New upstream version 1.11.0+dfsgupstream/1.11.0+dfsg

Signed-off-by: Daniel Baumann <daniel.baumann@progress-linux.org>

93 files changed, 10562 insertions, 808 deletions

diff --git a/libnetdata/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d2710f0a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
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+
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+    adaptive_resortable_list \
+    avl \
+    buffer \
+    clocks \
+    config \
+    dictionary \
+    eval \
+    locks \
+    log \
+    popen \
+    procfile \
+    simple_pattern \
+    socket \
+    statistical \
+    storage_number \
+    threads \
+    url \
+    $(NULL)
+
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
diff --git a/libnetdata/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4ee89a69b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,664 @@
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diff --git a/libnetdata/README.md b/libnetdata/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..545f95984
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# libnetdata
+
+`libnetdata` is a collection of library code that is used by all netdata `C` programs.
+
+
+
diff --git a/libnetdata/adaptive_resortable_list/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/adaptive_resortable_list/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
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+	@echo "it deletes files that may require special tools to rebuild."
+	-test -z "$(MAINTAINERCLEANFILES)" || rm -f $(MAINTAINERCLEANFILES)
+clean: clean-am
+
+clean-am: clean-generic mostlyclean-am
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+	-rm -f Makefile
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+	ctags-am distclean distclean-generic distdir dvi dvi-am html \
+	html-am info info-am install install-am install-data \
+	install-data-am install-dvi install-dvi-am install-exec \
+	install-exec-am install-html install-html-am install-info \
+	install-info-am install-man install-pdf install-pdf-am \
+	install-ps install-ps-am install-strip installcheck \
+	installcheck-am installdirs maintainer-clean \
+	maintainer-clean-generic mostlyclean mostlyclean-generic pdf \
+	pdf-am ps ps-am tags-am uninstall uninstall-am
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+
+# Tell versions [3.59,3.63) of GNU make to not export all variables.
+# Otherwise a system limit (for SysV at least) may be exceeded.
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diff --git a/libnetdata/adaptive_resortable_list/README.md b/libnetdata/adaptive_resortable_list/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0ba3ec9b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/adaptive_resortable_list/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+
+# Adaptive Re-sortable List (ARL)
+
+This library allows netdata to read a series of `name - value` pairs
+in the **fastest possible way**.
+
+ARLs are used all over netdata, as they are the most
+CPU utilization efficient way to process `/proc` files. They are used to
+process both vertical (csv like) and horizontal (one pair per line) `name - value` pairs.
+
+## How ARL works
+
+It maintains a linked list of all `NAME` (keywords), sorted in the
+order found in the data source. The linked list is kept
+sorted at all times - the data source may change at any time, the
+linked list will adapt at the next iteration.
+
+### Initialization
+
+During initialization (just once), the caller:
+
+- calls `arl_create()` to create the ARL
+
+- calls `arl_expect()` multiple times to register the expected keywords
+
+The library will call the `processor()` function (given to
+`arl_create()`), for each expected keyword found.
+The default `processor()` expects `dst` to be an `unsigned long long *`.
+
+Each `name` keyword may have a different `processor()` (by calling
+`arl_expect_custom()` instead of `arl_expect()`).
+
+### Data collection iterations
+
+For each iteration through the data source, the caller:
+
+- calls `arl_begin()` to initiate a data collection iteration.
+   This is to be called just ONCE every time the source is re-evaluated.
+
+- calls `arl_check()` for each entry read from the file.
+
+### Cleanup
+
+When the caller exits:
+
+- calls `arl_free()` to destroy this and free all memory.
+
+### Performance
+
+ARL maintains a list of `name` keywords found in the data source (even the ones
+that are not useful for data collection).
+
+If the data source maintains the same order on the `name-value` pairs, for each
+each call to `arl_check()` only an `strcmp()` is executed to verify the
+expected order has not changed, a counter is incremented and a pointer is changed.
+So, if the data source has 100 `name-value` pairs, and their order remains constant
+over time, 100 successful `strcmp()` are executed.
+
+In the unlikely event that an iteration sees the data source with a different order,
+for each out-of-order keyword, a full search of the remaining keywords is made. But
+this search uses 32bit hashes, not string comparisons, so it should also be fast. 
+
+When all expectations are satisfied (even in the middle of an iteration),
+the call to `arl_check()` will return 1, to signal the caller to stop the loop,
+saving valuable CPU resources for the rest of the data source. 
+
+In the following test we used alternative methods to process, **1M times**,
+a data source like `/proc/meminfo`, already tokenized, in memory,
+to extract the same number of expected metrics:
+
+test|code|string comparison|number parsing|duration
+:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
+1|if-else-if-else-if|`strcmp()`|`strtoull()`|4630.337 ms
+2|nested loops|inline `simple_hash()` and `strcmp()`|`strtoull()`|1597.481 ms
+3|nested loops|inline `simple_hash()` and `strcmp()`|`str2ull()`|923.523 ms
+4|if-else-if-else-if|inline `simple_hash()` and `strcmp()`|`strtoull()`| 854.574 ms
+5|if-else-if-else-if|statement expression `simple_hash()` and `strcmp()`|`strtoull()`|912.013 ms
+6|if-continue|inline `simple_hash()` and `strcmp()`|`strtoull()`|842.279 ms
+7|if-else-if-else-if|inline `simple_hash()` and `strcmp()`|`str2ull()`|602.837 ms
+8|ARL|ARL|`strtoull()`|350.360 ms
+9|ARL|ARL|`str2ull()`|157.237 ms
+
+Compared to unoptimized code (test No 1: 4.6sec):
+ 
+ - before ARL netdata was using test No **7** with hashing and a custom `str2ull()` to achieve 602ms.
+ - the current ARL implementation is test No **9** that needs only 157ms (29 times faster vs unoptimized code, about 4 times faster vs optimized code).
+
+[Check the source code of this test](../../tests/profile/benchmark-value-pairs.c).
+
+## Limitations
+
+Do not use ARL if the a name/keyword may appear more than once in the
+source data. 
diff --git a/src/adaptive_resortable_list.c b/libnetdata/adaptive_resortable_list/adaptive_resortable_list.c
index c564efff3..7f4c6c53d 100644
--- a/src/adaptive_resortable_list.c
+++ b/libnetdata/adaptive_resortable_list/adaptive_resortable_list.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "adaptive_resortable_list.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 // the default processor() of the ARL
 // can be overwritten at arl_create()
@@ -20,6 +22,15 @@ inline void arl_callback_str2kernel_uint_t(const char *name, uint32_t hash, cons
     // fprintf(stderr, "name '%s' with hash %u and value '%s' is %llu\n", name, hash, value, (unsigned long long)*d);
 }
 
