Re: [PATCH] tools/build: make in-target rule robust against too long argument error

Re: [PATCH] tools/build: make in-target rule robust against too long argument error

[Ian Rogers]

On Mon, Oct 27, 2025 at 7:16 PM Changqing Li <changqing.li@windriver.com> wrote:
>
> Hi, Ian
>
> Kindly ping.  Could you reproduce it?  Any comments?

Sorry Changqing,

I was reminded by:
https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20260303211503.165337-1-mmayer@broadcom.com/
that "argument list too long" is a problem for others.

I tried reproducing it, but I think it doesn't fail for me, possibly
because MAX_ARGS is larger on my system:
```
$ xargs --show-limits
Your environment variables take up 6133 bytes
POSIX upper limit on argument length (this system): 2088971
POSIX smallest allowable upper limit on argument length (all systems): 4096
Maximum length of command we could actually use: 2082838
Size of command buffer we are actually using: 131072
Maximum parallelism (--max-procs must be no greater): 2147483647
```

Anyway, the change makes sense to me.

Reviewed-by: Ian Rogers <irogers@google.com>

Thanks,
Ian

> Regards
>
> Changqing
>
> On 8/19/25 11:01, Changqing Li wrote:
> >
> > On 8/19/25 04:38, Ian Rogers wrote:
> >> CAUTION: This email comes from a non Wind River email account!
> >> Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the
> >> sender and know the content is safe.
> >>
> >> On Mon, Jul 28, 2025 at 2:31 AM <changqing.li@windriver.com> wrote:
> >>> From: Changqing Li <changqing.li@windriver.com>
> >>>
> >>> The command length of in-target scales with the depth of the directory
> >>> times the number of objects in the Makefile. When there are many
> >>> objects, and O=[absolute_path] is set, and the absolute_path is
> >>> relatively long. It is possile that this line "$(call
> >>> if_changed,$(host)ld_multi)" will report error:
> >>> "make[4]: /bin/sh: Argument list too long"
> >>>
> >>> For example, build perf tools with O=/long/output/path
> >>>
> >>> Like built-in.a and *.mod rules in scripts/Makefile.build, add
> >>> $(objpredix)/ by the shell command instead of by Make's builtin
> >>> function.
> >>>
> >>> Signed-off-by: Changqing Li <changqing.li@windriver.com>
> >> Thanks Changqing, the change makes sense to me. The printf is pushing
> >> the values into xargs rather than using $^ with ld. I've tried
> >> reproducing the error to test your fix by creating long directory
> >> names in /tmp and then passing them to O=. I've not been able to do
> >> this. Could you send a reproduction for me to test?
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Ian
> >
> > Hi, Ian
> >
> > Thanks. Here is my steps:
> >
> > 1. git clone https://github.com/torvalds/linux.git
> >
> > 2. cd linux/tools/perf/
> >
> > 3. mkdir
> > /tmp/01234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678/9012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123/perf-1.0
> >
> > 4.  make NO_LIBTRACEEVENT=1
> > O=/tmp/01234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678/9012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123/perf-1.0
> >
> >
> > 5. Above step failed with error:
> >
> > make[4]: /bin/sh: Argument list too long
> >
> > make[4]: *** [/buildarea2/cli10/tmp/linux/tools/build/Makefile.build
> > <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://Makefile.build__;!!AjveYdw8EvQ!c2n7zPX4Vrhwd7a9UxsjCXBGO5V8Llmon1egvupz4kHL4869ilesQgRgQZO8nj8AWwQJUlY9DOoWPD688quA73jNugR6IZRxy09Eig$>:148:
> > /tmp/01234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678/9012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123/perf-1.0/util/perf-util-in.o]
> > Error 127
> >
> > make[3]: *** [/buildarea2/cli10/tmp/linux/tools/build/Makefile.build
> > <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://Makefile.build__;!!AjveYdw8EvQ!c2n7zPX4Vrhwd7a9UxsjCXBGO5V8Llmon1egvupz4kHL4869ilesQgRgQZO8nj8AWwQJUlY9DOoWPD688quA73jNugR6IZRxy09Eig$>:142:
> > util] Error 2
> >
> > make[2]: *** [Makefile.perf:797:
> > /tmp/01234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678/9012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123/perf-1.0/perf-util-in.o]
> > Error 2
> >
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Changqing
> >>> ---
> >>>   tools/build/Makefile.build | 6 ++++--
> >>>   1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
> >>>
> >>> diff --git a/tools/build/Makefile.build b/tools/build/Makefile.build
> >>> index 3584ff308607..39066a3ef2fc 100644
> >>> --- a/tools/build/Makefile.build
> >>> +++ b/tools/build/Makefile.build
> >>> @@ -70,11 +70,13 @@ quiet_cmd_gen = GEN     $@
> >>>   # If there's nothing to link, create empty $@ object.
> >>>   quiet_cmd_ld_multi = LD      $@
> >>>         cmd_ld_multi = $(if $(strip $(obj-y)),\
> >>> -                     $(LD) -r -o $@  $(filter $(obj-y),$^),rm -f
> >>> $@; $(AR) rcs $@)
> >>> +                     printf "$(objprefix)%s " $(patsubst
> >>> $(objprefix)%,%,$(filter $(obj-y),$^)) | \
> >>> +                     xargs $(LD) -r -o $@,rm -f $@; $(AR) rcs $@)
> >>>
> >>>   quiet_cmd_host_ld_multi = HOSTLD  $@
> >>>         cmd_host_ld_multi = $(if $(strip $(obj-y)),\
> >>> -                          $(HOSTLD) -r -o $@  $(filter
> >>> $(obj-y),$^),rm -f $@; $(HOSTAR) rcs $@)
> >>> +                          printf "$(objprefix)%s " $(patsubst
> >>> $(objprefix)%,%,$(filter $(obj-y),$^)) | \
> >>> +                          xargs $(HOSTLD) -r -o $@,rm -f $@;
> >>> $(HOSTAR) rcs $@)
> >>>
> >>>   ifneq ($(filter $(obj),$(hostprogs)),)
> >>>     host = host_
> >>> --
> >>> 2.34.1
> >>>

