD_MAX_LEN];
-	int ctlfd_pos = evlist->ctl_fd.pos;
-	struct pollfd *entries = evlist->core.pollfd.entries;
+	int ctlfd_pos = evlist__ctl_fd_pos(evlist);
+	struct pollfd *entries = evlist__core(evlist)->pollfd.entries;
 
 	if (!evlist__ctlfd_initialized(evlist) || !entries[ctlfd_pos].revents)
 		return 0;
@@ -2436,14 +2506,15 @@ int evlist__parse_event_enable_time(struct evlist *evlist, struct record_opts *o
 		goto free_eet_times;
 	}
 
-	eet->pollfd_pos = perf_evlist__add_pollfd(&evlist->core, eet->timerfd, NULL, POLLIN, flags);
+	eet->pollfd_pos = perf_evlist__add_pollfd(evlist__core(evlist), eet->timerfd,
+						  NULL, POLLIN, flags);
 	if (eet->pollfd_pos < 0) {
 		err = eet->pollfd_pos;
 		goto close_timerfd;
 	}
 
 	eet->evlist = evlist;
-	evlist->eet = eet;
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->eet = eet;
 	opts->target.initial_delay = eet->times[0].start;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -2493,7 +2564,7 @@ int event_enable_timer__process(struct event_enable_timer *eet)
 	if (!eet)
 		return 0;
 
-	entries = eet->evlist->core.pollfd.entries;
+	entries = evlist__core(eet->evlist)->pollfd.entries;
 	revents = entries[eet->pollfd_pos].revents;
 	entries[eet->pollfd_pos].revents = 0;
 
@@ -2529,7 +2600,7 @@ int event_enable_timer__process(struct event_enable_timer *eet)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-void event_enable_timer__exit(struct event_enable_timer **ep)
+static void event_enable_timer__exit(struct event_enable_timer **ep)
 {
 	if (!ep || !*ep)
 		return;
@@ -2633,7 +2704,7 @@ void evlist__warn_user_requested_cpus(struct evlist *evlist, const char *cpu_lis
 }
 
 /* Should uniquify be disabled for the evlist? */
-static bool evlist__disable_uniquify(const struct evlist *evlist)
+static bool evlist__disable_uniquify(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *counter;
 	struct perf_pmu *last_pmu = NULL;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.h b/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
index 866392011f6b3..1997843dca0ef 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <api/fd/array.h>
 #include <internal/evlist.h>
 #include <internal/evsel.h>
+#include <internal/rc_check.h>
 #include <perf/evlist.h>
 #include "affinity.h"
 #include "events_stats.h"
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ enum bkw_mmap_state {
 
 struct event_enable_timer;
 
-struct evlist {
+DECLARE_RC_STRUCT(evlist) {
 	struct perf_evlist core;
 	refcount_t	 refcnt;
 	bool		 enabled;
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ struct evlist {
 	struct {
 		pthread_t		th;
 		volatile int		done;
-	} thread;
+	} sb_thread;
 	struct {
 		int	fd;	/* control file descriptor */
 		int	ack;	/* ack file descriptor for control commands */
@@ -104,6 +105,227 @@ struct evsel_str_handler {
 	void	   *handler;
 };
 
+static inline struct perf_evlist *evlist__core(struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return &RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->core;
+}
+
+static inline const struct perf_evlist *evlist__const_core(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return &RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->core;
+}
+
+static inline int evlist__nr_entries(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return evlist__const_core(evlist)->nr_entries;
+}
+
+static inline bool evlist__enabled(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->enabled;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_enabled(struct evlist *evlist, bool enabled)
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->enabled = enabled;
+}
+
+static inline bool evlist__no_affinity(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->no_affinity;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_no_affinity(struct evlist *evlist, bool no_affinity)
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->no_affinity = no_affinity;
+}
+
+static inline int evlist__sb_thread_done(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->sb_thread.done;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_sb_thread_done(struct evlist *evlist, int done)
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->sb_thread.done = done;
+}
+
+static inline pthread_t *evlist__sb_thread_th(struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return &RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->sb_thread.th;
+}
+
+static inline int evlist__id_pos(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->id_pos;
+}
+
+static inline int evlist__is_pos(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->is_pos;
+}
+
+static inline struct event_enable_timer *evlist__event_enable_timer(struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->eet;
+}
+
+static inline enum bkw_mmap_state evlist__bkw_mmap_state(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->bkw_mmap_state;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_bkw_mmap_state(struct evlist *evlist, enum bkw_mmap_state state)
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->bkw_mmap_state = state;
+}
+
+static inline struct mmap *evlist__mmap(struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->mmap;
+}
+
+static inline struct mmap *evlist__overwrite_mmap(struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->overwrite_mmap;
+}
+
+static inline struct events_stats *evlist__stats(struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return &RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->stats;
+}
+
+static inline u64 evlist__first_sample_time(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->first_sample_time;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_first_sample_time(struct evlist *evlist, u64 first)
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->first_sample_time = first;
+}
+
+static inline u64 evlist__last_sample_time(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->last_sample_time;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_last_sample_time(struct evlist *evlist, u64 last)
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->last_sample_time = last;
+}
+
+static inline int evlist__nr_br_cntr(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->nr_br_cntr;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_nr_br_cntr(struct evlist *evlist, int nr)
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->nr_br_cntr = nr;
+}
+
+static inline struct perf_session *evlist__session(struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->session;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_session(struct evlist *evlist, struct perf_session *session)
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->session = session;
+}
+
+static inline void (*evlist__trace_event_sample_raw(struct evlist *evlist))
+			(struct evlist *evlist,
+			 union perf_event *event,
+			 struct perf_sample *sample)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->trace_event_sample_raw;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_trace_event_sample_raw(struct evlist *evlist,
+						void (*fun)(struct evlist *evlist,
+							union perf_event *event,
+							struct perf_sample *sample))
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->trace_event_sample_raw = fun;
+}
+
+static inline pid_t evlist__workload_pid(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->workload.pid;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_workload_pid(struct evlist *evlist, pid_t pid)
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->workload.pid = pid;
+}
+
+static inline int evlist__workload_cork_fd(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->workload.cork_fd;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_workload_cork_fd(struct evlist *evlist, int cork_fd)
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->workload.cork_fd = cork_fd;
+}
+
+static inline int evlist__ctl_fd_fd(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->ctl_fd.fd;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_ctl_fd_fd(struct evlist *evlist, int fd)
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->ctl_fd.fd = fd;
+}
+
+static inline int evlist__ctl_fd_ack(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->ctl_fd.ack;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_ctl_fd_ack(struct evlist *evlist, int ack)
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->ctl_fd.ack = ack;
+}
+
+static inline int evlist__ctl_fd_pos(const struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->ctl_fd.pos;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_ctl_fd_pos(struct evlist *evlist, int pos)
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->ctl_fd.pos = pos;
+}
+
+static inline refcount_t *evlist__refcnt(struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return &RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->refcnt;
+}
+
+static inline struct rblist *evlist__metric_events(struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return &RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->metric_events;
+}
+
+static inline struct list_head *evlist__deferred_samples(struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return &RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->deferred_samples;
+}
+
+static inline struct evsel *evlist__selected(struct evlist *evlist)
+{
+	return RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->selected;
+}
+
+static inline void evlist__set_selected(struct evlist *evlist, struct evsel *evsel)
+{
+	RC_CHK_ACCESS(evlist)->selected = evsel;
+}
+
 struct evlist *evlist__new(void);
 struct evlist *evlist__new_default(const struct target *target, bool sample_callchains);
 struct evlist *evlist__new_dummy(void);
@@ -197,8 +419,8 @@ int evlist__mmap_ex(struct evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages,
 			 unsigned int auxtrace_pages,
 			 bool auxtrace_overwrite, int nr_cblocks,
 			 int affinity, int flush, int comp_level);
-int evlist__mmap(struct evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages);
-void evlist__munmap(struct evlist *evlist);
+int evlist__do_mmap(struct evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages);
+void evlist__do_munmap(struct evlist *evlist);
 
 size_t evlist__mmap_size(unsigned long pages);
 
