How to create a new Linux kernel scheduler

I've figured out the answer to my question, so I thought I'd add it here. Below is the patch that will add a new scheduler to the 2.6.34 vanilla kernel. Right now, I've only compiled the kernel. I fully expect running a system with this EXACT patch will cause it to crash -- so use at your own risk :-)

diff --git a/include/linux/sched.h b/include/linux/sched.h
index 2b7b81d..a2a2b21 100644
--- a/include/linux/sched.h
+++ b/include/linux/sched.h
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #define SCHED_RR       2
 #define SCHED_BATCH        3
 /* SCHED_ISO: reserved but not implemented yet */
+#define SCHED_NEW               4 /* Stealing from SCHED_ISO */
 #define SCHED_IDLE     5
 /* Can be ORed in to make sure the process is reverted back to SCHED_NORMAL on fork */
 #define SCHED_RESET_ON_FORK     0x40000000
diff --git a/init/Kconfig b/init/Kconfig
index eb77e8c..0055d26 100644
--- a/init/Kconfig
+++ b/init/Kconfig
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ config CONSTRUCTORS

 menu "General setup"

+config SCHED_NEW
+       bool "NEW cpu scheduler"
+       ---help---
+         Brand new scheduler 
+
 config EXPERIMENTAL
    bool "Prompt for development and/or incomplete code/drivers"
    ---help---
diff --git a/kernel/sched.c b/kernel/sched.c
index 3c2a54f..588960d 100644
--- a/kernel/sched.c
+++ b/kernel/sched.c
@@ -1931,6 +1931,7 @@ static void deactivate_task(struct rq *rq, struct task_struct *p, int sleep)

 #include "sched_idletask.c"
 #include "sched_fair.c"
+#include "sched_new.c"
 #include "sched_rt.c"
 #ifdef CONFIG_SCHED_DEBUG
 # include "sched_debug.c"
diff --git a/kernel/sched_new.c b/kernel/sched_new.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c2e269e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kernel/sched_new.c
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+#ifdef CONFIG_SCHED_NEW
+
+/*
+ * Starting with a simple, 1 runq per cpu scheduler.  Don't care
+ * about fairness for right now.  Just get it up and running to 
+ * verify that we have the interface correct
+ */
+
+static void
+enqueue_task_new(struct rq *rq, struct task_struct *p, int wakeup, bool head)
+{
+}
+
+static void dequeue_task_new(struct rq *rq, struct task_struct *p, int sleep)
+{
+}
+
+static void yield_task_new(struct rq *rq)
+{
+}
+
+static void check_preempt_curr_new(struct rq *rq, struct task_struct *p, int flags)
+{
+}
+
+static struct task_struct *pick_next_task_new(struct rq *rq)
+{
+}
+
+static void put_prev_task_new(struct rq *rq, struct task_struct *p)
+{
+}
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_SMP
+static int select_task_rq_new(struct task_struct *p, int sd_flag, int flags)
+{
+}
+static void pre_schedule_new(struct rq *rq, struct task_struct *prev)
+{
+}
+
+static void post_schedule_new(struct rq *rq)
+{
+}
+
+static void task_woken_new(struct rq *rq, struct task_struct *p)
+{
+}
+
+static void task_waking_new(struct rq *this_rq, struct task_struct *task)
+{
+}
+static void set_cpus_allowed_new(struct task_struct *p,
+               const struct cpumask *new_mask)
+{
+}
+/* Assumes rq->lock is held */
+static void rq_online_new(struct rq *rq)
+{
+}
+
+/* Assumes rq->lock is held */
+static void rq_offline_new(struct rq *rq)
+{
+}
+#endif /* COMFIG_SMP */
+
+static void set_curr_task_new(struct rq *rq)
+{
+}
+
+
+static void task_tick_new(struct rq *rq, struct task_struct *p, int queued)
+{
+} 
+
+static void task_fork_new(struct task_struct *p)
+{
+}
+static void switched_from_new(struct rq *rq, struct task_struct *p,
+              int running)
+{
+}
+static void switched_to_new(struct rq *this_rq, struct task_struct *task,
+               int running)
+{
+}
+static void prio_changed_new(struct rq *rq, struct task_struct *p,
+               int oldprio, int running)
+{
+}
+static unsigned int get_rr_interval_new(struct rq *rq, struct task_struct *task)
+{
+}
+
+
+
+static const struct sched_class new_sched_class = {
+   .next           = &fair_sched_class,
+   .enqueue_task       = enqueue_task_new,
+   .dequeue_task       = dequeue_task_new,
+   .yield_task     = yield_task_new,
+
+   .check_preempt_curr = check_preempt_curr_new,
+
+   .pick_next_task     = pick_next_task_new,
+   .put_prev_task      = put_prev_task_new,
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_SMP
+   .select_task_rq     = select_task_rq_new,
+
+   .pre_schedule       = pre_schedule_new,
+   .post_schedule      = post_schedule_new,
+
+   .task_waking            = task_waking_new,
+   .task_woken     = task_woken_new,
+
+   .set_cpus_allowed       = set_cpus_allowed_new,
+
+   .rq_online              = rq_online_new,
+   .rq_offline             = rq_offline_new,
+#endif
+
+   .set_curr_task          = set_curr_task_new,
+   .task_tick      = task_tick_new,
+   .task_fork              = task_fork_new,
+
+   .switched_from          = switched_from_new,
+   .switched_to        = switched_to_new,
+
+   .prio_changed       = prio_changed_new,
+
+   .get_rr_interval    = get_rr_interval_new,
+#ifdef CONFIG_FAIR_GROUP_SCHED
+   .moved_group            = NULL
+#endif
+};
+
+#endif /* CONFIG_SCHED_NEW */
diff --git a/kernel/sched_rt.c b/kernel/sched_rt.c
index b5b920a..aaf4beb 100644
--- a/kernel/sched_rt.c
+++ b/kernel/sched_rt.c
@@ -1731,7 +1731,11 @@ static unsigned int get_rr_interval_rt(struct rq *rq, struct task_struct *task)
 }

 static const struct sched_class rt_sched_class = {
+#ifdef CONFIG_SCHED_NEW
+   .next           = &new_sched_class,
+#else
    .next           = &fair_sched_class,
+#endif /* CONFIG_SCHED_NEW */
    .enqueue_task       = enqueue_task_rt,
    .dequeue_task       = dequeue_task_rt,
    .yield_task     = yield_task_rt,

Embedded.com has a 3-part entry that walks through implementing a simple real-time scheduler:

  • part 1
  • part 2
  • part 3

Unlike the other answers, this one is created as a tutorial:

[...] in the literature we did not find documents that explain how to implement a new scheduling policy for Linux.

[...]

In this document, we have presented in a [sic] depth description all steps required to implement a new scheduling policy.

[...]

This is a simple implementation of that scheduling algorithm. However, advanced issues, like interruptions, timers and multiprocessor systems, just to mention some, are out of the scope of this article.


Con Kolivas Brainfuck Scheduler. I just found this by googling. It may be an example to start from.