Re: [PATCH] tools/build: make in-target rule robust against too long argument error

[Changqing Li]

On 3/4/26 06:33, Ian Rogers wrote:
> CAUTION: This email comes from a non Wind River email account!
> Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
>
> On Mon, Oct 27, 2025 at 7:16 PM Changqing Li <changqing.li@windriver.com> wrote:
>> Hi, Ian
>>
>> Kindly ping.  Could you reproduce it?  Any comments?
> Sorry Changqing,
>
> I was reminded by:
> https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20260303211503.165337-1-mmayer@broadcom.com/
> that "argument list too long" is a problem for others.
>
> I tried reproducing it, but I think it doesn't fail for me, possibly
> because MAX_ARGS is larger on my system:
> ```
> $ xargs --show-limits
> Your environment variables take up 6133 bytes
> POSIX upper limit on argument length (this system): 2088971
> POSIX smallest allowable upper limit on argument length (all systems): 4096
> Maximum length of command we could actually use: 2082838
> Size of command buffer we are actually using: 131072
> Maximum parallelism (--max-procs must be no greater): 2147483647
> ```
>
> Anyway, the change makes sense to me.
>
> Reviewed-by: Ian Rogers <irogers@google.com>
>
> Thanks,
> Ian
>
Hi, Ian

Thanks.  I also cannot reproduce with previous length of tmpdir, maybe 
caused by perf source changes during this period，

but I can still reproduce after I make the tmpdir longer.

$ xargs --show-limits
Your environment variables take up 3124 bytes
POSIX upper limit on argument length (this system): 2091980
POSIX smallest allowable upper limit on argument length (all systems): 4096
Maximum length of command we could actually use: 2088856
Size of command buffer we are actually using: 131072
Maximum parallelism (--max-procs must be no greater): 2147483647


