Try to make students think about performance of scheduler dispatching.

Based on suggestion from Godmar Back.
Also, minor wording improvements.

diff --git a/doc/threads.texi b/doc/threads.texi
index d83b52f4525770b2a89d7768713426e1ad1821b0..a28d7a41d1c14842c8ee65a8ca3bf26c177c4ff8 100644 (file)
--- a/doc/threads.texi
+++ b/doc/threads.texi
@@ -675,7 +675,7 @@ list.
 
 @item If the highest-priority thread yields, does it continue running?
 
-Yes.  As long as there is a single highest-priority thread, it continues
+Yes.  If there is a single highest-priority thread, it continues
 running until it blocks or finishes, even if it calls
 @func{thread_yield}.
 If multiple threads have the same highest priority,
@@ -730,9 +730,6 @@ scheduler at the same time.
 
 @item Can I use one queue instead of 64 queues?
 
-Yes, that's fine.  It's easiest to describe the algorithm in terms of 64
-separate queues, but that doesn't mean you have to implement it that
-way.
-
-If you use a single queue, it should probably be sorted.
+Yes.  In general, your implementation may differ from the description,
+as long as its behavior is the same.
 @end table

diff --git a/doc/threads.tmpl b/doc/threads.tmpl
index 98c5c5c54e9c1c99693449934990572c00d559d0..6afb34f4e51ca0c6f3def2d90a4def683d1ed17d 100644 (file)
--- a/doc/threads.tmpl
+++ b/doc/threads.tmpl
@@ -118,12 +118,15 @@ ticks   A   B   C   A   B   C   to run
 >> table uncertain?  If so, what rule did you use to resolve them?  Does
 >> this match the behavior of your scheduler?
 
+>> How is the way you divided the cost of scheduling between code
+>> inside and outside interrupt context likely to affect performance?
+
 ---- RATIONALE ----
 
->> Critique your design, pointing out advantages and disadvantages in
->> your design choices.  If you were to have extra time to work on this
->> part of the project, how might you choose to refine or improve your
->> design?
+>> Briefly critique your design, pointing out advantages and
+>> disadvantages in your design choices.  If you were to have extra
+>> time to work on this part of the project, how might you choose to
+>> refine or improve your design?
 
 >> The assignment explains arithmetic for fixed-point math in detail, but
 >> it leaves it open to you to implement it.  Why did you decide to