Merge branch 'jh/trace2-sid-fix'

Polishing of the new trace2 facility continues.  The system-level
configuration can specify site-wide trace2 settings, which can be
overridden with per-user configuration and environment variables.

* jh/trace2-sid-fix:
  trace2: fixup access problem on /etc/gitconfig in read_very_early_config
  trace2: update docs to describe system/global config settings
  trace2: make SIDs more unique
  trace2: clarify UTC datetime formatting
  trace2: report peak memory usage of the process
  trace2: use system/global config for default trace2 settings
  config: add read_very_early_config()
  trace2: find exec-dir before trace2 initialization
  trace2: add absolute elapsed time to start event
  trace2: refactor setting process starting time
  config: initialize opts structure in repo_read_config()

14 files changed, 335 insertions, 93 deletions

diff --git a/trace2/tr2_cfg.c b/trace2/tr2_cfg.c
index b329921ac5..caa7f06948 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_cfg.c
+++ b/trace2/tr2_cfg.c
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "config.h"
-#include "tr2_cfg.h"
-
-#define TR2_ENVVAR_CFG_PARAM "GIT_TR2_CONFIG_PARAMS"
+#include "trace2/tr2_cfg.h"
+#include "trace2/tr2_sysenv.h"
 
 static struct strbuf **tr2_cfg_patterns;
 static int tr2_cfg_count_patterns;
@@ -21,7 +20,7 @@ static int tr2_cfg_load_patterns(void)
 		return tr2_cfg_count_patterns;
 	tr2_cfg_loaded = 1;
 
-	envvar = getenv(TR2_ENVVAR_CFG_PARAM);
+	envvar = tr2_sysenv_get(TR2_SYSENV_CFG_PARAM);
 	if (!envvar || !*envvar)
 		return tr2_cfg_count_patterns;
 
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_dst.c b/trace2/tr2_dst.c
index c3d82ca6a4..5dda0ca1cd 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_dst.c
+++ b/trace2/tr2_dst.c
@@ -1,17 +1,7 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_dst.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_sid.h"
-
-/*
- * If a Trace2 target cannot be opened for writing, we should issue a
- * warning to stderr, but this is very annoying if the target is a pipe
- * or socket and beyond the user's control -- especially since every
- * git command (and sub-command) will print the message.  So we silently
- * eat these warnings and just discard the trace data.
- *
- * Enable the following environment variable to see these warnings.
- */
-#define TR2_ENVVAR_DST_DEBUG "GIT_TR2_DST_DEBUG"
+#include "trace2/tr2_sysenv.h"
 
 /*
  * How many attempts we will make at creating an automatically-named trace file.
@@ -23,7 +13,7 @@ static int tr2_dst_want_warning(void)
 	static int tr2env_dst_debug = -1;
 
 	if (tr2env_dst_debug == -1) {
-		const char *env_value = getenv(TR2_ENVVAR_DST_DEBUG);
+		const char *env_value = tr2_sysenv_get(TR2_SYSENV_DST_DEBUG);
 		if (!env_value || !*env_value)
 			tr2env_dst_debug = 0;
 		else
@@ -75,7 +65,8 @@ static int tr2_dst_try_auto_path(struct tr2_dst *dst, const char *tgt_prefix)
 		if (tr2_dst_want_warning())
 			warning("trace2: could not open '%.*s' for '%s' tracing: %s",
 				(int) base_path_len, path.buf,
-				dst->env_var_name, strerror(errno));
+				tr2_sysenv_display_name(dst->sysenv_var),
+				strerror(errno));
 
 		tr2_dst_trace_disable(dst);
 		strbuf_release(&path);
@@ -97,7 +88,9 @@ static int tr2_dst_try_path(struct tr2_dst *dst, const char *tgt_value)
 	if (fd == -1) {
 		if (tr2_dst_want_warning())
 			warning("trace2: could not open '%s' for '%s' tracing: %s",
-				tgt_value, dst->env_var_name, strerror(errno));
+				tgt_value,
+				tr2_sysenv_display_name(dst->sysenv_var),
+				strerror(errno));
 
 		tr2_dst_trace_disable(dst);
 		return 0;
@@ -171,7 +164,8 @@ static int tr2_dst_try_unix_domain_socket(struct tr2_dst *dst,
 	if (!path || !*path) {
 		if (tr2_dst_want_warning())
 			warning("trace2: invalid AF_UNIX value '%s' for '%s' tracing",
-				tgt_value, dst->env_var_name);
+				tgt_value,
+				tr2_sysenv_display_name(dst->sysenv_var));
 
