diff mbox series

pkt-line: extract out PACKET_HEADER_SIZE

Message ID 7e803a2ba9458ce35c657e67323edfe4409205ec.1592055716.git.liu.denton@gmail.com (mailing list archive)
State New, archived
Headers show
Series pkt-line: extract out PACKET_HEADER_SIZE | expand

Commit Message

Denton Liu June 13, 2020, 1:43 p.m. UTC
In pkt-line and remote-curl, we have many instances of magic `4`
literals floating around which represent the number of bytes in the
packet line length header. Instead of using these magic numbers, replace
them with constant expressions.

In most cases, replace the `4` with `PACKET_HEADER_SIZE`. However, in
the case where there's a `char array[PACKET_HEADER_SIZE]`  and we are
reading data into it, replace the `4` with a `sizeof(array)` so that
it's clear that the logic has something to do with that array.

Signed-off-by: Denton Liu <liu.denton@gmail.com>
---
 pkt-line.c    | 50 +++++++++++++++++++++++++-------------------------
 pkt-line.h    |  6 ++++--
 remote-curl.c | 30 +++++++++++++++---------------
 3 files changed, 44 insertions(+), 42 deletions(-)

Comments

Đoàn Trần Công Danh June 13, 2020, 2:23 p.m. UTC | #1
On 2020-06-13 09:43:22-0400, Denton Liu <liu.denton@gmail.com> wrote:
> In pkt-line and remote-curl, we have many instances of magic `4`
> literals floating around which represent the number of bytes in the
> packet line length header. Instead of using these magic numbers, replace
> them with constant expressions.
> 
> In most cases, replace the `4` with `PACKET_HEADER_SIZE`. However, in
> the case where there's a `char array[PACKET_HEADER_SIZE]`  and we are
> reading data into it, replace the `4` with a `sizeof(array)` so that
> it's clear that the logic has something to do with that array.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Denton Liu <liu.denton@gmail.com>
> ---
>  pkt-line.c    | 50 +++++++++++++++++++++++++-------------------------
>  pkt-line.h    |  6 ++++--
>  remote-curl.c | 30 +++++++++++++++---------------
>  3 files changed, 44 insertions(+), 42 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/pkt-line.c b/pkt-line.c
> index 8f9bc68ee2..245a56712f 100644
> --- a/pkt-line.c
> +++ b/pkt-line.c
> @@ -87,43 +87,43 @@ static void packet_trace(const char *buf, unsigned int len, int write)
>   */
>  void packet_flush(int fd)
>  {
> -	packet_trace("0000", 4, 1);
> -	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", 4) < 0)
> +	packet_trace("0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
> +	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE) < 0)

I think the magic number 4 is easier to follow than some macro
PACKET_HEADER_SIZE defined elsewhere. Because reader may judge that is
the size of "0000"

How about (this ugly code):

	packet_trace("0000", sizeof "0000" - 1, 1);
	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", sizeof "0000" - 1) < 0)


