Stack management

A method of managing a stack, the method comprising:

• detecting, by a stack manager of a processor, that a size of a frame to be allocated exceeds available space of a first stack, the first stack used by a particular task executing at the processor, wherein a first stack tier of multiple tiers of stacks includes a first count of first stacks, wherein each of the first stacks is of a first stack size, wherein the first stack is included in the first stacks a particular stack tier of multiple tiers of stacks, wherein each tier of stacks comprises shared stacks, and wherein each tier of stacks of the multiple tiers of stacks includes fewer and larger stacks as compared to a previous tier of stacks of the multiple tiers of stacks;
• responsive to determining that the size of the frame to be allocated exceeds the available space of the first stack, selecting a second stack from one or more unallocated stacks of a second stack tier of the multiple tiers of stacks and designating the second stack for use by the particular task, wherein the second stack tier includes a second count of second stacks, wherein each of the second stacks is of a second stack size, wherein the second stack is included in the second stacks, wherein the second count is less than the first count, and wherein the second stack size is greater than the first stack size;
• copying metadata associated with the first stack to the second stack, the metadata enabling the stack manager to transition from the second stack to the first stack upon detection that the second stack is no longer in use by the particular task;
• and
• allocating the frame in the second stack.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• detect that a size of a frame to be allocated exceeds available space of a first stack, the first stack used by a particular task executing at the processor, wherein a first stack tier of multiple tiers of stacks includes a first count of first stacks, wherein each of the first stacks is of a first stack size, wherein the first stack is included in the first stacks, wherein each tier of stacks comprises shared stacks, and wherein each tier of stacks of the multiple tiers of stacks includes fewer and larger stacks as compared to a previous tier of stacks of the multiple tiers of stacks;
• responsive to determining that the size of the frame to be allocated exceeds the available space of the first stack, select a second stack from one or more unallocated stacks of a second stack tier of the multiple tiers of stacks and designate the second stack for use by the particular task, wherein the second stack tier includes a second count of second stacks, wherein each of the second stacks is of a second stack size, wherein the second stack is included in the second stacks, wherein the second count is less than the first count, and wherein the second stack size is greater than the first stack size;
• copy metadata associated with the first stack to the second stack, the metadata enabling a stack manager to transition from the second stack to the first stack upon detection that the second stack is no longer in use by the particular task;
• and
• allocate the frame in the second stack.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for detecting, at a processor, that a size of a frame to be allocated exceeds available space of a first stack, the first stack used by a particular task executing at the processor, wherein a first stack tier of multiple tiers of stacks includes a first count of first stacks, wherein each of the first stacks is of a first stack size, wherein the first stack is included in the first stacks, wherein each tier of stacks comprises shared stacks, and wherein each tier of stacks of the multiple tiers of stacks includes fewer and larger stacks as compared to a previous tier of stacks of the multiple tiers of stacks;
• means for selecting, at the processor, a second stack from one or more unallocated stacks of a second stack tier of the multiple tiers of stacks, wherein the second stack tier includes a second count of second stacks, wherein each of the second stacks is of a second stack size, wherein the second stack is included in the second stacks, wherein the second count is less than the first count, and wherein the second stack size is greater than the first stack size;
• means for designating, at the processor, the second stack for use by the particular task;
• means for copying, at the processor, metadata associated with the first stack to the second stack, the metadata enabling a stack manager of the processor to transition from the second stack to the first stack upon detection that the second stack is no longer in use by the particular task;
• and
• means for allocating, at the processor, the frame in the second stack.