+inline void arl_callback_ssize_t(const char *name, uint32_t hash, const char *value, void *dst) {
+    (void)name;
+    (void)hash;
+
+    register ssize_t *d = dst;
+    *d = (ssize_t)str2ll(value, NULL);
+    // fprintf(stderr, "name '%s' with hash %u and value '%s' is %zd\n", name, hash, value, *d);
+}
+
 // create a new ARL
 ARL_BASE *arl_create(const char *name, void (*processor)(const char *, uint32_t, const char *, void *), size_t rechecks) {
     ARL_BASE *base = callocz(1, sizeof(ARL_BASE));
diff --git a/src/adaptive_resortable_list.h b/libnetdata/adaptive_resortable_list/adaptive_resortable_list.h
index d05a8ede7..011ee73d9 100644
--- a/src/adaptive_resortable_list.h
+++ b/libnetdata/adaptive_resortable_list/adaptive_resortable_list.h
@@ -1,43 +1,9 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_ADAPTIVE_RESORTABLE_LIST_H
-#define NETDATA_ADAPTIVE_RESORTABLE_LIST_H
-
-/*
- * ADAPTIVE RE-SORTABLE LIST
- * This structure allows netdata to read a file of NAME VALUE lines
- * in the fastest possible way.
- *
- * It maintains a linked list of all NAME (keywords), sorted in the
- * same order as found in the source data file.
- * The linked list is kept sorted at all times - the source file
- * may change at any time, the list will adapt.
- *
- * The caller:
- *
- * 1. calls arl_create() to create a list
- *
- * 2. calls arl_expect() to register the expected keyword
- *
- * Then:
- *
- * 3. calls arl_begin() to initiate a data collection iteration.
- *    This is to be called just ONCE every time the source is re-scanned.
- *
- * 4. calls arl_check() for each line read from the file.
- *
- * Finally:
- *
- * 5. calls arl_free() to destroy this and free all memory.
- *
- * The program will call the processor() function, given to
- * arl_create(), for each expected keyword found.
- * The default processor() expects dst to be an unsigned long long *.
- *
- * LIMITATIONS
- * DO NOT USE THIS IF THE A NAME/KEYWORD MAY APPEAR MORE THAN
- * ONCE IN THE SOURCE DATA SET.
- */
-
-#include "common.h"
+#define NETDATA_ADAPTIVE_RESORTABLE_LIST_H 1
 