@@ -210,8 +432,6 @@ void evlist__enable_evsel(struct evlist *evlist, char *evsel_name);
 void evlist__disable_non_dummy(struct evlist *evlist);
 void evlist__enable_non_dummy(struct evlist *evlist);
 
-void evlist__set_selected(struct evlist *evlist, struct evsel *evsel);
-
 int evlist__create_maps(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target);
 int evlist__apply_filters(struct evlist *evlist, struct evsel **err_evsel,
 			  struct target *target);
@@ -234,26 +454,26 @@ void evlist__splice_list_tail(struct evlist *evlist, struct list_head *list);
 
 static inline bool evlist__empty(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	return list_empty(&evlist->core.entries);
+	return list_empty(&evlist__core(evlist)->entries);
 }
 
 static inline struct evsel *evlist__first(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	struct perf_evsel *evsel = perf_evlist__first(&evlist->core);
+	struct perf_evsel *evsel = perf_evlist__first(evlist__core(evlist));
 
 	return container_of(evsel, struct evsel, core);
 }
 
 static inline struct evsel *evlist__last(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	struct perf_evsel *evsel = perf_evlist__last(&evlist->core);
+	struct perf_evsel *evsel = perf_evlist__last(evlist__core(evlist));
 
 	return container_of(evsel, struct evsel, core);
 }
 
 static inline int evlist__nr_groups(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	return perf_evlist__nr_groups(&evlist->core);
+	return perf_evlist__nr_groups(evlist__core(evlist));
 }
 
 int evlist__strerror_open(struct evlist *evlist, int err, char *buf, size_t size);
@@ -276,7 +496,7 @@ void evlist__to_front(struct evlist *evlist, struct evsel *move_evsel);
  * @evsel: struct evsel iterator
  */
 #define evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) \
-	__evlist__for_each_entry(&(evlist)->core.entries, evsel)
+	__evlist__for_each_entry(&evlist__core(evlist)->entries, evsel)
 
 /**
  * __evlist__for_each_entry_continue - continue iteration thru all the evsels
@@ -292,7 +512,7 @@ void evlist__to_front(struct evlist *evlist, struct evsel *move_evsel);
  * @evsel: struct evsel iterator
  */
 #define evlist__for_each_entry_continue(evlist, evsel) \
-	__evlist__for_each_entry_continue(&(evlist)->core.entries, evsel)
+	__evlist__for_each_entry_continue(&evlist__core(evlist)->entries, evsel)
 
 /**
  * __evlist__for_each_entry_from - continue iteration from @evsel (included)
@@ -308,7 +528,7 @@ void evlist__to_front(struct evlist *evlist, struct evsel *move_evsel);
  * @evsel: struct evsel iterator
  */
 #define evlist__for_each_entry_from(evlist, evsel) \
-	__evlist__for_each_entry_from(&(evlist)->core.entries, evsel)
+	__evlist__for_each_entry_from(&evlist__core(evlist)->entries, evsel)
 
 /**
  * __evlist__for_each_entry_reverse - iterate thru all the evsels in reverse order
@@ -324,7 +544,7 @@ void evlist__to_front(struct evlist *evlist, struct evsel *move_evsel);
  * @evsel: struct evsel iterator
  */
 #define evlist__for_each_entry_reverse(evlist, evsel) \
-	__evlist__for_each_entry_reverse(&(evlist)->core.entries, evsel)
+	__evlist__for_each_entry_reverse(&evlist__core(evlist)->entries, evsel)
 
 /**
  * __evlist__for_each_entry_safe - safely iterate thru all the evsels
@@ -342,7 +562,7 @@ void evlist__to_front(struct evlist *evlist, struct evsel *move_evsel);
  * @tmp: struct evsel temp iterator
  */
 #define evlist__for_each_entry_safe(evlist, tmp, evsel) \
-	__evlist__for_each_entry_safe(&(evlist)->core.entries, tmp, evsel)
+	__evlist__for_each_entry_safe(&evlist__core(evlist)->entries, tmp, evsel)
 
 /** Iterator state for evlist__for_each_cpu */
 struct evlist_cpu_iterator {
@@ -448,7 +668,6 @@ int evlist__ctlfd_ack(struct evlist *evlist);
 int evlist__parse_event_enable_time(struct evlist *evlist, struct record_opts *opts,
 				    const char *str, int unset);
 int event_enable_timer__start(struct event_enable_timer *eet);
-void event_enable_timer__exit(struct event_enable_timer **ep);
 int event_enable_timer__process(struct event_enable_timer *eet);
 
 struct evsel *evlist__find_evsel(struct evlist *evlist, int idx);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
index 395488ae36722..d5f7dbce7588d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
@@ -3356,7 +3356,7 @@ static inline bool evsel__has_branch_counters(const struct evsel *evsel)
 	if (!leader || !evsel->evlist)
 		return false;
 
-	if (evsel->evlist->nr_br_cntr < 0)
+	if (evlist__nr_br_cntr(evsel->evlist) < 0)
 		evlist__update_br_cntr(evsel->evlist);
 
 	if (leader->br_cntr_nr > 0)
@@ -4388,7 +4388,7 @@ int evsel__open_strerror(struct evsel *evsel, struct target *target,
 
 struct perf_session *evsel__session(struct evsel *evsel)
 {
-	return evsel && evsel->evlist ? evsel->evlist->session : NULL;
+	return evsel && evsel->evlist ? evlist__session(evsel->evlist) : NULL;
 }
 
 struct perf_env *evsel__env(struct evsel *evsel)
@@ -4413,7 +4413,7 @@ static int store_evsel_ids(struct evsel *evsel, struct evlist *evlist)
 		     thread++) {
 			int fd = FD(evsel, cpu_map_idx, thread);
 
-			if (perf_evlist__id_add_fd(&evlist->core, &evsel->core,
+			if (perf_evlist__id_add_fd(evlist__core(evlist), &evsel->core,
 						   cpu_map_idx, thread, fd) < 0)
 				return -1;
 		}
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.h b/tools/perf/util/evsel.h
index 0c0ab23823931..e4776fdeb4c29 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.h
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ for ((_evsel) = list_entry((_leader)->core.node.next, struct evsel, core.node);
 	(_evsel) = list_entry((_evsel)->core.node.next, struct evsel, core.node))
 
 #define for_each_group_member(_evsel, _leader)				\
-	for_each_group_member_head(_evsel, _leader, &(_leader)->evlist->core.entries)
+	for_each_group_member_head(_evsel, _leader, &evlist__core((_leader)->evlist)->entries)
 
 /* Iterates group WITH the leader. */
 #define for_each_group_evsel_head(_evsel, _leader, _head)				\
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ for ((_evsel) = _leader;								\
 	(_evsel) = list_entry((_evsel)->core.node.next, struct evsel, core.node))
 
