json-parser: don't replicate tokens at each level of recursion

Currently, when parsing a stream of tokens we make a copy of the token
list at the beginning of each level of recursion so that we do not
modify the original list in cases where we need to fall back to an
earlier state.

In the worst case, we will only read 1 or 2 tokens off the list before
recursing again, which means an upper bound of roughly N^2 token allocations.

For a "reasonably" sized QMP request (in this a QMP representation of
cirrus_vga's device state, generated via QIDL, being passed in via
qom-set), this caused my 16GB's of memory to be exhausted before any
noticeable progress was made by the parser.

This patch works around the issue by using single copy of the token list
in the form of an indexable array so that we can save/restore state by
manipulating indices.

A subsequent commit adds a "large_dict" test case which exhibits the
same behavior as above. With this patch applied the test case successfully
completes in under a second.

Tested with valgrind, make check, and QMP.

Reviewed-by: Eric Blake <eblake@redhat.com>
Signed-off-by: Michael Roth <mdroth@linux.vnet.ibm.com>
Signed-off-by: Anthony Liguori <aliguori@us.ibm.com>

json-parser.c

@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@
 typedef struct JSONParserContext
 {
     Error *err;
+    struct {
+        QObject **buf;
+        size_t pos;
+        size_t count;
+    } tokens;
 } JSONParserContext;
 
 #define BUG_ON(cond) assert(!(cond))
@@ -40,7 +45,7 @@ typedef struct JSONParserContext
  * 4) deal with premature EOI
  */
 
-static QObject *parse_value(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens, va_list *ap);
+static QObject *parse_value(JSONParserContext *ctxt, va_list *ap);
 
 /**
  * Token manipulators
@@ -270,27 +275,111 @@ out:
     return NULL;
 }
 
+static QObject *parser_context_pop_token(JSONParserContext *ctxt)
+{
+    QObject *token;
+    g_assert(ctxt->tokens.pos < ctxt->tokens.count);
+    token = ctxt->tokens.buf[ctxt->tokens.pos];
+    ctxt->tokens.pos++;
+    return token;
+}
+
+/* Note: parser_context_{peek|pop}_token do not increment the
+ * token object's refcount. In both cases the references will continue
+ * to be tracked and cleaned up in parser_context_free(), so do not
+ * attempt to free the token object.
+ */
+static QObject *parser_context_peek_token(JSONParserContext *ctxt)
+{
+    QObject *token;
+    g_assert(ctxt->tokens.pos < ctxt->tokens.count);
+    token = ctxt->tokens.buf[ctxt->tokens.pos];
+    return token;
+}
+
+static JSONParserContext parser_context_save(JSONParserContext *ctxt)
+{
+    JSONParserContext saved_ctxt = {0};
+    saved_ctxt.tokens.pos = ctxt->tokens.pos;
+    saved_ctxt.tokens.count = ctxt->tokens.count;
+    saved_ctxt.tokens.buf = ctxt->tokens.buf;
+    return saved_ctxt;
+}
+
+static void parser_context_restore(JSONParserContext *ctxt,
+                                   JSONParserContext saved_ctxt)
+{
+    ctxt->tokens.pos = saved_ctxt.tokens.pos;
+    ctxt->tokens.count = saved_ctxt.tokens.count;
+    ctxt->tokens.buf = saved_ctxt.tokens.buf;
+}
+
+static void tokens_append_from_iter(QObject *obj, void *opaque)
+{
+    JSONParserContext *ctxt = opaque;
+    g_assert(ctxt->tokens.pos < ctxt->tokens.count);
+    ctxt->tokens.buf[ctxt->tokens.pos++] = obj;
+    qobject_incref(obj);
+}
+
+static JSONParserContext *parser_context_new(QList *tokens)
+{
+    JSONParserContext *ctxt;
+    size_t count;
+
+    if (!tokens) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    count = qlist_size(tokens);
+    if (count == 0) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    ctxt = g_malloc0(sizeof(JSONParserContext));
+    ctxt->tokens.pos = 0;
+    ctxt->tokens.count = count;
+    ctxt->tokens.buf = g_malloc(count * sizeof(QObject *));
+    qlist_iter(tokens, tokens_append_from_iter, ctxt);
+    ctxt->tokens.pos = 0;
+
+    return ctxt;
+}
+
+/* to support error propagation, ctxt->err must be freed separately */
+static void parser_context_free(JSONParserContext *ctxt)
+{
+    int i;
+    if (ctxt) {
+        for (i = 0; i < ctxt->tokens.count; i++) {
+            qobject_decref(ctxt->tokens.buf[i]);
+        }
+        g_free(ctxt->tokens.buf);
+        g_free(ctxt);
+    }
+}
+
 /**
  * Parsing rules
  */
-static int parse_pair(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QDict *dict, QList **tokens, va_list *ap)
+static int parse_pair(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QDict *dict, va_list *ap)
 {
     QObject *key = NULL, *token = NULL, *value, *peek;
-    QList *working = qlist_copy(*tokens);
+    JSONParserContext saved_ctxt = parser_context_save(ctxt);
 