 #define ARL_ENTRY_FLAG_FOUND    0x01    // the entry has been found in the source data
 #define ARL_ENTRY_FLAG_EXPECTED 0x02    // the entry is expected by the program
@@ -116,6 +82,7 @@ extern void arl_begin(ARL_BASE *base);
 
 extern void arl_callback_str2ull(const char *name, uint32_t hash, const char *value, void *dst);
 extern void arl_callback_str2kernel_uint_t(const char *name, uint32_t hash, const char *value, void *dst);
+extern void arl_callback_ssize_t(const char *name, uint32_t hash, const char *value, void *dst);
 
 // check a keyword against the ARL
 // this is to be called for each keyword read from source data
diff --git a/libnetdata/avl/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/avl/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/avl/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
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+
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diff --git a/libnetdata/avl/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/avl/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5982eb85b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/avl/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
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+
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+	@case '$?' in \
+	  *config.status*) \
+	    cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh;; \
+	  *) \
+	    echo ' cd $(top_builddir) && $(SHELL) ./config.status $(subdir)/$@ $(am__depfiles_maybe)'; \
+	    cd $(top_builddir) && $(SHELL) ./config.status $(subdir)/$@ $(am__depfiles_maybe);; \
+	esac;
+
+$(top_builddir)/config.status: $(top_srcdir)/configure $(CONFIG_STATUS_DEPENDENCIES)
+	cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh
+
+$(top_srcdir)/configure: @MAINTAINER_MODE_TRUE@ $(am__configure_deps)
+	cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh
+$(ACLOCAL_M4): @MAINTAINER_MODE_TRUE@ $(am__aclocal_m4_deps)
+	cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh
+$(am__aclocal_m4_deps):
+tags TAGS:
+
+ctags CTAGS:
+
+cscope cscopelist:
+
+
+distdir: $(DISTFILES)
+	@srcdirstrip=`echo "$(srcdir)" | sed 's/[].[^$$\\*]/\\\\&/g'`; \
+	topsrcdirstrip=`echo "$(top_srcdir)" | sed 's/[].[^$$\\*]/\\\\&/g'`; \
+	list='$(DISTFILES)'; \
+	  dist_files=`for file in $$list; do echo $$file; done | \
+	  sed -e "s|^$$srcdirstrip/||;t" \
+	      -e "s|^$$topsrcdirstrip/|$(top_builddir)/|;t"`; \
+	case $$dist_files in \
+	  */*) $(MKDIR_P) `echo "$$dist_files" | \
+			   sed '/\//!d;s|^|$(distdir)/|;s,/[^/]*$$,,' | \
+			   sort -u` ;; \
+	esac; \
+	for file in $$dist_files; do \
+	  if test -f $$file || test -d $$file; then d=.; else d=$(srcdir); fi; \
+	  if test -d $$d/$$file; then \
+	    dir=`echo "/$$file" | sed -e 's,/[^/]*$$,,'`; \
+	    if test -d "$(distdir)/$$file"; then \
+	      find "$(distdir)/$$file" -type d ! -perm -700 -exec chmod u+rwx {} \;; \
+	    fi; \
+	    if test -d $(srcdir)/$$file && test $$d != $(srcdir); then \
+	      cp -fpR $(srcdir)/$$file "$(distdir)$$dir" || exit 1; \
+	      find "$(distdir)/$$file" -type d ! -perm -700 -exec chmod u+rwx {} \;; \
+	    fi; \
+	    cp -fpR $$d/$$file "$(distdir)$$dir" || exit 1; \
+	  else \
+	    test -f "$(distdir)/$$file" \
+	    || cp -p $$d/$$file "$(distdir)/$$file" \
+	    || exit 1; \
+	  fi; \
+	done
+check-am: all-am
+check: check-am
+all-am: Makefile $(DATA)
+installdirs:
+install: install-am
+install-exec: install-exec-am
+install-data: install-data-am
+uninstall: uninstall-am
+
+install-am: all-am
+	@$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) install-exec-am install-data-am
+
+installcheck: installcheck-am
+install-strip:
+	if test -z '$(STRIP)'; then \