 #define for_each_group_evsel(_evsel, _leader)				\
-	for_each_group_evsel_head(_evsel, _leader, &(_leader)->evlist->core.entries)
+	for_each_group_evsel_head(_evsel, _leader, &evlist__core((_leader)->evlist)->entries)
 
 static inline bool evsel__has_branch_callstack(const struct evsel *evsel)
 {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/header.c b/tools/perf/util/header.c
index 167ec2703d0e6..e90e541f546b4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/header.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/header.c
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ static int write_tracing_data(struct feat_fd *ff,
 		return -1;
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBTRACEEVENT
-	return read_tracing_data(ff->fd, &evlist->core.entries);
+	return read_tracing_data(ff->fd, &evlist__core(evlist)->entries);
 #else
 	pr_err("ERROR: Trying to write tracing data without libtraceevent support.\n");
 	return -1;
@@ -434,8 +434,8 @@ static int write_osrelease(struct feat_fd *ff,
 	struct utsname uts;
 	const char *release = NULL;
 
-	if (evlist->session)
-		release = perf_env__os_release(perf_session__env(evlist->session));
+	if (evlist__session(evlist))
+		release = perf_env__os_release(perf_session__env(evlist__session(evlist)));
 
 	if (!release) {
 		int ret = uname(&uts);
@@ -452,8 +452,8 @@ static int write_arch(struct feat_fd *ff, struct evlist *evlist)
 	struct utsname uts;
 	const char *arch = NULL;
 
-	if (evlist->session)
-		arch = perf_env__arch(perf_session__env(evlist->session));
+	if (evlist__session(evlist))
+		arch = perf_env__arch(perf_session__env(evlist__session(evlist)));
 
 	if (!arch) {
 		int ret = uname(&uts);
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ static int write_e_machine(struct feat_fd *ff, struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	/* e_machine expanded from 16 to 32-bits for alignment. */
 	uint32_t e_flags;
-	uint32_t e_machine = perf_session__e_machine(evlist->session, &e_flags);
+	uint32_t e_machine = perf_session__e_machine(evlist__session(evlist), &e_flags);
 	int ret;
 
 	ret = do_write(ff, &e_machine, sizeof(e_machine));
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ static int write_event_desc(struct feat_fd *ff,
 	u32 nre, nri, sz;
 	int ret;
 
-	nre = evlist->core.nr_entries;
+	nre = evlist__nr_entries(evlist);
 
 	/*
 	 * write number of events
@@ -987,7 +987,7 @@ int __weak get_cpuid(char *buffer __maybe_unused, size_t sz __maybe_unused,
 
 static int write_cpuid(struct feat_fd *ff, struct evlist *evlist)
 {
-	struct perf_cpu cpu = perf_cpu_map__min(evlist->core.all_cpus);
+	struct perf_cpu cpu = perf_cpu_map__min(evlist__core(evlist)->all_cpus);
 	char buffer[64];
 	int ret;
 
@@ -1420,14 +1420,14 @@ static int write_sample_time(struct feat_fd *ff,
 			     struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	int ret;
+	u64 data = evlist__first_sample_time(evlist);
 
-	ret = do_write(ff, &evlist->first_sample_time,
-		       sizeof(evlist->first_sample_time));
+	ret = do_write(ff, &data, sizeof(data));
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;
 
-	return do_write(ff, &evlist->last_sample_time,
-			sizeof(evlist->last_sample_time));
+	data = evlist__last_sample_time(evlist);
+	return do_write(ff, &data, sizeof(data));
 }
 
 
@@ -2551,16 +2551,16 @@ static void print_sample_time(struct feat_fd *ff, FILE *fp)
 
 	session = container_of(ff->ph, struct perf_session, header);
 
-	timestamp__scnprintf_usec(session->evlist->first_sample_time,
+	timestamp__scnprintf_usec(evlist__first_sample_time(session->evlist),
 				  time_buf, sizeof(time_buf));
 	fprintf(fp, "# time of first sample : %s\n", time_buf);
 
-	timestamp__scnprintf_usec(session->evlist->last_sample_time,
+	timestamp__scnprintf_usec(evlist__last_sample_time(session->evlist),
 				  time_buf, sizeof(time_buf));
 	fprintf(fp, "# time of last sample : %s\n", time_buf);
 
-	d = (double)(session->evlist->last_sample_time -
-		session->evlist->first_sample_time) / NSEC_PER_MSEC;
+	d = (double)(evlist__last_sample_time(session->evlist) -
+		evlist__first_sample_time(session->evlist)) / NSEC_PER_MSEC;
 
 	fprintf(fp, "# sample duration : %10.3f ms\n", d);
 }
@@ -3519,8 +3519,8 @@ static int process_sample_time(struct feat_fd *ff, void *data __maybe_unused)
 	if (ret)
 		return -1;
 
-	session->evlist->first_sample_time = first_sample_time;
-	session->evlist->last_sample_time = last_sample_time;
+	evlist__set_first_sample_time(session->evlist, first_sample_time);
+	evlist__set_last_sample_time(session->evlist, last_sample_time);
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -4610,7 +4610,7 @@ int perf_session__write_header(struct perf_session *session,
 					     /*write_attrs_after_data=*/false);
 }
 
-size_t perf_session__data_offset(const struct evlist *evlist)
+size_t perf_session__data_offset(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 	size_t data_offset;
@@ -4619,7 +4619,7 @@ size_t perf_session__data_offset(const struct evlist *evlist)
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
 		data_offset += evsel->core.ids * sizeof(u64);
 	}
-	data_offset += evlist->core.nr_entries * sizeof(struct perf_file_attr);
+	data_offset += evlist__nr_entries(evlist) * sizeof(struct perf_file_attr);
 
 	return data_offset;
 }
@@ -5110,7 +5110,7 @@ int perf_session__read_header(struct perf_session *session)
 	if (session->evlist == NULL)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
-	session->evlist->session = session;
+	evlist__set_session(session->evlist, session);
 	session->machines.host.env = &header->env;
 
 	/*
@@ -5243,7 +5243,8 @@ int perf_session__read_header(struct perf_session *session)
 			if (perf_header__getbuffer64(header, fd, &f_id, sizeof(f_id)))
 				goto out_errno;
 
-			perf_evlist__id_add(&session->evlist->core, &evsel->core, 0, j, f_id);
+			perf_evlist__id_add(evlist__core(session->evlist),
+					    &evsel->core, 0, j, f_id);
 		}
 
 		lseek(fd, tmp, SEEK_SET);
@@ -5607,7 +5608,7 @@ int perf_event__process_attr(const struct perf_tool *tool __maybe_unused,
 	 */
 	ids = (void *)&event->attr.attr + attr_size;
 	for (i = 0; i < n_ids; i++) {
-		perf_evlist__id_add(&evlist->core, &evsel->core, 0, i, ids[i]);
+		perf_evlist__id_add(evlist__core(evlist), &evsel->core, 0, i, ids[i]);
 	}
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/header.h b/tools/perf/util/header.h
index 86b1a72026d3f..5e03f884b7cc0 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/header.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/header.h
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ int perf_session__inject_header(struct perf_session *session,
 				struct feat_copier *fc,
 				bool write_attrs_after_data);
 
-size_t perf_session__data_offset(const struct evlist *evlist);
+size_t perf_session__data_offset(struct evlist *evlist);
 
 void perf_header__set_feat(struct perf_header *header, int feat);
 void perf_header__clear_feat(struct perf_header *header, int feat);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/intel-tpebs.c b/tools/perf/util/intel-tpebs.c
index bc3b79bfa01a7..b41171b5df77d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/intel-tpebs.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/intel-tpebs.c
@@ -98,8 +98,9 @@ static int evsel__tpebs_start_perf_record(struct evsel *evsel)
 	record_argv[i++] = "-o";
 	record_argv[i++] = PERF_DATA;
 