 		tr2_dst_trace_disable(dst);
 		return 0;
@@ -181,7 +175,7 @@ static int tr2_dst_try_unix_domain_socket(struct tr2_dst *dst,
 	    strlen(path) >= sizeof(((struct sockaddr_un *)0)->sun_path)) {
 		if (tr2_dst_want_warning())
 			warning("trace2: invalid AF_UNIX path '%s' for '%s' tracing",
-				path, dst->env_var_name);
+				path, tr2_sysenv_display_name(dst->sysenv_var));
 
 		tr2_dst_trace_disable(dst);
 		return 0;
@@ -203,7 +197,8 @@ static int tr2_dst_try_unix_domain_socket(struct tr2_dst *dst,
 error:
 	if (tr2_dst_want_warning())
 		warning("trace2: could not connect to socket '%s' for '%s' tracing: %s",
-			path, dst->env_var_name, strerror(e));
+			path, tr2_sysenv_display_name(dst->sysenv_var),
+			strerror(e));
 
 	tr2_dst_trace_disable(dst);
 	return 0;
@@ -223,7 +218,7 @@ static void tr2_dst_malformed_warning(struct tr2_dst *dst,
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 
 	strbuf_addf(&buf, "trace2: unknown value for '%s': '%s'",
-		    dst->env_var_name, tgt_value);
+		    tr2_sysenv_display_name(dst->sysenv_var), tgt_value);
 	warning("%s", buf.buf);
 
 	strbuf_release(&buf);
@@ -239,7 +234,7 @@ int tr2_dst_get_trace_fd(struct tr2_dst *dst)
 
 	dst->initialized = 1;
 
-	tgt_value = getenv(dst->env_var_name);
+	tgt_value = tr2_sysenv_get(dst->sysenv_var);
 
 	if (!tgt_value || !strcmp(tgt_value, "") || !strcmp(tgt_value, "0") ||
 	    !strcasecmp(tgt_value, "false")) {
@@ -305,7 +300,8 @@ void tr2_dst_write_line(struct tr2_dst *dst, struct strbuf *buf_line)
 		return;
 
 	if (tr2_dst_want_warning())
-		warning("unable to write trace to '%s': %s", dst->env_var_name,
+		warning("unable to write trace to '%s': %s",
+			tr2_sysenv_display_name(dst->sysenv_var),
 			strerror(errno));
 	tr2_dst_trace_disable(dst);
 }
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_dst.h b/trace2/tr2_dst.h
index 9a64f05b02..3adf3bac13 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_dst.h
+++ b/trace2/tr2_dst.h
@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@
 #define TR2_DST_H
 
 struct strbuf;
+#include "trace2/tr2_sysenv.h"
 
 struct tr2_dst {
-	const char *const env_var_name;
+	enum tr2_sysenv_variable sysenv_var;
 	int fd;
 	unsigned int initialized : 1;
 	unsigned int need_close : 1;
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_sid.c b/trace2/tr2_sid.c
index 984524a43c..5047095478 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_sid.c
+++ b/trace2/tr2_sid.c
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "cache.h"
+#include "trace2/tr2_tbuf.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_sid.h"
 
 #define TR2_ENVVAR_PARENT_SID "GIT_TR2_PARENT_SID"
@@ -7,6 +8,53 @@ static struct strbuf tr2sid_buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 static int tr2sid_nr_git_parents;
 