+	  $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) INSTALL_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" \
+	    install_sh_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" INSTALL_STRIP_FLAG=-s \
+	      install; \
+	else \
+	  $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) INSTALL_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" \
+	    install_sh_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" INSTALL_STRIP_FLAG=-s \
+	    "INSTALL_PROGRAM_ENV=STRIPPROG='$(STRIP)'" install; \
+	fi
+mostlyclean-generic:
+
+clean-generic:
+
+distclean-generic:
+	-test -z "$(CONFIG_CLEAN_FILES)" || rm -f $(CONFIG_CLEAN_FILES)
+	-test . = "$(srcdir)" || test -z "$(CONFIG_CLEAN_VPATH_FILES)" || rm -f $(CONFIG_CLEAN_VPATH_FILES)
+
+maintainer-clean-generic:
+	@echo "This command is intended for maintainers to use"
+	@echo "it deletes files that may require special tools to rebuild."
+	-test -z "$(MAINTAINERCLEANFILES)" || rm -f $(MAINTAINERCLEANFILES)
+clean: clean-am
+
+clean-am: clean-generic mostlyclean-am
+
+distclean: distclean-am
+	-rm -f Makefile
+distclean-am: clean-am distclean-generic
+
+dvi: dvi-am
+
+dvi-am:
+
+html: html-am
+
+html-am:
+
+info: info-am
+
+info-am:
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+
+install-dvi: install-dvi-am
+
+install-dvi-am:
+
+install-exec-am:
+
+install-html: install-html-am
+
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+install-man:
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+
+install-pdf-am:
+
+install-ps: install-ps-am
+
+install-ps-am:
+
+installcheck-am:
+
+maintainer-clean: maintainer-clean-am
+	-rm -f Makefile
+maintainer-clean-am: distclean-am maintainer-clean-generic
+
+mostlyclean: mostlyclean-am
+
+mostlyclean-am: mostlyclean-generic
+
+pdf: pdf-am
+
+pdf-am:
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+ps: ps-am
+
+ps-am:
+
+uninstall-am:
+
+.MAKE: install-am install-strip
+
+.PHONY: all all-am check check-am clean clean-generic cscopelist-am \
+	ctags-am distclean distclean-generic distdir dvi dvi-am html \
+	html-am info info-am install install-am install-data \
+	install-data-am install-dvi install-dvi-am install-exec \
+	install-exec-am install-html install-html-am install-info \
+	install-info-am install-man install-pdf install-pdf-am \
+	install-ps install-ps-am install-strip installcheck \
+	installcheck-am installdirs maintainer-clean \
+	maintainer-clean-generic mostlyclean mostlyclean-generic pdf \
+	pdf-am ps ps-am tags-am uninstall uninstall-am
+
+
+# Tell versions [3.59,3.63) of GNU make to not export all variables.
+# Otherwise a system limit (for SysV at least) may be exceeded.
+.NOEXPORT:
diff --git a/libnetdata/avl/README.md b/libnetdata/avl/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..48212a715
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/avl/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# AVL
+
+AVL is a library indexing objects in B-Trees.
+
+`avl_insert()`, `avl_remove()` and `avl_search()` are adaptations
+of the AVL algorithm found in `libavl` v2.0.3, so that they do not
+use any memory allocations and their memory footprint is optimized
+(by eliminating non-necessary data members).
+
+In addition to the above, this version of AVL, provides versions using locks
+and traversal functions.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/avl.c b/libnetdata/avl/avl.c
index a2c6911e7..c44bef307 100644
--- a/src/avl.c
+++ b/libnetdata/avl/avl.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 /*
@@ -10,7 +12,6 @@
  * libavl - library for manipulation of binary trees.
  * Copyright (C) 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 Free Software
  * Foundation, Inc.
- * GNU Lesser General Public License
 */
 