Regards

Changqing


>> Regards
>>
>> Changqing
>>
>> On 8/19/25 11:01, Changqing Li wrote:
>>> On 8/19/25 04:38, Ian Rogers wrote:
>>>> CAUTION: This email comes from a non Wind River email account!
>>>> Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the
>>>> sender and know the content is safe.
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Jul 28, 2025 at 2:31 AM <changqing.li@windriver.com> wrote:
>>>>> From: Changqing Li <changqing.li@windriver.com>
>>>>>
>>>>> The command length of in-target scales with the depth of the directory
>>>>> times the number of objects in the Makefile. When there are many
>>>>> objects, and O=[absolute_path] is set, and the absolute_path is
>>>>> relatively long. It is possile that this line "$(call
>>>>> if_changed,$(host)ld_multi)" will report error:
>>>>> "make[4]: /bin/sh: Argument list too long"
>>>>>
>>>>> For example, build perf tools with O=/long/output/path
>>>>>
>>>>> Like built-in.a and *.mod rules in scripts/Makefile.build, add
>>>>> $(objpredix)/ by the shell command instead of by Make's builtin
>>>>> function.
>>>>>
>>>>> Signed-off-by: Changqing Li <changqing.li@windriver.com>
>>>> Thanks Changqing, the change makes sense to me. The printf is pushing
>>>> the values into xargs rather than using $^ with ld. I've tried
>>>> reproducing the error to test your fix by creating long directory
>>>> names in /tmp and then passing them to O=. I've not been able to do
>>>> this. Could you send a reproduction for me to test?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Ian
>>> Hi, Ian
>>>
>>> Thanks. Here is my steps:
>>>
>>> 1. git clone https://github.com/torvalds/linux.git
>>>
>>> 2. cd linux/tools/perf/
>>>
>>> 3. mkdir
>>> /tmp/01234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678/9012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123/perf-1.0
>>>
>>> 4.  make NO_LIBTRACEEVENT=1
>>> O=/tmp/01234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678/9012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123/perf-1.0
>>>
>>>
>>> 5. Above step failed with error:
>>>
>>> make[4]: /bin/sh: Argument list too long
>>>
>>> make[4]: *** [/buildarea2/cli10/tmp/linux/tools/build/Makefile.build
>>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://Makefile.build__;!!AjveYdw8EvQ!c2n7zPX4Vrhwd7a9UxsjCXBGO5V8Llmon1egvupz4kHL4869ilesQgRgQZO8nj8AWwQJUlY9DOoWPD688quA73jNugR6IZRxy09Eig$>:148:
>>> /tmp/01234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678/9012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123/perf-1.0/util/perf-util-in.o]
>>> Error 127
>>>
>>> make[3]: *** [/buildarea2/cli10/tmp/linux/tools/build/Makefile.build
>>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://Makefile.build__;!!AjveYdw8EvQ!c2n7zPX4Vrhwd7a9UxsjCXBGO5V8Llmon1egvupz4kHL4869ilesQgRgQZO8nj8AWwQJUlY9DOoWPD688quA73jNugR6IZRxy09Eig$>:142:
>>> util] Error 2
>>>
>>> make[2]: *** [Makefile.perf:797:
>>> /tmp/01234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/0123456789012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678/9012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/012345678901234567890123456789/01234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123/perf-1.0/perf-util-in.o]
>>> Error 2
>>>
>>>
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> Changqing
>>>>> ---
>>>>>    tools/build/Makefile.build | 6 ++++--
>>>>>    1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
>>>>>
>>>>> diff --git a/tools/build/Makefile.build b/tools/build/Makefile.build
>>>>> index 3584ff308607..39066a3ef2fc 100644
>>>>> --- a/tools/build/Makefile.build
>>>>> +++ b/tools/build/Makefile.build
>>>>> @@ -70,11 +70,13 @@ quiet_cmd_gen = GEN     $@
>>>>>    # If there's nothing to link, create empty $@ object.
>>>>>    quiet_cmd_ld_multi = LD      $@
>>>>>          cmd_ld_multi = $(if $(strip $(obj-y)),\
>>>>> -                     $(LD) -r -o $@  $(filter $(obj-y),$^),rm -f
>>>>> $@; $(AR) rcs $@)
>>>>> +                     printf "$(objprefix)%s " $(patsubst
>>>>> $(objprefix)%,%,$(filter $(obj-y),$^)) | \
>>>>> +                     xargs $(LD) -r -o $@,rm -f $@; $(AR) rcs $@)
>>>>>
>>>>>    quiet_cmd_host_ld_multi = HOSTLD  $@
>>>>>          cmd_host_ld_multi = $(if $(strip $(obj-y)),\
>>>>> -                          $(HOSTLD) -r -o $@  $(filter
>>>>> $(obj-y),$^),rm -f $@; $(HOSTAR) rcs $@)
>>>>> +                          printf "$(objprefix)%s " $(patsubst
>>>>> $(objprefix)%,%,$(filter $(obj-y),$^)) | \
>>>>> +                          xargs $(HOSTLD) -r -o $@,rm -f $@;
>>>>> $(HOSTAR) rcs $@)
>>>>>
>>>>>    ifneq ($(filter $(obj),$(hostprogs)),)
>>>>>      host = host_
>>>>> --
>>>>> 2.34.1
>>>>>

Re: [PATCH] tools/build: make in-target rule robust against too long argument error

[Arnaldo Carvalho de Melo]

On Tue, Mar 03, 2026 at 02:33:04PM -0800, Ian Rogers wrote:
> On Mon, Oct 27, 2025 at 7:16 PM Changqing Li <changqing.li@windriver.com> wrote:
> > Kindly ping.  Could you reproduce it?  Any comments?
 
> Sorry Changqing,
 
> I was reminded by:
> https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20260303211503.165337-1-mmayer@broadcom.com/
> that "argument list too long" is a problem for others.
 
> I tried reproducing it, but I think it doesn't fail for me, possibly
> because MAX_ARGS is larger on my system:
> ```
> $ xargs --show-limits
> Your environment variables take up 6133 bytes
> POSIX upper limit on argument length (this system): 2088971
> POSIX smallest allowable upper limit on argument length (all systems): 4096
> Maximum length of command we could actually use: 2082838
> Size of command buffer we are actually using: 131072
> Maximum parallelism (--max-procs must be no greater): 2147483647
> ```
 
> Anyway, the change makes sense to me.
 
> Reviewed-by: Ian Rogers <irogers@google.com>

Ok, so I'll pick this one and the other for rm that you mentioned:

https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20260303211503.165337-1-mmayer@broadcom.com

I'll have it in perf-tools, for v7.0.

- Arnaldo