 /*
+ * Compute the final component of the SID representing the current process.
+ * This should uniquely identify the process and be a valid filename (to
+ * allow writing trace2 data to per-process files).  It should also be fixed
+ * length for possible use as a database key.
+ *
+ * "<yyyymmdd>T<hhmmss>.<fraction>Z-<host>-<process>"
+ *
+ * where <host> is a 9 character string:
+ *    "H<first_8_chars_of_sha1_of_hostname>"
+ *    "Localhost" when no hostname.
+ *
+ * where <process> is a 9 character string containing the least signifcant
+ * 32 bits in the process-id.
+ *    "P<pid>"
+ * (This is an abribrary choice.  On most systems pid_t is a 32 bit value,
+ * so limit doesn't matter.  On larger systems, a truncated value is fine
+ * for our purposes here.)
+ */
+static void tr2_sid_append_my_sid_component(void)
+{
+	const struct git_hash_algo *algo = &hash_algos[GIT_HASH_SHA1];
+	struct tr2_tbuf tb_now;
+	git_hash_ctx ctx;
+	pid_t pid = getpid();
+	unsigned char hash[GIT_MAX_RAWSZ + 1];
+	char hex[GIT_MAX_HEXSZ + 1];
+	char hostname[HOST_NAME_MAX + 1];
+
+	tr2_tbuf_utc_datetime(&tb_now);
+	strbuf_addstr(&tr2sid_buf, tb_now.buf);
+
+	strbuf_addch(&tr2sid_buf, '-');
+	if (xgethostname(hostname, sizeof(hostname)))
+		strbuf_add(&tr2sid_buf, "Localhost", 9);
+	else {
+		algo->init_fn(&ctx);
+		algo->update_fn(&ctx, hostname, strlen(hostname));
+		algo->final_fn(hash, &ctx);
+		hash_to_hex_algop_r(hex, hash, algo);
+		strbuf_addch(&tr2sid_buf, 'H');
+		strbuf_add(&tr2sid_buf, hex, 8);
+	}
+
+	strbuf_addf(&tr2sid_buf, "-P%08"PRIx32, (uint32_t)pid);
+}
+
+/*
  * Compute a "unique" session id (SID) for the current process.  This allows
  * all events from this process to have a single label (much like a PID).
  *
@@ -20,7 +68,6 @@ static int tr2sid_nr_git_parents;
  */
 static void tr2_sid_compute(void)
 {
-	uint64_t us_now;
 	const char *parent_sid;
 
 	if (tr2sid_buf.len)
@@ -38,9 +85,7 @@ static void tr2_sid_compute(void)
 		tr2sid_nr_git_parents++;
 	}
 
-	us_now = getnanotime() / 1000;
-	strbuf_addf(&tr2sid_buf, "%" PRIuMAX "-%" PRIdMAX, (uintmax_t)us_now,
-		    (intmax_t)getpid());
+	tr2_sid_append_my_sid_component();
 