 
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ avl *avl_insert(avl_tree *tree, avl *item) {
     avl *p, *q; /* Iterator, and parent. */
     avl *n;     /* Newly inserted node. */
     avl *w;     /* New root of rebalanced subtree. */
-    int dir;                /* Direction to descend. */
+    unsigned char dir; /* Direction to descend. */
 
     unsigned char da[AVL_MAX_HEIGHT]; /* Cached comparison results. */
     int k = 0;              /* Number of cached results. */
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ avl *avl_insert(avl_tree *tree, avl *item) {
 
         if (p->avl_balance != 0)
             z = q, y = p, k = 0;
-        da[k++] = dir = (cmp > 0);
+        da[k++] = dir = (unsigned char)(cmp > 0);
     }
 
     n = q->avl_link[dir] = item;
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@ avl *avl_remove(avl_tree *tree, avl *item) {
     k = 0;
     p = (avl *) &tree->root;
     for(cmp = -1; cmp != 0; cmp = tree->compar(item, p)) {
-        int dir = (cmp > 0);
+        unsigned char dir = (unsigned char)(cmp > 0);
 
         pa[k] = p;
         da[k++] = dir;
@@ -283,7 +284,7 @@ avl *avl_remove(avl_tree *tree, avl *item) {
 // ---------------------------
 // traversing
 
-int avl_walker(avl *node, int (*callback)(void *entry, void *data), void *data) {
+int avl_walker(avl *node, int (*callback)(void * /*entry*/, void * /*data*/), void *data) {
     int total = 0, ret = 0;
 
     if(node->avl_link[0]) {
@@ -305,9 +306,9 @@ int avl_walker(avl *node, int (*callback)(void *entry, void *data), void *data)
     return total;
 }
 
-int avl_traverse(avl_tree *t, int (*callback)(void *entry, void *data), void *data) {
-    if(t->root)
-        return avl_walker(t->root, callback, data);
+int avl_traverse(avl_tree *tree, int (*callback)(void * /*entry*/, void * /*data*/), void *data) {
+    if(tree->root)
+        return avl_walker(tree->root, callback, data);
     else
         return 0;
 }
@@ -348,16 +349,16 @@ void avl_unlock(avl_tree_lock *t) {
 // ---------------------------
 // operations with locking
 
-void avl_init_lock(avl_tree_lock *t, int (*compar)(void *a, void *b)) {
-    avl_init(&t->avl_tree, compar);
+void avl_init_lock(avl_tree_lock *tree, int (*compar)(void * /*a*/, void * /*b*/)) {
+    avl_init(&tree->avl_tree, compar);
 
 #ifndef AVL_WITHOUT_PTHREADS
     int lock;
 
 #ifdef AVL_LOCK_WITH_MUTEX
-    lock = netdata_mutex_init(&t->mutex, NULL);
+    lock = netdata_mutex_init(&tree->mutex, NULL);
 #else
-    lock = netdata_rwlock_init(&t->rwlock);
+    lock = netdata_rwlock_init(&tree->rwlock);
 #endif
 
     if(lock != 0)
@@ -366,38 +367,38 @@ void avl_init_lock(avl_tree_lock *t, int (*compar)(void *a, void *b)) {
 #endif /* AVL_WITHOUT_PTHREADS */
 }
 
-avl *avl_search_lock(avl_tree_lock *t, avl *a) {
-    avl_read_lock(t);
-    avl *ret = avl_search(&t->avl_tree, a);
-    avl_unlock(t);
+avl *avl_search_lock(avl_tree_lock *tree, avl *item) {
+    avl_read_lock(tree);
+    avl *ret = avl_search(&tree->avl_tree, item);
+    avl_unlock(tree);
     return ret;
 }
 