-	if (!perf_cpu_map__is_any_cpu_or_is_empty(evsel->evlist->core.user_requested_cpus)) {
-		cpu_map__snprint(evsel->evlist->core.user_requested_cpus, cpumap_buf,
+	if (!perf_cpu_map__is_any_cpu_or_is_empty(
+			evlist__core(evsel->evlist)->user_requested_cpus)) {
+		cpu_map__snprint(evlist__core(evsel->evlist)->user_requested_cpus, cpumap_buf,
 				 sizeof(cpumap_buf));
 		record_argv[i++] = "-C";
 		record_argv[i++] = cpumap_buf;
@@ -176,7 +177,7 @@ static bool should_ignore_sample(const struct perf_sample *sample, const struct
 	if (t->evsel->evlist == NULL)
 		return true;
 
-	workload_pid = t->evsel->evlist->workload.pid;
+	workload_pid = evlist__workload_pid(t->evsel->evlist);
 	if (workload_pid < 0 || workload_pid == sample_pid)
 		return false;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/iostat.c b/tools/perf/util/iostat.c
index b770bd473af71..c9d5028a47f39 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/iostat.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/iostat.c
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 enum iostat_mode_t iostat_mode = IOSTAT_NONE;
 
-__weak int iostat_prepare(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused,
+__weak int iostat_prepare(struct evlist **evlist __maybe_unused,
 			  struct perf_stat_config *config __maybe_unused)
 {
 	return -1;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/iostat.h b/tools/perf/util/iostat.h
index a4e7299c5c2fb..df8a241fbc32a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/iostat.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/iostat.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ extern enum iostat_mode_t iostat_mode;
 
 typedef void (*iostat_print_counter_t)(struct perf_stat_config *, struct evsel *, void *);
 
-int iostat_prepare(struct evlist *evlist, struct perf_stat_config *config);
+int iostat_prepare(struct evlist **evlist, struct perf_stat_config *config);
 int iostat_parse(const struct option *opt, const char *str,
 		 int unset __maybe_unused);
 void iostat_list(struct evlist *evlist, struct perf_stat_config *config);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c b/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c
index 2c4e9fefb41f8..8c7b299a55db9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c
@@ -1490,7 +1490,7 @@ static int parse_groups(struct evlist *perf_evlist,
 			goto out;
 		}
 
-		me = metricgroup__lookup(&perf_evlist->metric_events,
+		me = metricgroup__lookup(evlist__metric_events(perf_evlist),
 					 pick_display_evsel(&metric_list, metric_events),
 					 /*create=*/true);
 
@@ -1541,13 +1541,13 @@ static int parse_groups(struct evlist *perf_evlist,
 
 
 	if (combined_evlist) {
-		evlist__splice_list_tail(perf_evlist, &combined_evlist->core.entries);
+		evlist__splice_list_tail(perf_evlist, &evlist__core(combined_evlist)->entries);
 		evlist__put(combined_evlist);
 	}
 
 	list_for_each_entry(m, &metric_list, nd) {
 		if (m->evlist)
-			evlist__splice_list_tail(perf_evlist, &m->evlist->core.entries);
+			evlist__splice_list_tail(perf_evlist, &evlist__core(m->evlist)->entries);
 	}
 
 out:
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index 8fb5626d5d379..194bc94dfc1ec 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -2294,7 +2294,7 @@ int __parse_events(struct evlist *evlist, const char *str, const char *pmu_filte
 {
 	struct parse_events_state parse_state = {
 		.list	  = LIST_HEAD_INIT(parse_state.list),
-		.idx	  = evlist->core.nr_entries,
+		.idx	  = evlist__nr_entries(evlist),
 		.error	  = err,
 		.stoken	  = PE_START_EVENTS,
 		.fake_pmu = fake_pmu,
@@ -2568,7 +2568,7 @@ foreach_evsel_in_last_glob(struct evlist *evlist,
 	 *
 	 * So no need to WARN here, let *func do this.
 	 */
-	if (evlist->core.nr_entries > 0)
+	if (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) > 0)
 		last = evlist__last(evlist);
 
 	do {
@@ -2578,7 +2578,7 @@ foreach_evsel_in_last_glob(struct evlist *evlist,
 		if (!last)
 			return 0;
 
-		if (last->core.node.prev == &evlist->core.entries)
+		if (last->core.node.prev == &evlist__core(evlist)->entries)
 			return 0;
 		last = list_entry(last->core.node.prev, struct evsel, core.node);
 	} while (!last->cmdline_group_boundary);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/pfm.c b/tools/perf/util/pfm.c
index 5f53c2f68a966..f80d6b0df47ae 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/pfm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/pfm.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ int parse_libpfm_events_option(const struct option *opt, const char *str,
 		}
 
 		pmu = perf_pmus__find_by_type((unsigned int)attr.type);
-		evsel = parse_events__add_event(evlist->core.nr_entries,
+		evsel = parse_events__add_event(evlist__nr_entries(evlist),
 						&attr, q, /*metric_id=*/NULL,
 						pmu);
 		if (evsel == NULL)
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/python.c b/tools/perf/util/python.c
index 9d4773885dcbb..2ee17d3a3cd92 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/python.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/python.c
@@ -1523,7 +1523,7 @@ static int pyrf_evlist__init(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 	}
 	threads = ((struct pyrf_thread_map *)pthreads)->threads;
 	cpus = ((struct pyrf_cpu_map *)pcpus)->cpus;
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&pevlist->evlist->core, cpus, threads);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(pevlist->evlist), cpus, threads);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -1536,23 +1536,29 @@ static void pyrf_evlist__delete(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist)
 
 static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__all_cpus(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist)
 {
-	struct pyrf_cpu_map *pcpu_map = PyObject_New(struct pyrf_cpu_map, &pyrf_cpu_map__type);
+	struct pyrf_cpu_map *pcpu_map;
+
+	CHECK_INITIALIZED(pevlist->evlist, "evlist");
 
+	pcpu_map = PyObject_New(struct pyrf_cpu_map, &pyrf_cpu_map__type);
 	if (pcpu_map)
-		pcpu_map->cpus = perf_cpu_map__get(pevlist->evlist->core.all_cpus);
+		pcpu_map->cpus = perf_cpu_map__get(evlist__core(pevlist->evlist)->all_cpus);
 
 	return (PyObject *)pcpu_map;
 }
 
 static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__metrics(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist)
 {
-	PyObject *list = PyList_New(/*len=*/0);
+	PyObject *list;
 	struct rb_node *node;
 
+	CHECK_INITIALIZED(pevlist->evlist, "evlist");
+
+	list = PyList_New(/*len=*/0);
 	if (!list)
 		return NULL;
 
-	for (node = rb_first_cached(&pevlist->evlist->metric_events.entries); node;
+	for (node = rb_first_cached(&evlist__metric_events(pevlist->evlist)->entries); node;
 	     node = rb_next(node)) {
 		struct metric_event *me = container_of(node, struct metric_event, nd);
 		struct list_head *pos;
@@ -1655,10 +1661,12 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__compute_metric(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 	double result = 0;
 	struct evsel *metric_evsel = NULL;
 
+	CHECK_INITIALIZED(pevlist->evlist, "evlist");
+
 	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "sii", &metric, &cpu, &thread))
 		return NULL;
 
-	for (node = rb_first_cached(&pevlist->evlist->metric_events.entries);
+	for (node = rb_first_cached(&evlist__metric_events(pevlist->evlist)->entries);
 	     mexp == NULL && node;
 	     node = rb_next(node)) {
 		struct metric_event *me = container_of(node, struct metric_event, nd);
@@ -1719,15 +1727,18 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__compute_metric(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__mmap(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 				   PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs)
 {
-	struct evlist *evlist = pevlist->evlist;
+	struct evlist *evlist;
 	static char *kwlist[] = { "pages", "overwrite", NULL };
 	int pages = 128, overwrite = false;
 