>  		die_errno(_("unable to write flush packet"));
>  }
>  
>  void packet_delim(int fd)
>  {
> -	packet_trace("0001", 4, 1);
> -	if (write_in_full(fd, "0001", 4) < 0)
> +	packet_trace("0001", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
> +	if (write_in_full(fd, "0001", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE) < 0)
>  		die_errno(_("unable to write delim packet"));
>  }
>  
>  void packet_response_end(int fd)
>  {
> -	packet_trace("0002", 4, 1);
> -	if (write_in_full(fd, "0002", 4) < 0)
> +	packet_trace("0002", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
> +	if (write_in_full(fd, "0002", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE) < 0)
>  		die_errno(_("unable to write stateless separator packet"));
>  }
>  
>  int packet_flush_gently(int fd)
>  {
> -	packet_trace("0000", 4, 1);
> -	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", 4) < 0)
> +	packet_trace("0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
> +	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE) < 0)
>  		return error(_("flush packet write failed"));
>  	return 0;
>  }
>  
>  void packet_buf_flush(struct strbuf *buf)
>  {
> -	packet_trace("0000", 4, 1);
> -	strbuf_add(buf, "0000", 4);
> +	packet_trace("0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
> +	strbuf_add(buf, "0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE);
>  }
>  
>  void packet_buf_delim(struct strbuf *buf)
>  {
> -	packet_trace("0001", 4, 1);
> -	strbuf_add(buf, "0001", 4);
> +	packet_trace("0001", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
> +	strbuf_add(buf, "0001", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE);
>  }
>  
>  void set_packet_header(char *buf, int size)
> @@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ static void format_packet(struct strbuf *out, const char *prefix,
>  		die(_("protocol error: impossibly long line"));
>  
>  	set_packet_header(&out->buf[orig_len], n);
> -	packet_trace(out->buf + orig_len + 4, n - 4, 1);
> +	packet_trace(out->buf + orig_len + PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, n - PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
>  }
>  
>  static int packet_write_fmt_1(int fd, int gently, const char *prefix,
> @@ -199,13 +199,13 @@ static int packet_write_gently(const int fd_out, const char *buf, size_t size)
>  	static char packet_write_buffer[LARGE_PACKET_MAX];
>  	size_t packet_size;
>  
> -	if (size > sizeof(packet_write_buffer) - 4)
> +	if (size > sizeof(packet_write_buffer) - PACKET_HEADER_SIZE)
>  		return error(_("packet write failed - data exceeds max packet size"));
>  
>  	packet_trace(buf, size, 1);
> -	packet_size = size + 4;
> +	packet_size = size + PACKET_HEADER_SIZE;
>  	set_packet_header(packet_write_buffer, packet_size);
> -	memcpy(packet_write_buffer + 4, buf, size);
> +	memcpy(packet_write_buffer + PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, buf, size);
>  	if (write_in_full(fd_out, packet_write_buffer, packet_size) < 0)
>  		return error(_("packet write failed"));
>  	return 0;
> @@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ static int get_packet_data(int fd, char **src_buf, size_t *src_size,
>  	return ret;
>  }
>  
> -int packet_length(const char lenbuf_hex[4])
> +int packet_length(const char lenbuf_hex[PACKET_HEADER_SIZE])
>  {
>  	int val = hex2chr(lenbuf_hex);
>  	return (val < 0) ? val : (val << 8) | hex2chr(lenbuf_hex + 2);
> @@ -325,9 +325,9 @@ enum packet_read_status packet_read_with_status(int fd, char **src_buffer,
>  						int options)
>  {
>  	int len;
> -	char linelen[4];
> +	char linelen[PACKET_HEADER_SIZE];
>  
> -	if (get_packet_data(fd, src_buffer, src_len, linelen, 4, options) < 0) {
> +	if (get_packet_data(fd, src_buffer, src_len, linelen, sizeof(linelen), options) < 0) {
>  		*pktlen = -1;
>  		return PACKET_READ_EOF;
>  	}
> @@ -337,22 +337,22 @@ enum packet_read_status packet_read_with_status(int fd, char **src_buffer,
>  	if (len < 0) {
>  		die(_("protocol error: bad line length character: %.4s"), linelen);
>  	} else if (!len) {
> -		packet_trace("0000", 4, 0);
> +		packet_trace("0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 0);
>  		*pktlen = 0;
>  		return PACKET_READ_FLUSH;
>  	} else if (len == 1) {
> -		packet_trace("0001", 4, 0);