-avl * avl_remove_lock(avl_tree_lock *t, avl *a) {
-    avl_write_lock(t);
-    avl *ret = avl_remove(&t->avl_tree, a);
-    avl_unlock(t);
+avl * avl_remove_lock(avl_tree_lock *tree, avl *item) {
+    avl_write_lock(tree);
+    avl *ret = avl_remove(&tree->avl_tree, item);
+    avl_unlock(tree);
     return ret;
 }
 
-avl *avl_insert_lock(avl_tree_lock *t, avl *a) {
-    avl_write_lock(t);
-    avl * ret = avl_insert(&t->avl_tree, a);
-    avl_unlock(t);
+avl *avl_insert_lock(avl_tree_lock *tree, avl *item) {
+    avl_write_lock(tree);
+    avl * ret = avl_insert(&tree->avl_tree, item);
+    avl_unlock(tree);
     return ret;
 }
 
-int avl_traverse_lock(avl_tree_lock *t, int (*callback)(void *entry, void *data), void *data) {
+int avl_traverse_lock(avl_tree_lock *tree, int (*callback)(void * /*entry*/, void * /*data*/), void *data) {
     int ret;
-    avl_read_lock(t);
-    ret = avl_traverse(&t->avl_tree, callback, data);
-    avl_unlock(t);
+    avl_read_lock(tree);
+    ret = avl_traverse(&tree->avl_tree, callback, data);
+    avl_unlock(tree);
     return ret;
 }
 
-void avl_init(avl_tree *t, int (*compar)(void *a, void *b)) {
-    t->root = NULL;
-    t->compar = compar;
+void avl_init(avl_tree *tree, int (*compar)(void * /*a*/, void * /*b*/)) {
+    tree->root = NULL;
+    tree->compar = compar;
 }
 
-// ------------------
\ No newline at end of file
+// ------------------
diff --git a/src/avl.h b/libnetdata/avl/avl.h
index 19648cd1d..070bb3d3d 100644
--- a/src/avl.h
+++ b/libnetdata/avl/avl.h
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-later
 
 #ifndef _AVL_H
 #define _AVL_H 1
 
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
+
 /* Maximum AVL tree height. */
 #ifndef AVL_MAX_HEIGHT
 #define AVL_MAX_HEIGHT 92
@@ -56,31 +59,31 @@ typedef struct avl_tree_lock {
  * a is linked directly to the tree, so it has to
  * be properly allocated by the caller.
  */
-avl *avl_insert_lock(avl_tree_lock *t, avl *a) NEVERNULL WARNUNUSED;
-avl *avl_insert(avl_tree *t, avl *a) NEVERNULL WARNUNUSED;
+avl *avl_insert_lock(avl_tree_lock *tree, avl *item) NEVERNULL WARNUNUSED;
+avl *avl_insert(avl_tree *tree, avl *item) NEVERNULL WARNUNUSED;
 
 /* Remove an element a from the AVL tree t
  * returns a pointer to the removed element
  * or NULL if an element equal to a is not found
  * (equal as returned by t->compar())
  */
-avl *avl_remove_lock(avl_tree_lock *t, avl *a) WARNUNUSED;
-avl *avl_remove(avl_tree *t, avl *a) WARNUNUSED;
+avl *avl_remove_lock(avl_tree_lock *tree, avl *item) WARNUNUSED;
+avl *avl_remove(avl_tree *tree, avl *item) WARNUNUSED;
 
 /* Find the element into the tree that equal to a
  * (equal as returned by t->compar())
  * returns NULL is no element is equal to a
  */
-avl *avl_search_lock(avl_tree_lock *t, avl *a);
-avl *avl_search(avl_tree *t, avl *a);
+avl *avl_search_lock(avl_tree_lock *tree, avl *item);
+avl *avl_search(avl_tree *tree, avl *item);
 
 /* Initialize the avl_tree_lock
  */
-void avl_init_lock(avl_tree_lock *t, int (*compar)(void *a, void *b));
-void avl_init(avl_tree *t, int (*compar)(void *a, void *b));
+void avl_init_lock(avl_tree_lock *tree, int (*compar)(void *a, void *b));
+void avl_init(avl_tree *tree, int (*compar)(void *a, void *b));
 
