Post Syndicated from corbet original https://lwn.net/Articles/960041/

A common problem in kernel development is controlling when a
specific task should be done. Kernel code often executes in contexts where
some actions (sleeping, for example, or calling into filesystems) are not
possible. Other actions, while possible, may prevent the kernel from
taking care of a more important task in a timely manner. The kernel
community has developed a number of deferred-execution mechanisms designed
to ensure that every task is handled at the right time. One of those
mechanisms, tasklets, has been eyed for removal for years; that removal
might just happen in the near future.