+	CHECK_INITIALIZED(pevlist->evlist, "evlist");
+
+	evlist = pevlist->evlist;
 	if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwargs, "|ii", kwlist,
 					 &pages, &overwrite))
 		return NULL;
 
-	if (evlist__mmap(evlist, pages) < 0) {
+	if (evlist__do_mmap(evlist, pages) < 0) {
 		PyErr_SetFromErrno(PyExc_OSError);
 		return NULL;
 	}
@@ -1739,10 +1750,13 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__mmap(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__poll(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 				   PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs)
 {
-	struct evlist *evlist = pevlist->evlist;
+	struct evlist *evlist;
 	static char *kwlist[] = { "timeout", NULL };
 	int timeout = -1, n;
 
+	CHECK_INITIALIZED(pevlist->evlist, "evlist");
+
+	evlist = pevlist->evlist;
 	if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwargs, "|i", kwlist, &timeout))
 		return NULL;
 
@@ -1759,13 +1773,18 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__get_pollfd(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 					 PyObject *args __maybe_unused,
 					 PyObject *kwargs __maybe_unused)
 {
-	struct evlist *evlist = pevlist->evlist;
-        PyObject *list = PyList_New(0);
+	struct evlist *evlist;
+	PyObject *list;
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.pollfd.nr; ++i) {
+	CHECK_INITIALIZED(pevlist->evlist, "evlist");
+
+	evlist = pevlist->evlist;
+	list = PyList_New(0);
+
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->pollfd.nr; ++i) {
 		PyObject *file;
-		file = PyFile_FromFd(evlist->core.pollfd.entries[i].fd, "perf", "r", -1,
+		file = PyFile_FromFd(evlist__core(evlist)->pollfd.entries[i].fd, "perf", "r", -1,
 				     NULL, NULL, NULL, 0);
 		if (file == NULL)
 			goto free_list;
@@ -1788,28 +1807,33 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__add(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 				  PyObject *args,
 				  PyObject *kwargs __maybe_unused)
 {
-	struct evlist *evlist = pevlist->evlist;
+	struct evlist *evlist;
 	PyObject *pevsel;
 	struct evsel *evsel;
 
+	CHECK_INITIALIZED(pevlist->evlist, "evlist");
+
+	evlist = pevlist->evlist;
 	if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O!", &pyrf_evsel__type, &pevsel))
 		return NULL;
 
 	CHECK_INITIALIZED(((struct pyrf_evsel *)pevsel)->evsel, "evsel");
 
 	evsel = ((struct pyrf_evsel *)pevsel)->evsel;
-	evsel->core.idx = evlist->core.nr_entries;
+	CHECK_INITIALIZED(evsel, "evsel");
+
+	evsel->core.idx = evlist__nr_entries(evlist);
 	evlist__add(evlist, evsel__get(evsel));
 
-	return Py_BuildValue("i", evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	return Py_BuildValue("i", evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 }
 
 static struct mmap *get_md(struct evlist *evlist, int cpu)
 {
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
-		struct mmap *md = &evlist->mmap[i];
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
+		struct mmap *md = &evlist__mmap(evlist)[i];
 
 		if (md->core.cpu.cpu == cpu)
 			return md;
@@ -1821,13 +1845,16 @@ static struct mmap *get_md(struct evlist *evlist, int cpu)
 static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__read_on_cpu(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 					  PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs)
 {
-	struct evlist *evlist = pevlist->evlist;
+	struct evlist *evlist;
 	union perf_event *event;
 	int sample_id_all = 1, cpu;
 	static char *kwlist[] = { "cpu", "sample_id_all", NULL };
 	struct mmap *md;
 	int err;
 
+	CHECK_INITIALIZED(pevlist->evlist, "evlist");
+
+	evlist = pevlist->evlist;
 	if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwargs, "i|i", kwlist,
 					 &cpu, &sample_id_all))
 		return NULL;
@@ -1878,8 +1905,11 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__read_on_cpu(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__open(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 				   PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs)
 {
-	struct evlist *evlist = pevlist->evlist;
+	struct evlist *evlist;
+
+	CHECK_INITIALIZED(pevlist->evlist, "evlist");
 
+	evlist = pevlist->evlist;
 	if (evlist__open(evlist) < 0) {
 		PyErr_SetFromErrno(PyExc_OSError);
 		return NULL;
@@ -1891,8 +1921,11 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__open(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 
 static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__close(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist)
 {
-	struct evlist *evlist = pevlist->evlist;
+	struct evlist *evlist;
 
+	CHECK_INITIALIZED(pevlist->evlist, "evlist");
+
+	evlist = pevlist->evlist;
 	evlist__close(evlist);
 
 	Py_INCREF(Py_None);
@@ -1917,8 +1950,11 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__config(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist)
 		.no_buffering        = true,
 		.no_inherit          = true,
 	};
-	struct evlist *evlist = pevlist->evlist;
+	struct evlist *evlist;
+
+	CHECK_INITIALIZED(pevlist->evlist, "evlist");
 
+	evlist = pevlist->evlist;
 	evlist__config(evlist, &opts, &callchain_param);
 	Py_INCREF(Py_None);
 	return Py_None;
@@ -1926,6 +1962,7 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__config(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist)
 
 static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__disable(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist)
 {
+	CHECK_INITIALIZED(pevlist->evlist, "evlist");
 	evlist__disable(pevlist->evlist);
 	Py_INCREF(Py_None);
 	return Py_None;
@@ -1933,6 +1970,7 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__disable(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist)
 
 static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__enable(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist)
 {
+	CHECK_INITIALIZED(pevlist->evlist, "evlist");
 	evlist__enable(pevlist->evlist);
 	Py_INCREF(Py_None);
 	return Py_None;
@@ -2027,7 +2065,7 @@ static Py_ssize_t pyrf_evlist__length(PyObject *obj)
 	if (!pevlist->evlist)
 		return 0;
 
-	return pevlist->evlist->core.nr_entries;
+	return evlist__nr_entries(pevlist->evlist);
 }
 
 static PyObject *pyrf_evsel__from_evsel(struct evsel *evsel)
@@ -2046,7 +2084,7 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__item(PyObject *obj, Py_ssize_t i)
 	struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist = (void *)obj;
 	struct evsel *pos;
 
-	if (!pevlist->evlist || i >= pevlist->evlist->core.nr_entries) {
+	if (!pevlist->evlist || i >= evlist__nr_entries(pevlist->evlist)) {
 		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_IndexError, "Index out of range");
 		return NULL;
 	}
@@ -2274,7 +2312,7 @@ static PyObject *pyrf__parse_events(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 	cpus = pcpus ? ((struct pyrf_cpu_map *)pcpus)->cpus : NULL;
 
 	parse_events_error__init(&err);
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, cpus, threads);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), cpus, threads);
 	if (parse_events(evlist, input, &err)) {
 		parse_events_error__print(&err, input);
 		PyErr_SetFromErrno(PyExc_OSError);
@@ -2307,7 +2345,7 @@ static PyObject *pyrf__parse_metrics(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 	threads = pthreads ? ((struct pyrf_thread_map *)pthreads)->threads : NULL;
 	cpus = pcpus ? ((struct pyrf_cpu_map *)pcpus)->cpus : NULL;
 
-	perf_evlist__set_maps(&evlist->core, cpus, threads);
+	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist__core(evlist), cpus, threads);
 	ret = metricgroup__parse_groups(evlist, pmu ?: "all", input,
 					/*metric_no_group=*/ false,
 					/*metric_no_merge=*/ false,
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/record.c b/tools/perf/util/record.c
index 8a5fc7d5e43c7..38e8aee3106b7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/record.c
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ void evlist__config(struct evlist *evlist, struct record_opts *opts, struct call
 	bool use_comm_exec;
 	bool sample_id = opts->sample_id;
 