> +		packet_trace("0001", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 0);
>  		*pktlen = 0;
>  		return PACKET_READ_DELIM;
>  	} else if (len == 2) {
> -		packet_trace("0002", 4, 0);
> +		packet_trace("0002", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 0);
>  		*pktlen = 0;
>  		return PACKET_READ_RESPONSE_END;
> -	} else if (len < 4) {
> +	} else if (len < PACKET_HEADER_SIZE) {
>  		die(_("protocol error: bad line length %d"), len);
>  	}
>  
> -	len -= 4;
> +	len -= sizeof(linelen);
>  	if ((unsigned)len >= size)
>  		die(_("protocol error: bad line length %d"), len);
>  
> @@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ enum packet_read_status packet_read_with_status(int fd, char **src_buffer,
>  
>  	if ((options & PACKET_READ_DIE_ON_ERR_PACKET) &&
>  	    starts_with(buffer, "ERR "))
> -		die(_("remote error: %s"), buffer + 4);
> +		die(_("remote error: %s"), buffer + PACKET_HEADER_SIZE);
>  
>  	*pktlen = len;
>  	return PACKET_READ_NORMAL;
> diff --git a/pkt-line.h b/pkt-line.h
> index 5b373fe4cd..d6121b8044 100644
> --- a/pkt-line.h
> +++ b/pkt-line.h
> @@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
>  #include "strbuf.h"
>  #include "sideband.h"
>  
> +#define PACKET_HEADER_SIZE 4
> +
>  /*
>   * Write a packetized stream, where each line is preceded by
>   * its length (including the header) as a 4-byte hex number.
> @@ -82,7 +84,7 @@ int packet_read(int fd, char **src_buffer, size_t *src_len, char
>   * If lenbuf_hex contains non-hex characters, return -1. Otherwise, return the
>   * numeric value of the length header.
>   */
> -int packet_length(const char lenbuf_hex[4]);
> +int packet_length(const char lenbuf_hex[PACKET_HEADER_SIZE]);
>  
>  /*
>   * Read a packetized line into a buffer like the 'packet_read()' function but
> @@ -211,7 +213,7 @@ enum packet_read_status packet_reader_peek(struct packet_reader *reader);
>  
>  #define DEFAULT_PACKET_MAX 1000
>  #define LARGE_PACKET_MAX 65520
> -#define LARGE_PACKET_DATA_MAX (LARGE_PACKET_MAX - 4)
> +#define LARGE_PACKET_DATA_MAX (LARGE_PACKET_MAX - PACKET_HEADER_SIZE)
>  extern char packet_buffer[LARGE_PACKET_MAX];
>  
>  struct packet_writer {
> diff --git a/remote-curl.c b/remote-curl.c
> index 75532a8bae..bac295c5bc 100644
> --- a/remote-curl.c
> +++ b/remote-curl.c
> @@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ struct rpc_state {
>  	unsigned initial_buffer : 1;
>  
>  	/*
> -	 * Whenever a pkt-line is read into buf, append the 4 characters
> +	 * Whenever a pkt-line is read into buf, append the PACKET_HEADER_SIZE characters
>  	 * denoting its length before appending the payload.
>  	 */
>  	unsigned write_line_lengths : 1;
> @@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ struct rpc_state {
>   * rpc->buf and rpc->len if there is enough space. Returns 1 if there was
>   * enough space, 0 otherwise.
>   *
> - * If rpc->write_line_lengths is true, appends the line length as a 4-byte
> + * If rpc->write_line_lengths is true, appends the line length as a PACKET_HEADER_SIZE-byte
>   * hexadecimal string before appending the result described above.
>   *
>   * Writes the total number of bytes appended into appended.
> @@ -569,8 +569,8 @@ static int rpc_read_from_out(struct rpc_state *rpc, int options,
>  	int pktlen_raw;
>  
>  	if (rpc->write_line_lengths) {
> -		left = rpc->alloc - rpc->len - 4;
> -		buf = rpc->buf + rpc->len + 4;
> +		left = rpc->alloc - rpc->len - PACKET_HEADER_SIZE;
> +		buf = rpc->buf + rpc->len + PACKET_HEADER_SIZE;
>  	} else {
>  		left = rpc->alloc - rpc->len;
>  		buf = rpc->buf + rpc->len;
> @@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ static int rpc_read_from_out(struct rpc_state *rpc, int options,
>  	*status = packet_read_with_status(rpc->out, NULL, NULL, buf,
>  			left, &pktlen_raw, options);
>  	if (*status != PACKET_READ_EOF) {
> -		*appended = pktlen_raw + (rpc->write_line_lengths ? 4 : 0);
> +		*appended = pktlen_raw + (rpc->write_line_lengths ? PACKET_HEADER_SIZE : 0);
>  		rpc->len += *appended;
>  	}
>  
> @@ -593,13 +593,13 @@ static int rpc_read_from_out(struct rpc_state *rpc, int options,
>  				die(_("shouldn't have EOF when not gentle on EOF"));
>  			break;
>  		case PACKET_READ_NORMAL:
> -			set_packet_header(buf - 4, *appended);