 	setenv(TR2_ENVVAR_PARENT_SID, tr2sid_buf.buf, 1);
 }
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_sysenv.c b/trace2/tr2_sysenv.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9025b86303
--- /dev/null
+++ b/trace2/tr2_sysenv.c
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+#include "cache.h"
+#include "config.h"
+#include "dir.h"
+#include "tr2_sysenv.h"
+
+/*
+ * Each entry represents a trace2 setting.
+ * See Documentation/technical/api-trace2.txt
+ */
+struct tr2_sysenv_entry {
+	const char *env_var_name;
+	const char *git_config_name;
+
+	char *value;
+	unsigned int getenv_called : 1;
+};
+
+/*
+ * This table must match "enum tr2_sysenv_variable" in tr2_sysenv.h.
+ *
+ * The strings in this table are constant and must match the published
+ * config and environment variable names as described in the documentation.
+ *
+ * We do not define entries for the GIT_TR2_PARENT_* environment
+ * variables because they are transient and used to pass information
+ * from parent to child git processes, rather than settings.
+ */
+/* clang-format off */
+static struct tr2_sysenv_entry tr2_sysenv_settings[] = {
+	[TR2_SYSENV_CFG_PARAM]     = { "GIT_TR2_CONFIG_PARAMS",
+				       "trace2.configparams" },
+
+	[TR2_SYSENV_DST_DEBUG]     = { "GIT_TR2_DST_DEBUG",
+				       "trace2.destinationdebug" },
+
+	[TR2_SYSENV_NORMAL]        = { "GIT_TR2",
+				       "trace2.normaltarget" },
+	[TR2_SYSENV_NORMAL_BRIEF]  = { "GIT_TR2_BRIEF",
+				       "trace2.normalbrief" },
+
+	[TR2_SYSENV_EVENT]         = { "GIT_TR2_EVENT",
+				       "trace2.eventtarget" },
+	[TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_BRIEF]   = { "GIT_TR2_EVENT_BRIEF",
+				       "trace2.eventbrief" },
+	[TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_NESTING] = { "GIT_TR2_EVENT_NESTING",
+				       "trace2.eventnesting" },
+
+	[TR2_SYSENV_PERF]          = { "GIT_TR2_PERF",
+				       "trace2.perftarget" },
+	[TR2_SYSENV_PERF_BRIEF]    = { "GIT_TR2_PERF_BRIEF",
+				       "trace2.perfbrief" },
+};
+/* clang-format on */
+
+static int tr2_sysenv_cb(const char *key, const char *value, void *d)
+{
+	int k;
+
+	if (!starts_with(key, "trace2."))
+		return 0;
+
+	for (k = 0; k < ARRAY_SIZE(tr2_sysenv_settings); k++) {
+		if (!strcmp(key, tr2_sysenv_settings[k].git_config_name)) {
+			free(tr2_sysenv_settings[k].value);
+			tr2_sysenv_settings[k].value = xstrdup(value);
+			return 0;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Load Trace2 settings from the system config (usually "/etc/gitconfig"
+ * unless we were built with a runtime-prefix).  These are intended to
+ * define the default values for Trace2 as requested by the administrator.
+ *
+ * Then override with the Trace2 settings from the global config.
+ */
+void tr2_sysenv_load(void)
+{
+	if (ARRAY_SIZE(tr2_sysenv_settings) != TR2_SYSENV_MUST_BE_LAST)
+		BUG("tr2_sysenv_settings size is wrong");
+
+	read_very_early_config(tr2_sysenv_cb, NULL);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Return the value for the requested Trace2 setting from these sources:
+ * the system config, the global config, and the environment.
+ */
+const char *tr2_sysenv_get(enum tr2_sysenv_variable var)
+{
+	if (var >= TR2_SYSENV_MUST_BE_LAST)
+		BUG("tr2_sysenv_get invalid var '%d'", var);
+
+	if (!tr2_sysenv_settings[var].getenv_called) {
+		const char *v = getenv(tr2_sysenv_settings[var].env_var_name);
+		if (v && *v) {
+			free(tr2_sysenv_settings[var].value);
+			tr2_sysenv_settings[var].value = xstrdup(v);
+		}
+		tr2_sysenv_settings[var].getenv_called = 1;
+	}
+
+	return tr2_sysenv_settings[var].value;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Return a friendly name for this setting that is suitable for printing
+ * in an error messages.
+ */
+const char *tr2_sysenv_display_name(enum tr2_sysenv_variable var)
+{
+	if (var >= TR2_SYSENV_MUST_BE_LAST)
+		BUG("tr2_sysenv_get invalid var '%d'", var);
+
+	return tr2_sysenv_settings[var].env_var_name;
+}
+
+void tr2_sysenv_release(void)
+{
+	int k;
+
+	for (k = 0; k < ARRAY_SIZE(tr2_sysenv_settings); k++)
+		free(tr2_sysenv_settings[k].value);
+}
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_sysenv.h b/trace2/tr2_sysenv.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..369b20bd87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/trace2/tr2_sysenv.h
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#ifndef TR2_SYSENV_H
+#define TR2_SYSENV_H
+
+/*
+ * The Trace2 settings that can be loaded from /etc/gitconfig
+ * and/or user environment variables.
+ *
+ * Note that this set does not contain any of the transient
+ * environment variables used to pass information from parent
+ * to child git processes, such "GIT_TR2_PARENT_SID".
+ */
+enum tr2_sysenv_variable {
+	TR2_SYSENV_CFG_PARAM = 0,
+
+	TR2_SYSENV_DST_DEBUG,
+
+	TR2_SYSENV_NORMAL,
+	TR2_SYSENV_NORMAL_BRIEF,
+
+	TR2_SYSENV_EVENT,
+	TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_BRIEF,
+	TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_NESTING,
+
+	TR2_SYSENV_PERF,
+	TR2_SYSENV_PERF_BRIEF,
+
+	TR2_SYSENV_MUST_BE_LAST
+};
+
+void tr2_sysenv_load(void);
+
+const char *tr2_sysenv_get(enum tr2_sysenv_variable);
+const char *tr2_sysenv_display_name(enum tr2_sysenv_variable var);
+void tr2_sysenv_release(void);
+
+#endif /* TR2_SYSENV_H */
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_tbuf.c b/trace2/tr2_tbuf.c
index 0844910423..2498482d9a 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_tbuf.c
+++ b/trace2/tr2_tbuf.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ void tr2_tbuf_local_time(struct tr2_tbuf *tb)
 		  tm.tm_min, tm.tm_sec, (long)tv.tv_usec);
 }
 
-void tr2_tbuf_utc_time(struct tr2_tbuf *tb)
+void tr2_tbuf_utc_datetime_extended(struct tr2_tbuf *tb)
 {
 	struct timeval tv;
 	struct tm tm;
@@ -26,7 +26,22 @@ void tr2_tbuf_utc_time(struct tr2_tbuf *tb)
 	gmtime_r(&secs, &tm);
 
