Is QEMU Too Complex, and What Can We Do About It?

Explore the complexities of QEMU and potential solutions in this 25-minute conference talk by Paolo Bonzini from Red Hat, Inc. Delve into the challenges posed by essential and accidental complexity in QEMU, examining why it's problematic and how it affects associated tools. Learn about strategies for combating accidental complexity, including automated conversions with Coccin and addressing incomplete feature support. Analyze a case study on command line complexity, covering various types of options and their impact. Gain insights into improving QEMU's architecture and usability for developers and users alike.

Intro
Betteridge's law of headlines
Why is complexity a problem?
Also essential complexity
Complexity of tools
Fighting accidental complexity?
Signs of accidental complexity
A new way to do the same thing
Automated conversions with Coccin
Incomplete support for features
Fear of incomplete transitions?
Duplicated logic
Case study: command line
Flexible options
Command options
Combo options
Shortcut options
One-off options
Legacy options
Summary