> +			set_packet_header(buf - PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, *appended);
>  			break;
>  		case PACKET_READ_DELIM:
> -			memcpy(buf - 4, "0001", 4);
> +			memcpy(buf - PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, "0001", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE);
>  			break;
>  		case PACKET_READ_FLUSH:
> -			memcpy(buf - 4, "0000", 4);
> +			memcpy(buf - PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, "0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE);
>  			break;
>  		case PACKET_READ_RESPONSE_END:
>  			die(_("remote server sent stateless separator"));
> @@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ static curlioerr rpc_ioctl(CURL *handle, int cmd, void *clientp)
>  #endif
>  
>  struct check_pktline_state {
> -	char len_buf[4];
> +	char len_buf[PACKET_HEADER_SIZE];
>  	int len_filled;
>  	int remaining;
>  };
> @@ -691,7 +691,7 @@ static void check_pktline(struct check_pktline_state *state, const char *ptr, si
>  {
>  	while (size) {
>  		if (!state->remaining) {
> -			int digits_remaining = 4 - state->len_filled;
> +			int digits_remaining = sizeof(state->len_buf) - state->len_filled;
>  			if (digits_remaining > size)
>  				digits_remaining = size;
>  			memcpy(&state->len_buf[state->len_filled], ptr, digits_remaining);
> @@ -699,16 +699,16 @@ static void check_pktline(struct check_pktline_state *state, const char *ptr, si
>  			ptr += digits_remaining;
>  			size -= digits_remaining;
>  
> -			if (state->len_filled == 4) {
> +			if (state->len_filled == sizeof(state->len_buf)) {
>  				state->remaining = packet_length(state->len_buf);
>  				if (state->remaining < 0) {
>  					die(_("remote-curl: bad line length character: %.4s"), state->len_buf);
>  				} else if (state->remaining == 2) {
>  					die(_("remote-curl: unexpected response end packet"));
> -				} else if (state->remaining < 4) {
> +				} else if (state->remaining < sizeof(state->len_buf)) {
>  					state->remaining = 0;
>  				} else {
> -					state->remaining -= 4;
> +					state->remaining -= sizeof(state->len_buf);
>  				}
>  				state->len_filled = 0;
>  			}
> @@ -804,7 +804,7 @@ static int probe_rpc(struct rpc_state *rpc, struct slot_results *results)
>  	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_URL, rpc->service_url);
>  	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_ENCODING, NULL);
>  	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, "0000");
> -	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDSIZE, 4);
> +	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDSIZE, PACKET_HEADER_SIZE);
>  	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, headers);
>  	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_WRITEFUNCTION, fwrite_buffer);
>  	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_FILE, &buf);
> @@ -1469,7 +1469,7 @@ int cmd_main(int argc, const char **argv)
>  			parse_fetch(&buf);
>  
>  		} else if (!strcmp(buf.buf, "list") || starts_with(buf.buf, "list ")) {
> -			int for_push = !!strstr(buf.buf + 4, "for-push");
> +			int for_push = !!strstr(buf.buf + PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, "for-push");
>  			output_refs(get_refs(for_push));
>  
>  		} else if (starts_with(buf.buf, "push ")) {
> -- 
> 2.27.0.132.g321788e831
>
Denton Liu June 13, 2020, 2:39 p.m. UTC | #2
On Sat, Jun 13, 2020 at 09:23:06PM +0700, Đoàn Trần Công Danh wrote:
> > diff --git a/pkt-line.c b/pkt-line.c
> > index 8f9bc68ee2..245a56712f 100644
> > --- a/pkt-line.c
> > +++ b/pkt-line.c
> > @@ -87,43 +87,43 @@ static void packet_trace(const char *buf, unsigned int len, int write)
> >   */
> >  void packet_flush(int fd)
> >  {
> > -	packet_trace("0000", 4, 1);
> > -	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", 4) < 0)
> > +	packet_trace("0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
> > +	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE) < 0)
> 
> I think the magic number 4 is easier to follow than some macro
> PACKET_HEADER_SIZE defined elsewhere. Because reader may judge that is
> the size of "0000"
> 
> How about (this ugly code):
> 
> 	packet_trace("0000", sizeof "0000" - 1, 1);
> 	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", sizeof "0000" - 1) < 0)