 	xsnprintf(tb->buf, sizeof(tb->buf),
-		  "%4d-%02d-%02d %02d:%02d:%02d.%06ld", tm.tm_year + 1900,
+		  "%4d-%02d-%02dT%02d:%02d:%02d.%06ldZ", tm.tm_year + 1900,
 		  tm.tm_mon + 1, tm.tm_mday, tm.tm_hour, tm.tm_min, tm.tm_sec,
 		  (long)tv.tv_usec);
 }
+
+void tr2_tbuf_utc_datetime(struct tr2_tbuf *tb)
+{
+	struct timeval tv;
+	struct tm tm;
+	time_t secs;
+
+	gettimeofday(&tv, NULL);
+	secs = tv.tv_sec;
+	gmtime_r(&secs, &tm);
+
+	xsnprintf(tb->buf, sizeof(tb->buf), "%4d%02d%02dT%02d%02d%02d.%06ldZ",
+		  tm.tm_year + 1900, tm.tm_mon + 1, tm.tm_mday, tm.tm_hour,
+		  tm.tm_min, tm.tm_sec, (long)tv.tv_usec);
+}
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_tbuf.h b/trace2/tr2_tbuf.h
index 9cdefa3957..fa853d8f42 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_tbuf.h
+++ b/trace2/tr2_tbuf.h
@@ -16,8 +16,9 @@ struct tr2_tbuf {
 void tr2_tbuf_local_time(struct tr2_tbuf *tb);
 
 /*
- * Fill buffer with formatted UTC time string.
+ * Fill buffer with formatted UTC datatime string.
  */
-void tr2_tbuf_utc_time(struct tr2_tbuf *tb);
+void tr2_tbuf_utc_datetime_extended(struct tr2_tbuf *tb);
+void tr2_tbuf_utc_datetime(struct tr2_tbuf *tb);
 
 #endif /* TR2_TBUF_H */
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_tgt.h b/trace2/tr2_tgt.h
index 297bb8ffbe..7b90469212 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_tgt.h
+++ b/trace2/tr2_tgt.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ typedef void(tr2_tgt_term_t)(void);
 typedef void(tr2_tgt_evt_version_fl_t)(const char *file, int line);
 
 typedef void(tr2_tgt_evt_start_fl_t)(const char *file, int line,
+				     uint64_t us_elapsed_absolute,
 				     const char **argv);
 typedef void(tr2_tgt_evt_exit_fl_t)(const char *file, int line,
 				    uint64_t us_elapsed_absolute, int code);
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_tgt_event.c b/trace2/tr2_tgt_event.c
index 1cf4f62441..c2852d1bd2 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_tgt_event.c
+++ b/trace2/tr2_tgt_event.c
@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@
 #include "trace2/tr2_dst.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tbuf.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_sid.h"
+#include "trace2/tr2_sysenv.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tgt.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tls.h"
 
-static struct tr2_dst tr2dst_event = { "GIT_TR2_EVENT", 0, 0, 0 };
+static struct tr2_dst tr2dst_event = { TR2_SYSENV_EVENT, 0, 0, 0 };
 
 /*
  * The version number of the JSON data generated by the EVENT target
@@ -28,37 +29,36 @@ static struct tr2_dst tr2dst_event = { "GIT_TR2_EVENT", 0, 0, 0 };
  * are primarily intended for the performance target during debugging.
  *
  * Some of the outer-most messages, however, may be of interest to the
- * event target.  Set this environment variable to a larger integer for
- * more detail in the event target.
+ * event target.  Use the TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_NESTING setting to increase
+ * region details in the event target.
  */
-#define TR2_ENVVAR_EVENT_NESTING "GIT_TR2_EVENT_NESTING"
-static int tr2env_event_nesting_wanted = 2;
+static int tr2env_event_max_nesting_levels = 2;
 
 /*
- * Set this environment variable to true to omit the <time>, <file>, and
+ * Use the TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_BRIEF to omit the <time>, <file>, and
  * <line> fields from most events.
  */
-#define TR2_ENVVAR_EVENT_BRIEF "GIT_TR2_EVENT_BRIEF"
-static int tr2env_event_brief;
+static int tr2env_event_be_brief;
 
 static int fn_init(void)
 {
 	int want = tr2_dst_trace_want(&tr2dst_event);
-	int want_nesting;
+	int max_nesting;
 	int want_brief;
-	char *nesting;
-	char *brief;
+	const char *nesting;
+	const char *brief;
 
 	if (!want)
 		return want;
 
-	nesting = getenv(TR2_ENVVAR_EVENT_NESTING);
-	if (nesting && ((want_nesting = atoi(nesting)) > 0))
-		tr2env_event_nesting_wanted = want_nesting;
+	nesting = tr2_sysenv_get(TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_NESTING);
+	if (nesting && *nesting && ((max_nesting = atoi(nesting)) > 0))
+		tr2env_event_max_nesting_levels = max_nesting;
 
