Mike --

Yes, we use all DynamicEx PCDs because we use a large number of binary 
deliverables in certain segments. 

It would be a much simpler database design if the look up was purely a 
GUID/token number/SkuId look-up (no local token numbers at all). The existing 
Dynamic PCDs could be supported by assigning them a single GUID. That is, 
Dynamic PCDs would be translated up to DynamicEx by using gEfiDynamicPcdGuid.  
Or we could deprecate Dynamic. Or make it auto-translate to DynamicEx.

Tim


-----Original Message-----
From: edk2-devel [mailto:edk2-devel-boun...@lists.01.org] On Behalf Of Kinney, 
Michael D
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2016 9:41 AM
To: Tim Lewis <tim.le...@insyde.com>; edk2-devel@lists.01.org; Kinney, Michael 
D <michael.d.kin...@intel.com>
Subject: Re: [edk2] PCD Local Token Numbers in PEI/DXE

Hi Tim,

Your description looks correct to me.  The current design does have an 
assumption that the PCD database used in PEI is aligned with the PCD database 
used in DXE.

If the number of Dynamic/DynamicEx PCDs used in a platform changes, then the 
PCD database associated with the PCD PEIM and PCD DXE Driver both need to be 
updated.

I think it would be good to work on a method that allows the PEI Database and 
DXE Database to be updated independently.

In general, if binary modules are used, then Dynamic PCDs can not be used.  
Instead all Dynamic PCDs must be updated to by DynamicEx PCDs.  That is for 
binary modules that performs PCD Get/Set operations through the PCD 
PPI/Protocol.

I think the gap here is that the PCD database does not have a build mode that 
forces use of only DynamicEx (TokenSpaceGuid, TokenNumber) for the entire 
database contents.  If we added that build mode (so there are no "local token 
numbers") then the PEI database and DXE database could be updated independently.

This build mode could only be enabled if there are no Dynamic PCDs.  In fact, 
this build mode could be automatic if there are no Dynamic PCDs in DSC file.

Mike

> -----Original Message-----
> From: edk2-devel [mailto:edk2-devel-boun...@lists.01.org] On Behalf Of 
> Tim Lewis
> Sent: Tuesday, February 9, 2016 10:24 AM
> To: edk2-devel@lists.01.org
> Subject: [edk2] PCD Local Token Numbers in PEI/DXE
> 
> We have run into an interesting problem with the PCD database when the 
> PEI and DXE databases were not built at the same time. This happens 
> with boot-block type arrangements. This is not a Dynamic vs. DynamicEx issue.
> 
> Short form:
> 
> 
> 1)      The standard PCD database for Dynamic/DynamicEx PCDs is broken into 
> two pieces,
> based on whether the PCD is access by a PEIM, a DXE driver, or both. 
> The pieces are embedded directly into the PCD PEIM and PCD DXE driver that 
> produces the PCD services.
> 
> 2)      Each Dynamic/DynamicEx PCD is assigned a unique "local token number" 
> This
> number is different than the token number which is in the PCD 
> declaration in the .dec file. This number is assigned at build time.
> 
> 3)      If a later version of the DXE PCD driver is a) built in a later 
> codebase where
> there are more or less PEI-access PCDs, but later b) executed with a 
> version of the PEI PCD database from the earlier codebase where there 
> were fewer, it causes a problem. For example, if the new PEI PCD 
> database has 4 more, the new DXE PCD database will start its numbering 
> at +4. But when it is executed with the old PEI PCD database, it will 
> end up looking up the wrong PCD
> 
> We're not sure what the best course is to solve this. Frankly, the PCD 
> database format is a muddle. We have a temporary work-around, but 
> we're wondering if anyone has thoughts on a good solution.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Tim
> _______________________________________________
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> edk2-devel@lists.01.org
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