Chris Torek mentioned something similar off-list:
> This seems sensible, but at the same time, the string literals must
> have the right size.  For instance:
> 
[...the diff above...]
> 
> So if you're going to do this, it might be a good idea to replace
> the string literals "0000", "0001", etc, with defined values as well.

Between the two suggested approaches, with your approach, it's
immediately obvious what the values of the packets are but, on the other
hand, with Chris's approach, we can consolidate the "magic" string
literals together into a definition in a single-place.

In this case, the strings don't seem too magical and I think that the
people on this list are generally against over-abstracting and would
consider it more readable to leave the literals in place. (If this were
my own project, I'd take Chris's approach, though, since I try to avoid
bare literals like the plague.)
Junio C Hamano June 13, 2020, 4:51 p.m. UTC | #3
Đoàn Trần Công Danh  <congdanhqx@gmail.com> writes:

>>  void packet_flush(int fd)
>>  {
>> -	packet_trace("0000", 4, 1);
>> -	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", 4) < 0)
>> +	packet_trace("0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
>> +	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE) < 0)
>
> I think the magic number 4 is easier to follow than some macro
> PACKET_HEADER_SIZE defined elsewhere. Because reader may judge that is
> the size of "0000"

I hate to admit it immensely, but I tend to agree with you.  In the
context of this single call,

	write_in_full(fd, "0000", 4)
	write_in_full(fd, "0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE)

I find the former vastly easier.

> How about (this ugly code):
>
> 	packet_trace("0000", sizeof "0000" - 1, 1);
> 	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", sizeof "0000" - 1) < 0)

Yeah, that is ugly.  I was thinking more in the direction of
replacing these three-argument write_in_full with something like

#define write_constant(fd, constant_string) \
	write_in_full((fd), (constant_string), strlen(constant_string))

with some preprocessor magic to make the compilation break when the
second parameter to the macro is not a string constant.
Junio C Hamano June 14, 2020, 6:24 p.m. UTC | #4
Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com> writes:

>> How about (this ugly code):
>>
>> 	packet_trace("0000", sizeof "0000" - 1, 1);
>> 	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", sizeof "0000" - 1) < 0)
>
> Yeah, that is ugly.  I was thinking more in the direction of
> replacing these three-argument write_in_full with something like
>
> #define write_constant(fd, constant_string) \
> 	write_in_full((fd), (constant_string), strlen(constant_string))
>
> with some preprocessor magic to make the compilation break when the
> second parameter to the macro is not a string constant.

There is a bit of subtlety but I did mean C preprocessor macro and
not a helper function with the above.  With use of a macro defined
like above, the programmer can write

	write_constant(fd, "0000");

which would turn into

	write_in_full((fd), "0000", strlen("0000"));
	
Descent compilers know to produce identical code as

	write_in_full((fd), "0000", 4);

when seeing a literal constant string given to strlen().

But a helper function like this:

	static int write_constant(int fd, const char *string) {
		return write_in_full(fd, string, strlen(string));
	}

has less chance of getting the same kind of optimization (the helper
needs to be inlined before the compiler can realize that the
parameter to strlen() is a literal constant whose length can be
computed at the compile time).
diff mbox series