-	brief = getenv(TR2_ENVVAR_EVENT_BRIEF);
-	if (brief && ((want_brief = atoi(brief)) > 0))
-		tr2env_event_brief = want_brief;
+	brief = tr2_sysenv_get(TR2_SYSENV_EVENT_BRIEF);
+	if (brief && *brief &&
+	    ((want_brief = git_parse_maybe_bool(brief)) != -1))
+		tr2env_event_be_brief = want_brief;
 
 	return want;
 }
@@ -92,13 +92,13 @@ static void event_fmt_prepare(const char *event_name, const char *file,
 	/*
 	 * In brief mode, only emit <time> on these 2 event types.
 	 */
-	if (!tr2env_event_brief || !strcmp(event_name, "version") ||
+	if (!tr2env_event_be_brief || !strcmp(event_name, "version") ||
 	    !strcmp(event_name, "atexit")) {
-		tr2_tbuf_utc_time(&tb_now);
+		tr2_tbuf_utc_datetime_extended(&tb_now);
 		jw_object_string(jw, "time", tb_now.buf);
 	}
 
-	if (!tr2env_event_brief && file && *file) {
+	if (!tr2env_event_be_brief && file && *file) {
 		jw_object_string(jw, "file", file);
 		jw_object_intmax(jw, "line", line);
 	}
@@ -122,13 +122,16 @@ static void fn_version_fl(const char *file, int line)
 	jw_release(&jw);
 }
 
-static void fn_start_fl(const char *file, int line, const char **argv)
+static void fn_start_fl(const char *file, int line,
+			uint64_t us_elapsed_absolute, const char **argv)
 {
 	const char *event_name = "start";
 	struct json_writer jw = JSON_WRITER_INIT;
+	double t_abs = (double)us_elapsed_absolute / 1000000.0;
 
 	jw_object_begin(&jw, 0);
 	event_fmt_prepare(event_name, file, line, NULL, &jw);
+	jw_object_double(&jw, "t_abs", 6, t_abs);
 	jw_object_inline_begin_array(&jw, "argv");
 	jw_array_argv(&jw, argv);
 	jw_end(&jw);
@@ -456,7 +459,7 @@ static void fn_region_enter_printf_va_fl(const char *file, int line,
 {
 	const char *event_name = "region_enter";
 	struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *ctx = tr2tls_get_self();
-	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_nesting_wanted) {
+	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_max_nesting_levels) {
 		struct json_writer jw = JSON_WRITER_INIT;
 
 		jw_object_begin(&jw, 0);
@@ -481,7 +484,7 @@ static void fn_region_leave_printf_va_fl(
 {
 	const char *event_name = "region_leave";
 	struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *ctx = tr2tls_get_self();
-	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_nesting_wanted) {
+	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_max_nesting_levels) {
 		struct json_writer jw = JSON_WRITER_INIT;
 		double t_rel = (double)us_elapsed_region / 1000000.0;
 
@@ -508,7 +511,7 @@ static void fn_data_fl(const char *file, int line, uint64_t us_elapsed_absolute,
 {
 	const char *event_name = "data";
 	struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *ctx = tr2tls_get_self();
-	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_nesting_wanted) {
+	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_max_nesting_levels) {
 		struct json_writer jw = JSON_WRITER_INIT;
 		double t_abs = (double)us_elapsed_absolute / 1000000.0;
 		double t_rel = (double)us_elapsed_region / 1000000.0;
@@ -536,7 +539,7 @@ static void fn_data_json_fl(const char *file, int line,
 {
 	const char *event_name = "data_json";
 	struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *ctx = tr2tls_get_self();
-	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_nesting_wanted) {
+	if (ctx->nr_open_regions <= tr2env_event_max_nesting_levels) {
 		struct json_writer jw = JSON_WRITER_INIT;
 		double t_abs = (double)us_elapsed_absolute / 1000000.0;
 		double t_rel = (double)us_elapsed_region / 1000000.0;
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_tgt_normal.c b/trace2/tr2_tgt_normal.c
index 1a07d70abd..00b116d797 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_tgt_normal.c
+++ b/trace2/tr2_tgt_normal.c
@@ -4,20 +4,20 @@
 #include "quote.h"
 #include "version.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_dst.h"
+#include "trace2/tr2_sysenv.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tbuf.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tgt.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tls.h"
 
-static struct tr2_dst tr2dst_normal = { "GIT_TR2", 0, 0, 0 };
+static struct tr2_dst tr2dst_normal = { TR2_SYSENV_NORMAL, 0, 0, 0 };
 