-	if (perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist->core.user_requested_cpus, 0).cpu < 0)
+	if (perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus, 0).cpu < 0)
 		opts->no_inherit = true;
 
 	use_comm_exec = perf_can_comm_exec();
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ void evlist__config(struct evlist *evlist, struct record_opts *opts, struct call
 		 */
 		use_sample_identifier = perf_can_sample_identifier();
 		sample_id = true;
-	} else if (evlist->core.nr_entries > 1) {
+	} else if (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) > 1) {
 		struct evsel *first = evlist__first(evlist);
 
 		evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, evsel) {
@@ -237,7 +237,8 @@ bool evlist__can_select_event(struct evlist *evlist, const char *str)
 
 	evsel = evlist__last(temp_evlist);
 
-	if (!evlist || perf_cpu_map__is_any_cpu_or_is_empty(evlist->core.user_requested_cpus)) {
+	if (!evlist ||
+	    perf_cpu_map__is_any_cpu_or_is_empty(evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus)) {
 		struct perf_cpu_map *cpus = perf_cpu_map__new_online_cpus();
 
 		if (cpus)
@@ -245,7 +246,7 @@ bool evlist__can_select_event(struct evlist *evlist, const char *str)
 
 		perf_cpu_map__put(cpus);
 	} else {
-		cpu = perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist->core.user_requested_cpus, 0);
+		cpu = perf_cpu_map__cpu(evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus, 0);
 	}
 
 	while (1) {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/sample-raw.c b/tools/perf/util/sample-raw.c
index e20b73c0c5bd7..f5ae9f4689834 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/sample-raw.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/sample-raw.c
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ void evlist__init_trace_event_sample_raw(struct evlist *evlist, struct perf_env
 	uint16_t e_machine = perf_env__e_machine(env, /*e_flags=*/NULL);
 
 	if (e_machine == EM_S390) {
-		evlist->trace_event_sample_raw = evlist__s390_sample_raw;
+		evlist__set_trace_event_sample_raw(evlist, evlist__s390_sample_raw);
 	} else if (e_machine == EM_X86_64 || e_machine == EM_386) {
 		const char *cpuid = perf_env__cpuid(env);
 
 		if (cpuid && strstarts(cpuid, "AuthenticAMD") && evlist__has_amd_ibs(evlist))
-			evlist->trace_event_sample_raw = evlist__amd_sample_raw;
+			evlist__set_trace_event_sample_raw(evlist, evlist__amd_sample_raw);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/session.c b/tools/perf/util/session.c
index 9962b830a4026..10d8942f86dad 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/session.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/session.c
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ struct perf_session *__perf_session__new(struct perf_data *data,
 		session->machines.host.env = host_env;
 	}
 	if (session->evlist)
-		session->evlist->session = session;
+		evlist__set_session(session->evlist, session);
 
 	session->machines.host.single_address_space =
 		perf_env__single_address_space(session->machines.host.env);
@@ -1549,8 +1549,8 @@ static void dump_event(struct evlist *evlist, union perf_event *event,
 	       file_offset, file_path, event->header.size, event->header.type);
 
 	trace_event(event);
-	if (event->header.type == PERF_RECORD_SAMPLE && evlist->trace_event_sample_raw)
-		evlist->trace_event_sample_raw(evlist, event, sample);
+	if (event->header.type == PERF_RECORD_SAMPLE && evlist__trace_event_sample_raw(evlist))
+		evlist__trace_event_sample_raw(evlist)(evlist, event, sample);
 
 	if (sample)
 		evlist__print_tstamp(evlist, event, sample);
@@ -1751,7 +1751,7 @@ static int deliver_sample_value(struct evlist *evlist,
 	}
 
 	if (!storage || sid->evsel == NULL) {
-		++evlist->stats.nr_unknown_id;
+		++evlist__stats(evlist)->nr_unknown_id;
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -1853,7 +1853,7 @@ static int evlist__deliver_deferred_callchain(struct evlist *evlist,
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	list_for_each_entry_safe(de, tmp, &evlist->deferred_samples, list) {
+	list_for_each_entry_safe(de, tmp, evlist__deferred_samples(evlist), list) {
 		struct perf_sample orig_sample;
 
 		perf_sample__init(&orig_sample, /*all=*/false);
@@ -1902,7 +1902,7 @@ static int session__flush_deferred_samples(struct perf_session *session,
 	struct deferred_event *de, *tmp;
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	list_for_each_entry_safe(de, tmp, &evlist->deferred_samples, list) {
+	list_for_each_entry_safe(de, tmp, evlist__deferred_samples(evlist), list) {
 		struct perf_sample sample;
 
 		perf_sample__init(&sample, /*all=*/false);
@@ -1964,17 +1964,16 @@ static int machines__deliver_event(struct machines *machines,
 		sample->evsel = evlist__id2evsel(evlist, sample->id);
 	else
 		assert(sample->evsel == evlist__id2evsel(evlist, sample->id));
-
 	machine = machines__find_for_cpumode(machines, event, sample);
 
 	switch (event->header.type) {
 	case PERF_RECORD_SAMPLE:
 		if (sample->evsel == NULL) {
-			++evlist->stats.nr_unknown_id;
+			++evlist__stats(evlist)->nr_unknown_id;
 			return 0;
 		}
 		if (machine == NULL) {
-			++evlist->stats.nr_unprocessable_samples;
+			++evlist__stats(evlist)->nr_unprocessable_samples;
 			dump_sample(machine, event, sample);
 			return 0;
 		}
@@ -1993,7 +1992,7 @@ static int machines__deliver_event(struct machines *machines,
 			}
 			memcpy(de->event, event, sz);
 			de->file_offset = sample->file_offset;
-			list_add_tail(&de->list, &evlist->deferred_samples);
+			list_add_tail(&de->list, evlist__deferred_samples(evlist));
 			return 0;
 		}
 		return evlist__deliver_sample(evlist, tool, event, sample, machine);
@@ -2005,7 +2004,7 @@ static int machines__deliver_event(struct machines *machines,
 		return tool->mmap(tool, event, sample, machine);
 	case PERF_RECORD_MMAP2:
 		if (event->header.misc & PERF_RECORD_MISC_PROC_MAP_PARSE_TIMEOUT)
-			++evlist->stats.nr_proc_map_timeout;
+			++evlist__stats(evlist)->nr_proc_map_timeout;
 		if (!perf_event__check_nul(event->mmap2.filename,
 					   (void *)event + event->header.size,
 					   "MMAP2", file_offset))
@@ -2050,13 +2049,13 @@ static int machines__deliver_event(struct machines *machines,
 		return tool->exit(tool, event, sample, machine);
 	case PERF_RECORD_LOST:
 		if (tool->lost == perf_event__process_lost)
-			evlist->stats.total_lost += event->lost.lost;
+			evlist__stats(evlist)->total_lost += event->lost.lost;
 		return tool->lost(tool, event, sample, machine);
 	case PERF_RECORD_LOST_SAMPLES:
 		if (event->header.misc & PERF_RECORD_MISC_LOST_SAMPLES_BPF)
-			evlist->stats.total_dropped_samples += event->lost_samples.lost;
+			evlist__stats(evlist)->total_dropped_samples += event->lost_samples.lost;
 		else if (tool->lost_samples == perf_event__process_lost_samples)
-			evlist->stats.total_lost_samples += event->lost_samples.lost;
+			evlist__stats(evlist)->total_lost_samples += event->lost_samples.lost;
 		return tool->lost_samples(tool, event, sample, machine);
 	case PERF_RECORD_READ:
 		dump_read(sample->evsel, event);
@@ -2068,11 +2067,11 @@ static int machines__deliver_event(struct machines *machines,
 	case PERF_RECORD_AUX:
 		if (tool->aux == perf_event__process_aux) {
 			if (event->aux.flags & PERF_AUX_FLAG_TRUNCATED)
-				evlist->stats.total_aux_lost += 1;
+				evlist__stats(evlist)->total_aux_lost += 1;
 			if (event->aux.flags & PERF_AUX_FLAG_PARTIAL)
-				evlist->stats.total_aux_partial += 1;
+				evlist__stats(evlist)->total_aux_partial += 1;
 			if (event->aux.flags & PERF_AUX_FLAG_COLLISION)
-				evlist->stats.total_aux_collision += 1;
+				evlist__stats(evlist)->total_aux_collision += 1;
 		}
 		return tool->aux(tool, event, sample, machine);
 	case PERF_RECORD_ITRACE_START:
@@ -2108,7 +2107,7 @@ static int machines__deliver_event(struct machines *machines,
 		return evlist__deliver_deferred_callchain(evlist, tool, event,
 							  sample, machine);
 	default:
-		++evlist->stats.nr_unknown_events;
+		++evlist__stats(evlist)->nr_unknown_events;
 		return -1;
 	}
 }
@@ -2520,7 +2519,7 @@ int perf_session__deliver_synth_event(struct perf_session *session,
 	struct evlist *evlist = session->evlist;
 	const struct perf_tool *tool = session->tool;
 
