Compromise solution is to have a "token" as part of the subprogram's linkage:

- Call starts with no token.
- When no token, subprogram does the getmain, passes back the token (probably 
the getmain address)
- Subsequent calls from caller use same token. Subprogram doesn't need another 
getmain.
- When caller is done, it MUST DO A TERMINATION CALL to tell the subprogram 
it's done, so subprogram can free the token.

Problem of course is when the caller doesn't do the termination call you have a 
memory leak.

-----Original Message-----
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> On Behalf Of 
Schmitt, Michael
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2025 12:18 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Reentrant Lite ?

It is a valid technique but the disadvantage is now the caller is determining 
the size of the area. If you're not in control of both the calling program and 
the subprogram, you have problems when the subprogram has changes that need 
more memory.

-----Original Message-----
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> On Behalf Of 
Richard Zierdt
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2025 10:49 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reentrant Lite ?

When coding reentrant modules, one practice is to Obtain Storage (Getmain, etc) 
and setup shop.  This is well and good.

But another technique would have the *caller*, who may be reentrant or not, 
*provide* the savearea / workarea and pass the address of that area through 
typical R1 / address list linkage stuff.

This would save Obtain / Getmain / Freemain calls.   For a program that gets 
called thousands of times, the overhead would add up.   Yes, the caller has to 
provide a workarea, and that may cost one Getmain, but it's only once.

Say Program A calls reentrant Program B 10,000 times.  If A provides the 
workarea, that saves 10,000  Getmain/Freemains in B.

The concept seems to be used by the IEAMSXMP  "POST" macro, which wants a 
512-byte WORKAREA=.  Well, why not get it yourself, IBM?   Answer might be to 
save overhead.  (Yes, there may be other reasons).

Any program could be reentrant without Getmains if callers provided save/work 
areas (and the programs were written accordingly).

Just a thought

Richard Zierdt

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