 /*
- * Set this environment variable to true to omit the "<time> <file>:<line>"
+ * Use the TR2_SYSENV_NORMAL_BRIEF setting to omit the "<time> <file>:<line>"
  * fields from each line written to the builtin normal target.
  *
  * Unit tests may want to use this to help with testing.
  */
-#define TR2_ENVVAR_NORMAL_BRIEF "GIT_TR2_BRIEF"
-static int tr2env_normal_brief;
+static int tr2env_normal_be_brief;
 
 #define TR2FMT_NORMAL_FL_WIDTH (50)
 
@@ -25,15 +25,15 @@ static int fn_init(void)
 {
 	int want = tr2_dst_trace_want(&tr2dst_normal);
 	int want_brief;
-	char *brief;
+	const char *brief;
 
 	if (!want)
 		return want;
 
-	brief = getenv(TR2_ENVVAR_NORMAL_BRIEF);
+	brief = tr2_sysenv_get(TR2_SYSENV_NORMAL_BRIEF);
 	if (brief && *brief &&
 	    ((want_brief = git_parse_maybe_bool(brief)) != -1))
-		tr2env_normal_brief = want_brief;
+		tr2env_normal_be_brief = want_brief;
 
 	return want;
 }
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ static void normal_fmt_prepare(const char *file, int line, struct strbuf *buf)
 {
 	strbuf_setlen(buf, 0);
 
-	if (!tr2env_normal_brief) {
+	if (!tr2env_normal_be_brief) {
 		struct tr2_tbuf tb_now;
 
 		tr2_tbuf_local_time(&tb_now);
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@ static void fn_version_fl(const char *file, int line)
 	strbuf_release(&buf_payload);
 }
 
-static void fn_start_fl(const char *file, int line, const char **argv)
+static void fn_start_fl(const char *file, int line,
+			uint64_t us_elapsed_absolute, const char **argv)
 {
 	struct strbuf buf_payload = STRBUF_INIT;
 
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_tgt_perf.c b/trace2/tr2_tgt_perf.c
index 2a866d701b..ea0cbbe13e 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_tgt_perf.c
+++ b/trace2/tr2_tgt_perf.c
@@ -6,20 +6,20 @@
 #include "json-writer.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_dst.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_sid.h"
+#include "trace2/tr2_sysenv.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tbuf.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tgt.h"
 #include "trace2/tr2_tls.h"
 
-static struct tr2_dst tr2dst_perf = { "GIT_TR2_PERF", 0, 0, 0 };
+static struct tr2_dst tr2dst_perf = { TR2_SYSENV_PERF, 0, 0, 0 };
 
 /*
- * Set this environment variable to true to omit the "<time> <file>:<line>"
+ * Use TR2_SYSENV_PERF_BRIEF to omit the "<time> <file>:<line>"
  * fields from each line written to the builtin performance target.
  *
  * Unit tests may want to use this to help with testing.
  */
-#define TR2_ENVVAR_PERF_BRIEF "GIT_TR2_PERF_BRIEF"
-static int tr2env_perf_brief;
+static int tr2env_perf_be_brief;
 
 #define TR2FMT_PERF_FL_WIDTH (50)
 #define TR2FMT_PERF_MAX_EVENT_NAME (12)
@@ -36,17 +36,17 @@ static int fn_init(void)
 {
 	int want = tr2_dst_trace_want(&tr2dst_perf);
 	int want_brief;
-	char *brief;
+	const char *brief;
 
 	if (!want)
 		return want;
 
 	strbuf_addchars(&dots, '.', TR2_DOTS_BUFFER_SIZE);
 
-	brief = getenv(TR2_ENVVAR_PERF_BRIEF);
+	brief = tr2_sysenv_get(TR2_SYSENV_PERF_BRIEF);
 	if (brief && *brief &&
 	    ((want_brief = git_parse_maybe_bool(brief)) != -1))
-		tr2env_perf_brief = want_brief;
+		tr2env_perf_be_brief = want_brief;
 
 	return want;
 }
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ static void perf_fmt_prepare(const char *event_name,
 
 	strbuf_setlen(buf, 0);
 
-	if (!tr2env_perf_brief) {
+	if (!tr2env_perf_be_brief) {
 		struct tr2_tbuf tb_now;
 
 		tr2_tbuf_local_time(&tb_now);
@@ -159,15 +159,16 @@ static void fn_version_fl(const char *file, int line)
 	strbuf_release(&buf_payload);
 }
 