-	events_stats__inc(&evlist->stats, event->header.type);
+	events_stats__inc(evlist__stats(evlist), event->header.type);
 
 	if (event->header.type >= PERF_RECORD_USER_TYPE_START)
 		return perf_session__process_user_event(session, event, 0, NULL);
@@ -2930,7 +2929,7 @@ static s64 perf_session__process_event(struct perf_session *session,
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	events_stats__inc(&evlist->stats, event->header.type);
+	events_stats__inc(evlist__stats(evlist), event->header.type);
 
 	if (event->header.type >= PERF_RECORD_USER_TYPE_START)
 		return perf_session__process_user_event(session, event, file_offset, file_path);
@@ -2991,7 +2990,7 @@ perf_session__warn_order(const struct perf_session *session)
 
 static void perf_session__warn_about_errors(const struct perf_session *session)
 {
-	const struct events_stats *stats = &session->evlist->stats;
+	const struct events_stats *stats = evlist__stats(session->evlist);
 
 	if (session->tool->lost == perf_event__process_lost &&
 	    stats->nr_events[PERF_RECORD_LOST] != 0) {
@@ -3824,7 +3823,7 @@ size_t perf_session__fprintf_nr_events(struct perf_session *session, FILE *fp)
 
 	ret = fprintf(fp, "\nAggregated stats:%s\n", msg);
 
-	ret += events_stats__fprintf(&session->evlist->stats, fp);
+	ret += events_stats__fprintf(evlist__stats(session->evlist), fp);
 	return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/sideband_evlist.c b/tools/perf/util/sideband_evlist.c
index b84a5463e0394..c07dacf3c54c5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/sideband_evlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/sideband_evlist.c
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ int evlist__add_sb_event(struct evlist *evlist, struct perf_event_attr *attr,
 		attr->sample_id_all = 1;
 	}
 
-	evsel = evsel__new_idx(attr, evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	evsel = evsel__new_idx(attr, evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 	if (!evsel)
 		return -1;
 
@@ -49,14 +49,14 @@ static void *perf_evlist__poll_thread(void *arg)
 	while (!done) {
 		bool got_data = false;
 
-		if (evlist->thread.done)
+		if (evlist__sb_thread_done(evlist))
 			draining = true;
 
 		if (!draining)
 			evlist__poll(evlist, 1000);
 
-		for (i = 0; i < evlist->core.nr_mmaps; i++) {
-			struct mmap *map = &evlist->mmap[i];
+		for (i = 0; i < evlist__core(evlist)->nr_mmaps; i++) {
+			struct mmap *map = &evlist__mmap(evlist)[i];
 			union perf_event *event;
 
 			if (perf_mmap__read_init(&map->core))
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ int evlist__start_sb_thread(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target)
 	if (evlist__create_maps(evlist, target))
 		goto out_put_evlist;
 
-	if (evlist->core.nr_entries > 1) {
+	if (evlist__nr_entries(evlist) > 1) {
 		bool can_sample_identifier = perf_can_sample_identifier();
 
 		evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, counter)
@@ -114,12 +114,12 @@ int evlist__start_sb_thread(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target)
 	}
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, counter) {
-		if (evsel__open(counter, evlist->core.user_requested_cpus,
-				evlist->core.threads) < 0)
+		if (evsel__open(counter, evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus,
+				evlist__core(evlist)->threads) < 0)
 			goto out_put_evlist;
 	}
 
-	if (evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX))
+	if (evlist__do_mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX))
 		goto out_put_evlist;
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, counter) {
@@ -127,8 +127,8 @@ int evlist__start_sb_thread(struct evlist *evlist, struct target *target)
 			goto out_put_evlist;
 	}
 
-	evlist->thread.done = 0;
-	if (pthread_create(&evlist->thread.th, NULL, perf_evlist__poll_thread, evlist))
+	evlist__set_sb_thread_done(evlist, 0);
+	if (pthread_create(evlist__sb_thread_th(evlist), NULL, perf_evlist__poll_thread, evlist))
 		goto out_put_evlist;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ void evlist__stop_sb_thread(struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	if (!evlist)
 		return;
-	evlist->thread.done = 1;
-	pthread_join(evlist->thread.th, NULL);
+	evlist__set_sb_thread_done(evlist, 1);
+	pthread_join(*evlist__sb_thread_th(evlist), NULL);
 	evlist__put(evlist);
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/sort.c b/tools/perf/util/sort.c
index 005e7d85dc4a5..dcf9189786f8a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/sort.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/sort.c
@@ -3487,7 +3487,7 @@ static struct evsel *find_evsel(struct evlist *evlist, char *event_name)
 	if (event_name[0] == '%') {
 		int nr = strtol(event_name+1, NULL, 0);
 
-		if (nr > evlist->core.nr_entries)
+		if (nr > evlist__nr_entries(evlist))
 			return NULL;
 
 		evsel = evlist__first(evlist);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/stat-display.c b/tools/perf/util/stat-display.c
index 0a5750bb59fa3..f94f1324d24ac 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/stat-display.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/stat-display.c
@@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ static void print_metric_header(struct perf_stat_config *config,
 
 	/* In case of iostat, print metric header for first root port only */
 	if (config->iostat_run &&
-	    os->evsel->priv != os->evsel->evlist->selected->priv)
+		os->evsel->priv != evlist__selected(os->evsel->evlist)->priv)
 		return;
 
 	if (os->evsel->cgrp != os->cgrp)
@@ -1126,7 +1126,7 @@ static void print_no_aggr_metric(struct perf_stat_config *config,
 	unsigned int all_idx;
 	struct perf_cpu cpu;
 
-	perf_cpu_map__for_each_cpu(cpu, all_idx, evlist->core.user_requested_cpus) {
+	perf_cpu_map__for_each_cpu(cpu, all_idx, evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus) {
 		struct evsel *counter;
 		bool first = true;
 