-    peek = qlist_peek(working);
+    peek = parser_context_peek_token(ctxt);
     if (peek == NULL) {
         parse_error(ctxt, NULL, "premature EOI");
         goto out;
     }
 
-    key = parse_value(ctxt, &working, ap);
+    key = parse_value(ctxt, ap);
     if (!key || qobject_type(key) != QTYPE_QSTRING) {
         parse_error(ctxt, peek, "key is not a string in object");
         goto out;
     }
 
-    token = qlist_pop(working);
+    token = parser_context_pop_token(ctxt);
     if (token == NULL) {
         parse_error(ctxt, NULL, "premature EOI");
         goto out;
@@ -301,7 +390,7 @@ static int parse_pair(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QDict *dict, QList **tokens, va_l
         goto out;
     }
 
-    value = parse_value(ctxt, &working, ap);
+    value = parse_value(ctxt, ap);
     if (value == NULL) {
         parse_error(ctxt, token, "Missing value in dict");
         goto out;
@@ -309,28 +398,24 @@ static int parse_pair(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QDict *dict, QList **tokens, va_l
 
     qdict_put_obj(dict, qstring_get_str(qobject_to_qstring(key)), value);
 
-    qobject_decref(token);
     qobject_decref(key);
-    QDECREF(*tokens);
-    *tokens = working;
 
     return 0;
 
 out:
-    qobject_decref(token);
+    parser_context_restore(ctxt, saved_ctxt);
     qobject_decref(key);
-    QDECREF(working);
 
     return -1;
 }
 
-static QObject *parse_object(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens, va_list *ap)
+static QObject *parse_object(JSONParserContext *ctxt, va_list *ap)
 {
     QDict *dict = NULL;
     QObject *token, *peek;
-    QList *working = qlist_copy(*tokens);
+    JSONParserContext saved_ctxt = parser_context_save(ctxt);
 
-    token = qlist_pop(working);
+    token = parser_context_pop_token(ctxt);
     if (token == NULL) {
         goto out;
     }
@@ -338,23 +423,22 @@ static QObject *parse_object(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens, va_list *a
     if (!token_is_operator(token, '{')) {
         goto out;
     }
-    qobject_decref(token);
     token = NULL;
 
     dict = qdict_new();
 
-    peek = qlist_peek(working);
+    peek = parser_context_peek_token(ctxt);
     if (peek == NULL) {
         parse_error(ctxt, NULL, "premature EOI");
         goto out;
     }
 
     if (!token_is_operator(peek, '}')) {
-        if (parse_pair(ctxt, dict, &working, ap) == -1) {
+        if (parse_pair(ctxt, dict, ap) == -1) {
             goto out;
         }
 
-        token = qlist_pop(working);
+        token = parser_context_pop_token(ctxt);
         if (token == NULL) {
             parse_error(ctxt, NULL, "premature EOI");
             goto out;
@@ -365,59 +449,52 @@ static QObject *parse_object(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens, va_list *a
                 parse_error(ctxt, token, "expected separator in dict");
                 goto out;
             }
-            qobject_decref(token);
             token = NULL;
 
