[webkit-dev] Discussing bug 98539 - Refactor resource loading to allow for out-of-process loading and memory caching

[Brady Eidson]

A bit of background:

A few of us have been working on enhancing WebKit2's support for multiple WebProcesses.  As part of this effort I'm working on https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=98537 - "Add a NetworkProcess to WebKit2"

One benefit of the NetworkProcess will be to have a single shared process doing network i/o on behalf of all attached WebProcesses.

Another benefit we've identified is the ability to have that process also act as custodian for a shared memory cache amongst the attached WebProcesses.

While this effort is primarily about WebKit 2, making it possible will obviously involve some changes to the WebCore memory cache and resource loading.

I don't plan to shoehorn in changes, but rather to make sensical refactoring that cleans up the code for all ports.  Anyone familiar with the CachedResource and ResourceLoader mechanisms probably know they're not really up to the clarity and quality standards we strive for, and I'm excited about being able to focus on them for awhile and make them better for everyone.

I have a few patches lined up locally to do this and have attached the first of these to https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=98539

Feel free to share concerns here or in the collection of bugzillas that will slowly be growing as I make progress.

~Brady