Re: [PATCH RFC] struct list_node

[Linus Torvalds <torvalds@linux-foundation.org>]

On Sun, 10 Jun 2007, Linus Torvalds wrote:
> 
> The Linux kernel list.h is _better_ than most stupid list implementations 
> that think that a head node is different from the list node. Exactly 
> because it very naturally supports the notion of "this structure exists in 
> a 'ring of entries'" where each node is 100% equivalent to any other node, 
> and there _is_ no head.

Btw, to extend a bit on this: there actually *is* a "list with a head" 
implementation in <linux/list.h>, called "hlist".

Now, the "h" actually historically stands for "hash", but if you prefer, 
you can think of it as standing for "head", and be happy.

And if you want a head, you really do want to use "hlist", since the head 
is smaller than a list entry (a single pointer rather than two).

And yes, I'm sure we could change some "struct list" users to "struct 
hlist" if you wanted to.

		Linus