-            if (parse_pair(ctxt, dict, &working, ap) == -1) {
+            if (parse_pair(ctxt, dict, ap) == -1) {
                 goto out;
             }
 
-            token = qlist_pop(working);
+            token = parser_context_pop_token(ctxt);
             if (token == NULL) {
                 parse_error(ctxt, NULL, "premature EOI");
                 goto out;
             }
         }
-        qobject_decref(token);
         token = NULL;
     } else {
-        token = qlist_pop(working);
-        qobject_decref(token);
+        token = parser_context_pop_token(ctxt);
         token = NULL;
     }
 
-    QDECREF(*tokens);
-    *tokens = working;
-
     return QOBJECT(dict);
 
 out:
-    qobject_decref(token);
-    QDECREF(working);
+    parser_context_restore(ctxt, saved_ctxt);
     QDECREF(dict);
     return NULL;
 }
 
-static QObject *parse_array(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens, va_list *ap)
+static QObject *parse_array(JSONParserContext *ctxt, va_list *ap)
 {
     QList *list = NULL;
     QObject *token, *peek;
-    QList *working = qlist_copy(*tokens);
+    JSONParserContext saved_ctxt = parser_context_save(ctxt);
 
-    token = qlist_pop(working);
+    token = parser_context_pop_token(ctxt);
     if (token == NULL) {
         goto out;
     }
 
     if (!token_is_operator(token, '[')) {
+        token = NULL;
         goto out;
     }
-    qobject_decref(token);
     token = NULL;
 
     list = qlist_new();
 
-    peek = qlist_peek(working);
+    peek = parser_context_peek_token(ctxt);
     if (peek == NULL) {
         parse_error(ctxt, NULL, "premature EOI");
         goto out;
@@ -426,7 +503,7 @@ static QObject *parse_array(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens, va_list *ap
     if (!token_is_operator(peek, ']')) {
         QObject *obj;
 
-        obj = parse_value(ctxt, &working, ap);
+        obj = parse_value(ctxt, ap);
         if (obj == NULL) {
             parse_error(ctxt, token, "expecting value");
             goto out;
@@ -434,7 +511,7 @@ static QObject *parse_array(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens, va_list *ap
 
         qlist_append_obj(list, obj);
 
-        token = qlist_pop(working);
+        token = parser_context_pop_token(ctxt);
         if (token == NULL) {
             parse_error(ctxt, NULL, "premature EOI");
             goto out;
@@ -446,10 +523,9 @@ static QObject *parse_array(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens, va_list *ap
                 goto out;
             }
 
-            qobject_decref(token);
             token = NULL;
 
-            obj = parse_value(ctxt, &working, ap);
+            obj = parse_value(ctxt, ap);
             if (obj == NULL) {
                 parse_error(ctxt, token, "expecting value");
                 goto out;
@@ -457,39 +533,33 @@ static QObject *parse_array(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens, va_list *ap
 
             qlist_append_obj(list, obj);
 
-            token = qlist_pop(working);
+            token = parser_context_pop_token(ctxt);
             if (token == NULL) {
                 parse_error(ctxt, NULL, "premature EOI");
                 goto out;
             }
         }
 
-        qobject_decref(token);
         token = NULL;
     } else {
-        token = qlist_pop(working);
-        qobject_decref(token);
+        token = parser_context_pop_token(ctxt);
         token = NULL;
     }
 
-    QDECREF(*tokens);
-    *tokens = working;
-
     return QOBJECT(list);
 
 out:
-    qobject_decref(token);
-    QDECREF(working);
+    parser_context_restore(ctxt, saved_ctxt);
     QDECREF(list);
     return NULL;
 }
 
-static QObject *parse_keyword(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens)
+static QObject *parse_keyword(JSONParserContext *ctxt)
 {
     QObject *token, *ret;
-    QList *working = qlist_copy(*tokens);
+    JSONParserContext saved_ctxt = parser_context_save(ctxt);
 