Patch

diff --git a/pkt-line.c b/pkt-line.c
index 8f9bc68ee2..245a56712f 100644
--- a/pkt-line.c
+++ b/pkt-line.c
@@ -87,43 +87,43 @@  static void packet_trace(const char *buf, unsigned int len, int write)
  */
 void packet_flush(int fd)
 {
-	packet_trace("0000", 4, 1);
-	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", 4) < 0)
+	packet_trace("0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
+	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE) < 0)
 		die_errno(_("unable to write flush packet"));
 }
 
 void packet_delim(int fd)
 {
-	packet_trace("0001", 4, 1);
-	if (write_in_full(fd, "0001", 4) < 0)
+	packet_trace("0001", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
+	if (write_in_full(fd, "0001", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE) < 0)
 		die_errno(_("unable to write delim packet"));
 }
 
 void packet_response_end(int fd)
 {
-	packet_trace("0002", 4, 1);
-	if (write_in_full(fd, "0002", 4) < 0)
+	packet_trace("0002", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
+	if (write_in_full(fd, "0002", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE) < 0)
 		die_errno(_("unable to write stateless separator packet"));
 }
 
 int packet_flush_gently(int fd)
 {
-	packet_trace("0000", 4, 1);
-	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", 4) < 0)
+	packet_trace("0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
+	if (write_in_full(fd, "0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE) < 0)
 		return error(_("flush packet write failed"));
 	return 0;
 }
 
 void packet_buf_flush(struct strbuf *buf)
 {
-	packet_trace("0000", 4, 1);
-	strbuf_add(buf, "0000", 4);
+	packet_trace("0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
+	strbuf_add(buf, "0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE);
 }
 
 void packet_buf_delim(struct strbuf *buf)
 {
-	packet_trace("0001", 4, 1);
-	strbuf_add(buf, "0001", 4);
+	packet_trace("0001", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
+	strbuf_add(buf, "0001", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE);
 }
 
 void set_packet_header(char *buf, int size)
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@  static void format_packet(struct strbuf *out, const char *prefix,
 		die(_("protocol error: impossibly long line"));
 
 	set_packet_header(&out->buf[orig_len], n);
-	packet_trace(out->buf + orig_len + 4, n - 4, 1);
+	packet_trace(out->buf + orig_len + PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, n - PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 1);
 }
 
 static int packet_write_fmt_1(int fd, int gently, const char *prefix,
@@ -199,13 +199,13 @@  static int packet_write_gently(const int fd_out, const char *buf, size_t size)
 	static char packet_write_buffer[LARGE_PACKET_MAX];
 	size_t packet_size;
 
-	if (size > sizeof(packet_write_buffer) - 4)
+	if (size > sizeof(packet_write_buffer) - PACKET_HEADER_SIZE)
 		return error(_("packet write failed - data exceeds max packet size"));
 
 	packet_trace(buf, size, 1);
-	packet_size = size + 4;
+	packet_size = size + PACKET_HEADER_SIZE;
 	set_packet_header(packet_write_buffer, packet_size);
-	memcpy(packet_write_buffer + 4, buf, size);
+	memcpy(packet_write_buffer + PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, buf, size);
 	if (write_in_full(fd_out, packet_write_buffer, packet_size) < 0)
 		return error(_("packet write failed"));
 	return 0;
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@  static int get_packet_data(int fd, char **src_buf, size_t *src_size,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int packet_length(const char lenbuf_hex[4])
+int packet_length(const char lenbuf_hex[PACKET_HEADER_SIZE])
 {
 	int val = hex2chr(lenbuf_hex);
 	return (val < 0) ? val : (val << 8) | hex2chr(lenbuf_hex + 2);
@@ -325,9 +325,9 @@  enum packet_read_status packet_read_with_status(int fd, char **src_buffer,
 						int options)
 {
 	int len;
-	char linelen[4];
+	char linelen[PACKET_HEADER_SIZE];
 