@@ -1543,7 +1543,7 @@ void evlist__print_counters(struct evlist *evlist, struct perf_stat_config *conf
 	evlist__uniquify_evsel_names(evlist, config);
 
 	if (config->iostat_run)
-		evlist->selected = evlist__first(evlist);
+		evlist__set_selected(evlist, evlist__first(evlist));
 
 	if (config->interval)
 		prepare_timestamp(config, &os, ts);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/stat-shadow.c b/tools/perf/util/stat-shadow.c
index 35062f964618a..525a3fe4a46ec 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/stat-shadow.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/stat-shadow.c
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ void *perf_stat__print_shadow_stats_metricgroup(struct perf_stat_config *config,
 	void *ctxp = out->ctx;
 	bool header_printed = false;
 	const char *name = NULL;
-	struct rblist *metric_events = &evsel->evlist->metric_events;
+	struct rblist *metric_events = evlist__metric_events(evsel->evlist);
 
 	me = metricgroup__lookup(metric_events, evsel, false);
 	if (me == NULL)
@@ -355,5 +355,5 @@ bool perf_stat__skip_metric_event(struct evsel *evsel)
 	if (!evsel->default_metricgroup)
 		return false;
 
-	return !metricgroup__lookup(&evsel->evlist->metric_events, evsel, false);
+	return !metricgroup__lookup(evlist__metric_events(evsel->evlist), evsel, false);
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/stat.c b/tools/perf/util/stat.c
index 66eb9a66a4f7a..25f31a1743682 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/stat.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/stat.c
@@ -547,8 +547,8 @@ static void evsel__merge_aliases(struct evsel *evsel)
 	struct evlist *evlist = evsel->evlist;
 	struct evsel *alias;
 
-	alias = list_prepare_entry(evsel, &(evlist->core.entries), core.node);
-	list_for_each_entry_continue(alias, &evlist->core.entries, core.node) {
+	alias = list_prepare_entry(evsel, &(evlist__core(evlist)->entries), core.node);
+	list_for_each_entry_continue(alias, &evlist__core(evlist)->entries, core.node) {
 		if (alias->first_wildcard_match == evsel) {
 			/* Merge the same events on different PMUs. */
 			evsel__merge_aggr_counters(evsel, alias);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/stream.c b/tools/perf/util/stream.c
index 3de4a61308539..7bccd23783444 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/stream.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/stream.c
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ static int evlist__init_callchain_streams(struct evlist *evlist,
 	struct evsel *pos;
 	int i = 0;
 
-	BUG_ON(els->nr_evsel < evlist->core.nr_entries);
+	BUG_ON(els->nr_evsel < evlist__nr_entries(evlist));
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, pos) {
 		struct hists *hists = evsel__hists(pos);
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ static int evlist__init_callchain_streams(struct evlist *evlist,
 struct evlist_streams *evlist__create_streams(struct evlist *evlist,
 					      int nr_streams_max)
 {
-	int nr_evsel = evlist->core.nr_entries, ret = -1;
+	int nr_evsel = evlist__nr_entries(evlist), ret = -1;
 	struct evlist_streams *els = evlist_streams__new(nr_evsel,
 							 nr_streams_max);
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/synthetic-events.c b/tools/perf/util/synthetic-events.c
index 5307d707711d8..b75f9dcf4dbfe 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/synthetic-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/synthetic-events.c
@@ -2247,7 +2247,7 @@ int perf_event__synthesize_tracing_data(const struct perf_tool *tool, int fd, st
 	 * - write the tracing data from the temp file
 	 *   to the pipe
 	 */
-	tdata = tracing_data_get(&evlist->core.entries, fd, true);
+	tdata = tracing_data_get(&evlist__core(evlist)->entries, fd, true);
 	if (!tdata)
 		return -1;
 
@@ -2404,13 +2404,16 @@ int perf_event__synthesize_stat_events(struct perf_stat_config *config, const st
 	}
 
 	err = perf_event__synthesize_extra_attr(tool, evlist, process, attrs);
-	err = perf_event__synthesize_thread_map2(tool, evlist->core.threads, process, NULL);
+	err = perf_event__synthesize_thread_map2(tool, evlist__core(evlist)->threads,
+						process, /*machine=*/NULL);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_err("Couldn't synthesize thread map.\n");
 		return err;
 	}
 
-	err = perf_event__synthesize_cpu_map(tool, evlist->core.user_requested_cpus, process, NULL);
+	err = perf_event__synthesize_cpu_map(tool,
+					     evlist__core(evlist)->user_requested_cpus,
+					     process, /*machine=*/NULL);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_err("Couldn't synthesize thread map.\n");
 		return err;
@@ -2518,7 +2521,7 @@ int perf_event__synthesize_for_pipe(const struct perf_tool *tool,
 	ret += err;
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBTRACEEVENT
-	if (have_tracepoints(&evlist->core.entries)) {
+	if (have_tracepoints(&evlist__core(evlist)->entries)) {
 		int fd = perf_data__fd(data);
 
 		/*
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/time-utils.c b/tools/perf/util/time-utils.c
index d43c4577d7ebc..5558a5a0fea4a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/time-utils.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/time-utils.c
@@ -473,8 +473,8 @@ int perf_time__parse_for_ranges_reltime(const char *time_str,
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	if (has_percent || reltime) {
-		if (session->evlist->first_sample_time == 0 &&
-		    session->evlist->last_sample_time == 0) {
+		if (evlist__first_sample_time(session->evlist) == 0 &&
+		    evlist__last_sample_time(session->evlist) == 0) {
 			pr_err("HINT: no first/last sample time found in perf data.\n"
 			       "Please use latest perf binary to execute 'perf record'\n"
 			       "(if '--buildid-all' is enabled, please set '--timestamp-boundary').\n");
@@ -486,8 +486,8 @@ int perf_time__parse_for_ranges_reltime(const char *time_str,
 		num = perf_time__percent_parse_str(
 				ptime_range, size,
 				time_str,
-				session->evlist->first_sample_time,
-				session->evlist->last_sample_time);
+				evlist__first_sample_time(session->evlist),
+				evlist__last_sample_time(session->evlist));
 	} else {
 		num = perf_time__parse_strs(ptime_range, time_str, size);
 	}
@@ -499,8 +499,8 @@ int perf_time__parse_for_ranges_reltime(const char *time_str,
 		int i;
 
 		for (i = 0; i < num; i++) {
-			ptime_range[i].start += session->evlist->first_sample_time;
-			ptime_range[i].end += session->evlist->first_sample_time;
+			ptime_range[i].start += evlist__first_sample_time(session->evlist);
+			ptime_range[i].end += evlist__first_sample_time(session->evlist);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/top.c b/tools/perf/util/top.c
index b06e10a116bb3..851a26be69315 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/top.c
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ size_t perf_top__header_snprintf(struct perf_top *top, char *bf, size_t size)
 			       esamples_percent);
 	}
 
-	if (top->evlist->core.nr_entries == 1) {
+	if (evlist__nr_entries(top->evlist) == 1) {
 		struct evsel *first = evlist__first(top->evlist);
 		ret += SNPRINTF(bf + ret, size - ret, "%" PRIu64 "%s ",
 				(uint64_t)first->core.attr.sample_period,
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ size_t perf_top__header_snprintf(struct perf_top *top, char *bf, size_t size)
 	else
 		ret += SNPRINTF(bf + ret, size - ret, " (all");
 
-	nr_cpus = perf_cpu_map__nr(top->evlist->core.user_requested_cpus);
+	nr_cpus = perf_cpu_map__nr(evlist__core(top->evlist)->user_requested_cpus);
 	if (target->cpu_list)
 		ret += SNPRINTF(bf + ret, size - ret, ", CPU%s: %s)",
 				nr_cpus > 1 ? "s" : "",
-- 
2.53.0