-    token = qlist_pop(working);
+    token = parser_context_pop_token(ctxt);
     if (token == NULL) {
         goto out;
     }
@@ -507,29 +577,24 @@ static QObject *parse_keyword(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens)
         goto out;
     }
 
-    qobject_decref(token);
-    QDECREF(*tokens);
-    *tokens = working;
-
     return ret;
 
 out: 
-    qobject_decref(token);
-    QDECREF(working);
+    parser_context_restore(ctxt, saved_ctxt);
 
     return NULL;
 }
 
-static QObject *parse_escape(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens, va_list *ap)
+static QObject *parse_escape(JSONParserContext *ctxt, va_list *ap)
 {
     QObject *token = NULL, *obj;
-    QList *working = qlist_copy(*tokens);
+    JSONParserContext saved_ctxt = parser_context_save(ctxt);
 
     if (ap == NULL) {
         goto out;
     }
 
-    token = qlist_pop(working);
+    token = parser_context_pop_token(ctxt);
     if (token == NULL) {
         goto out;
     }
@@ -553,25 +618,20 @@ static QObject *parse_escape(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens, va_list *a
         goto out;
     }
 
-    qobject_decref(token);
-    QDECREF(*tokens);
-    *tokens = working;
-
     return obj;
 
 out:
-    qobject_decref(token);
-    QDECREF(working);
+    parser_context_restore(ctxt, saved_ctxt);
 
     return NULL;
 }
 
-static QObject *parse_literal(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens)
+static QObject *parse_literal(JSONParserContext *ctxt)
 {
     QObject *token, *obj;
-    QList *working = qlist_copy(*tokens);
+    JSONParserContext saved_ctxt = parser_context_save(ctxt);
 
-    token = qlist_pop(working);
+    token = parser_context_pop_token(ctxt);
     if (token == NULL) {
         goto out;
     }
@@ -591,35 +651,30 @@ static QObject *parse_literal(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens)
         goto out;
     }
 
-    qobject_decref(token);
-    QDECREF(*tokens);
-    *tokens = working;
-
     return obj;
 
 out:
-    qobject_decref(token);
-    QDECREF(working);
+    parser_context_restore(ctxt, saved_ctxt);
 
     return NULL;
 }
 
-static QObject *parse_value(JSONParserContext *ctxt, QList **tokens, va_list *ap)
+static QObject *parse_value(JSONParserContext *ctxt, va_list *ap)
 {
     QObject *obj;
 
-    obj = parse_object(ctxt, tokens, ap);
+    obj = parse_object(ctxt, ap);
     if (obj == NULL) {
-        obj = parse_array(ctxt, tokens, ap);
+        obj = parse_array(ctxt, ap);
     }
     if (obj == NULL) {
-        obj = parse_escape(ctxt, tokens, ap);
+        obj = parse_escape(ctxt, ap);
     }
     if (obj == NULL) {
-        obj = parse_keyword(ctxt, tokens);
+        obj = parse_keyword(ctxt);
     } 
     if (obj == NULL) {
-        obj = parse_literal(ctxt, tokens);
+        obj = parse_literal(ctxt);
     }
 
     return obj;
@@ -632,19 +687,18 @@ QObject *json_parser_parse(QList *tokens, va_list *ap)
 
 QObject *json_parser_parse_err(QList *tokens, va_list *ap, Error **errp)
 {
-    JSONParserContext ctxt = {};
-    QList *working;
+    JSONParserContext *ctxt = parser_context_new(tokens);
     QObject *result;
 
-    if (!tokens) {
+    if (!ctxt) {
         return NULL;
     }
-    working = qlist_copy(tokens);
-    result = parse_value(&ctxt, &working, ap);
 
-    QDECREF(working);
+    result = parse_value(ctxt, ap);
+
+    error_propagate(errp, ctxt->err);
 
-    error_propagate(errp, ctxt.err);
+    parser_context_free(ctxt);
 
     return result;
 }