-	if (get_packet_data(fd, src_buffer, src_len, linelen, 4, options) < 0) {
+	if (get_packet_data(fd, src_buffer, src_len, linelen, sizeof(linelen), options) < 0) {
 		*pktlen = -1;
 		return PACKET_READ_EOF;
 	}
@@ -337,22 +337,22 @@  enum packet_read_status packet_read_with_status(int fd, char **src_buffer,
 	if (len < 0) {
 		die(_("protocol error: bad line length character: %.4s"), linelen);
 	} else if (!len) {
-		packet_trace("0000", 4, 0);
+		packet_trace("0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 0);
 		*pktlen = 0;
 		return PACKET_READ_FLUSH;
 	} else if (len == 1) {
-		packet_trace("0001", 4, 0);
+		packet_trace("0001", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 0);
 		*pktlen = 0;
 		return PACKET_READ_DELIM;
 	} else if (len == 2) {
-		packet_trace("0002", 4, 0);
+		packet_trace("0002", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, 0);
 		*pktlen = 0;
 		return PACKET_READ_RESPONSE_END;
-	} else if (len < 4) {
+	} else if (len < PACKET_HEADER_SIZE) {
 		die(_("protocol error: bad line length %d"), len);
 	}
 
-	len -= 4;
+	len -= sizeof(linelen);
 	if ((unsigned)len >= size)
 		die(_("protocol error: bad line length %d"), len);
 
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@  enum packet_read_status packet_read_with_status(int fd, char **src_buffer,
 
 	if ((options & PACKET_READ_DIE_ON_ERR_PACKET) &&
 	    starts_with(buffer, "ERR "))
-		die(_("remote error: %s"), buffer + 4);
+		die(_("remote error: %s"), buffer + PACKET_HEADER_SIZE);
 
 	*pktlen = len;
 	return PACKET_READ_NORMAL;
diff --git a/pkt-line.h b/pkt-line.h
index 5b373fe4cd..d6121b8044 100644
--- a/pkt-line.h
+++ b/pkt-line.h
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ 
 #include "strbuf.h"
 #include "sideband.h"
 
+#define PACKET_HEADER_SIZE 4
+
 /*
  * Write a packetized stream, where each line is preceded by
  * its length (including the header) as a 4-byte hex number.
@@ -82,7 +84,7 @@  int packet_read(int fd, char **src_buffer, size_t *src_len, char
  * If lenbuf_hex contains non-hex characters, return -1. Otherwise, return the
  * numeric value of the length header.
  */
-int packet_length(const char lenbuf_hex[4]);
+int packet_length(const char lenbuf_hex[PACKET_HEADER_SIZE]);
 
 /*
  * Read a packetized line into a buffer like the 'packet_read()' function but
@@ -211,7 +213,7 @@  enum packet_read_status packet_reader_peek(struct packet_reader *reader);
 
 #define DEFAULT_PACKET_MAX 1000
 #define LARGE_PACKET_MAX 65520
-#define LARGE_PACKET_DATA_MAX (LARGE_PACKET_MAX - 4)
+#define LARGE_PACKET_DATA_MAX (LARGE_PACKET_MAX - PACKET_HEADER_SIZE)
 extern char packet_buffer[LARGE_PACKET_MAX];
 
 struct packet_writer {
diff --git a/remote-curl.c b/remote-curl.c
index 75532a8bae..bac295c5bc 100644
--- a/remote-curl.c
+++ b/remote-curl.c
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@  struct rpc_state {
 	unsigned initial_buffer : 1;
 
 	/*
-	 * Whenever a pkt-line is read into buf, append the 4 characters
+	 * Whenever a pkt-line is read into buf, append the PACKET_HEADER_SIZE characters
 	 * denoting its length before appending the payload.
 	 */
 	unsigned write_line_lengths : 1;
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@  struct rpc_state {
  * rpc->buf and rpc->len if there is enough space. Returns 1 if there was
  * enough space, 0 otherwise.
  *
- * If rpc->write_line_lengths is true, appends the line length as a 4-byte
+ * If rpc->write_line_lengths is true, appends the line length as a PACKET_HEADER_SIZE-byte
  * hexadecimal string before appending the result described above.
  *
  * Writes the total number of bytes appended into appended.
@@ -569,8 +569,8 @@  static int rpc_read_from_out(struct rpc_state *rpc, int options,
 	int pktlen_raw;
 
