ring_buffer_wait(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

👑 ring_buffer_wait(9) — the kernel API manual ✨

okay bestie, so this is a page from the Kernel API Manual, and today's main character is ring_buffer_wait(9). yes it's a whole function, yes it's about waiting, and yes it's iconic. let's get into it 💅

🦋 NAME 🦋

ring_buffer_wait — literally just wait for input to show up in the ring buffer, that's it, that's the vibe 🫶

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

int ring_buffer_wait (struct trace_buffer *buffer , int cpu , int full ,
       ring_buffer_cond_fn cond , void *data );

look at her. five whole arguments. she's living her best life 🌸

🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

  • buffer — the buffer you're waiting on. your fave. your chosen one.
  • cpu — which cpu buffer you're waiting on. like, be specific about it.
  • full — wait until the percentage of pages are available — but only if cpu != RING_BUFFER_ALL_CPUS. iykyk 👀
  • cond — the condition function that lets you break out of the wait. pass NULL to run once, like a one-and-done situation 🙈
  • data — the data you hand off to cond. give it something nice.

💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

so here's the tea. if cpu == RING_BUFFER_ALL_CPUS, the task wakes up the instant data gets added to any of the buffer's cpu buffers. any of them. no cap. it's giving "main character who's friends with everyone" 💀

otherwise — like, when you actually named a specific cpu — it waits for data to be added to that specific cpu buffer. loyal. committed. obsessed with one cpu only. periodt. 🎀

🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

the whole friend group, gathered for the group chat 🫶 also shoutout to the kernel file ./kernel/trace/ring_buffer.c:

that's the whole squad, no one left behind 💜

ok that's the page!! this cutie came out of ./kernel/trace and it's dated October 2026 — so yeah, future-fresh ✨💖 go wait on that ring buffer bestie, you got this 🫶🎀
📦 where this page comes from