-static void fn_start_fl(const char *file, int line, const char **argv)
+static void fn_start_fl(const char *file, int line,
+			uint64_t us_elapsed_absolute, const char **argv)
 {
 	const char *event_name = "start";
 	struct strbuf buf_payload = STRBUF_INIT;
 
 	sq_quote_argv_pretty(&buf_payload, argv);
 
-	perf_io_write_fl(file, line, event_name, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL,
-			 &buf_payload);
+	perf_io_write_fl(file, line, event_name, NULL, &us_elapsed_absolute,
+			 NULL, NULL, &buf_payload);
 	strbuf_release(&buf_payload);
 }
 
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_tls.c b/trace2/tr2_tls.c
index 8e65b0361d..e76d8c5d92 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_tls.c
+++ b/trace2/tr2_tls.c
@@ -10,16 +10,30 @@
 #define TR2_REGION_NESTING_INITIAL_SIZE (100)
 
 static struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *tr2tls_thread_main;
-static uint64_t tr2tls_us_start_main;
+static uint64_t tr2tls_us_start_process;
 
 static pthread_mutex_t tr2tls_mutex;
 static pthread_key_t tr2tls_key;
 
 static int tr2_next_thread_id; /* modify under lock */
 
-struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *tr2tls_create_self(const char *thread_name)
+void tr2tls_start_process_clock(void)
+{
+	if (tr2tls_us_start_process)
+		return;
+
+	/*
+	 * Keep the absolute start time of the process (i.e. the main
+	 * process) in a fixed variable since other threads need to
+	 * access it.  This allows them to do that without a lock on
+	 * main thread's array data (because of reallocs).
+	 */
+	tr2tls_us_start_process = getnanotime() / 1000;
+}
+
+struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *tr2tls_create_self(const char *thread_name,
+					     uint64_t us_thread_start)
 {
-	uint64_t us_now = getnanotime() / 1000;
 	struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *ctx = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*ctx));
 
 	/*
@@ -29,7 +43,7 @@ struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *tr2tls_create_self(const char *thread_name)
 	 */
 	ctx->alloc = TR2_REGION_NESTING_INITIAL_SIZE;
 	ctx->array_us_start = (uint64_t *)xcalloc(ctx->alloc, sizeof(uint64_t));
-	ctx->array_us_start[ctx->nr_open_regions++] = us_now;
+	ctx->array_us_start[ctx->nr_open_regions++] = us_thread_start;
 
 	ctx->thread_id = tr2tls_locked_increment(&tr2_next_thread_id);
 
@@ -55,7 +69,7 @@ struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *tr2tls_get_self(void)
 	 * here and silently continue.
 	 */
 	if (!ctx)
-		ctx = tr2tls_create_self("unknown");
+		ctx = tr2tls_create_self("unknown", getnanotime() / 1000);
 
 	return ctx;
 }
@@ -124,22 +138,18 @@ uint64_t tr2tls_absolute_elapsed(uint64_t us)
 	if (!tr2tls_thread_main)
 		return 0;
 
-	return us - tr2tls_us_start_main;
+	return us - tr2tls_us_start_process;
 }
 
 void tr2tls_init(void)
 {
+	tr2tls_start_process_clock();
+
 	pthread_key_create(&tr2tls_key, NULL);
 	init_recursive_mutex(&tr2tls_mutex);
 
-	tr2tls_thread_main = tr2tls_create_self("main");
-	/*
-	 * Keep a copy of the absolute start time of the main thread
-	 * in a fixed variable since other threads need to access it.
-	 * This also eliminates the need to lock accesses to the main
-	 * thread's array (because of reallocs).
-	 */
-	tr2tls_us_start_main = tr2tls_thread_main->array_us_start[0];
+	tr2tls_thread_main =
+		tr2tls_create_self("main", tr2tls_us_start_process);
 }
 
 void tr2tls_release(void)
diff --git a/trace2/tr2_tls.h b/trace2/tr2_tls.h
index bb80e3f8e7..b1e327a928 100644
--- a/trace2/tr2_tls.h
+++ b/trace2/tr2_tls.h
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ struct tr2tls_thread_ctx {
  * In this and all following functions the term "self" refers to the
  * current thread.
  */
-struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *tr2tls_create_self(const char *thread_name);
+struct tr2tls_thread_ctx *tr2tls_create_self(const char *thread_name,
+					     uint64_t us_thread_start);
 
 /*
  * Get our TLS data.
@@ -94,4 +95,9 @@ void tr2tls_release(void);
  */
 int tr2tls_locked_increment(int *p);
 
+/*
+ * Capture the process start time and do nothing else.
+ */
+void tr2tls_start_process_clock(void);
+
 #endif /* TR2_TLS_H */