 	if (rpc->write_line_lengths) {
-		left = rpc->alloc - rpc->len - 4;
-		buf = rpc->buf + rpc->len + 4;
+		left = rpc->alloc - rpc->len - PACKET_HEADER_SIZE;
+		buf = rpc->buf + rpc->len + PACKET_HEADER_SIZE;
 	} else {
 		left = rpc->alloc - rpc->len;
 		buf = rpc->buf + rpc->len;
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@  static int rpc_read_from_out(struct rpc_state *rpc, int options,
 	*status = packet_read_with_status(rpc->out, NULL, NULL, buf,
 			left, &pktlen_raw, options);
 	if (*status != PACKET_READ_EOF) {
-		*appended = pktlen_raw + (rpc->write_line_lengths ? 4 : 0);
+		*appended = pktlen_raw + (rpc->write_line_lengths ? PACKET_HEADER_SIZE : 0);
 		rpc->len += *appended;
 	}
 
@@ -593,13 +593,13 @@  static int rpc_read_from_out(struct rpc_state *rpc, int options,
 				die(_("shouldn't have EOF when not gentle on EOF"));
 			break;
 		case PACKET_READ_NORMAL:
-			set_packet_header(buf - 4, *appended);
+			set_packet_header(buf - PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, *appended);
 			break;
 		case PACKET_READ_DELIM:
-			memcpy(buf - 4, "0001", 4);
+			memcpy(buf - PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, "0001", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE);
 			break;
 		case PACKET_READ_FLUSH:
-			memcpy(buf - 4, "0000", 4);
+			memcpy(buf - PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, "0000", PACKET_HEADER_SIZE);
 			break;
 		case PACKET_READ_RESPONSE_END:
 			die(_("remote server sent stateless separator"));
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@  static curlioerr rpc_ioctl(CURL *handle, int cmd, void *clientp)
 #endif
 
 struct check_pktline_state {
-	char len_buf[4];
+	char len_buf[PACKET_HEADER_SIZE];
 	int len_filled;
 	int remaining;
 };
@@ -691,7 +691,7 @@  static void check_pktline(struct check_pktline_state *state, const char *ptr, si
 {
 	while (size) {
 		if (!state->remaining) {
-			int digits_remaining = 4 - state->len_filled;
+			int digits_remaining = sizeof(state->len_buf) - state->len_filled;
 			if (digits_remaining > size)
 				digits_remaining = size;
 			memcpy(&state->len_buf[state->len_filled], ptr, digits_remaining);
@@ -699,16 +699,16 @@  static void check_pktline(struct check_pktline_state *state, const char *ptr, si
 			ptr += digits_remaining;
 			size -= digits_remaining;
 
-			if (state->len_filled == 4) {
+			if (state->len_filled == sizeof(state->len_buf)) {
 				state->remaining = packet_length(state->len_buf);
 				if (state->remaining < 0) {
 					die(_("remote-curl: bad line length character: %.4s"), state->len_buf);
 				} else if (state->remaining == 2) {
 					die(_("remote-curl: unexpected response end packet"));
-				} else if (state->remaining < 4) {
+				} else if (state->remaining < sizeof(state->len_buf)) {
 					state->remaining = 0;
 				} else {
-					state->remaining -= 4;
+					state->remaining -= sizeof(state->len_buf);
 				}
 				state->len_filled = 0;
 			}
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@  static int probe_rpc(struct rpc_state *rpc, struct slot_results *results)
 	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_URL, rpc->service_url);
 	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_ENCODING, NULL);
 	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, "0000");
-	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDSIZE, 4);
+	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDSIZE, PACKET_HEADER_SIZE);
 	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, headers);
 	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_WRITEFUNCTION, fwrite_buffer);
 	curl_easy_setopt(slot->curl, CURLOPT_FILE, &buf);
@@ -1469,7 +1469,7 @@  int cmd_main(int argc, const char **argv)
 			parse_fetch(&buf);
 
 		} else if (!strcmp(buf.buf, "list") || starts_with(buf.buf, "list ")) {
-			int for_push = !!strstr(buf.buf + 4, "for-push");
+			int for_push = !!strstr(buf.buf + PACKET_HEADER_SIZE, "for-push");
 			output_refs(get_refs(for_push));
 
 		} else if (starts_with(buf.buf, "push ")) {