 
-int avl_traverse_lock(avl_tree_lock *t, int (*callback)(void *entry, void *data), void *data);
-int avl_traverse(avl_tree *t, int (*callback)(void *entry, void *data), void *data);
+int avl_traverse_lock(avl_tree_lock *tree, int (*callback)(void *entry, void *data), void *data);
+int avl_traverse(avl_tree *tree, int (*callback)(void *entry, void *data), void *data);
 
 #endif /* avl.h */
diff --git a/libnetdata/buffer/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/buffer/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/buffer/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+
+
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
diff --git a/libnetdata/buffer/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/buffer/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..21bbd3cc9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/buffer/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
+# Makefile.in generated by automake 1.14.1 from Makefile.am.
+# @configure_input@
+
+# Copyright (C) 1994-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+# This Makefile.in is free software; the Free Software Foundation
+# gives unlimited permission to copy and/or distribute it,
+# with or without modifications, as long as this notice is preserved.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law; without
+# even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
+# PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+
+@SET_MAKE@
+
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
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+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
+
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+
+.SUFFIXES:
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+	@for dep in $?; do \
+	  case '$(am__configure_deps)' in \
+	    *$$dep*) \
+	      ( cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh ) \
+	        && { if test -f $@; then exit 0; else break; fi; }; \
+	      exit 1;; \
+	  esac; \
+	done; \
+	echo ' cd $(top_srcdir) && $(AUTOMAKE) --gnu libnetdata/buffer/Makefile'; \
+	$(am__cd) $(top_srcdir) && \
+	  $(AUTOMAKE) --gnu libnetdata/buffer/Makefile
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+	@case '$?' in \
+	  *config.status*) \
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+	esac;
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+	list='$(DISTFILES)'; \
+	  dist_files=`for file in $$list; do echo $$file; done | \
+	  sed -e "s|^$$srcdirstrip/||;t" \
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+	  */*) $(MKDIR_P) `echo "$$dist_files" | \
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+	    fi; \
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+	    fi; \
+	    cp -fpR $$d/$$file "$(distdir)$$dir" || exit 1; \
+	  else \
+	    test -f "$(distdir)/$$file" \
+	    || cp -p $$d/$$file "$(distdir)/$$file" \
+	    || exit 1; \
+	  fi; \
+	done
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+	      install; \
+	else \
+	  $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) INSTALL_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" \
+	    install_sh_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" INSTALL_STRIP_FLAG=-s \
+	    "INSTALL_PROGRAM_ENV=STRIPPROG='$(STRIP)'" install; \
+	fi
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+distclean-generic:
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+maintainer-clean-generic:
+	@echo "This command is intended for maintainers to use"
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+	html-am info info-am install install-am install-data \
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+	install-info-am install-man install-pdf install-pdf-am \
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diff --git a/libnetdata/buffer/README.md b/libnetdata/buffer/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a7cfef89d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/buffer/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# BUFFER
+
+`BUFFER` is a convenience library for working with strings in `C`.
+Mainly, `BUFFER`s eliminate the need for tracking the string length, thus providing
+a safe alternative for string operations.
+
+Also, they are super fast in printing and appending data to the string and its `buffer_strlen()`
+is just a lookup (it does not traverse the string).
+
+Netdata uses `BUFFER`s for preparing web responses and buffering data to be sent upstream or
+to backend databases.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/web_buffer.c b/libnetdata/buffer/buffer.c
index 50c76f6d6..50672324b 100644
--- a/src/web_buffer.c
+++ b/libnetdata/buffer/buffer.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 #define BUFFER_OVERFLOW_EOF "EOF"
 
@@ -379,8 +381,7 @@ void buffer_free(BUFFER *b) {
     freez(b);
 }
 
-void buffer_increase(BUFFER *b, size_t free_size_required)
-{
+void buffer_increase(BUFFER *b, size_t free_size_required) {
     buffer_overflow_check(b);
 
     size_t left = b->size - b->len;
diff --git a/src/web_buffer.h b/libnetdata/buffer/buffer.h
index 694c9d4ce..8e431bfd5 100644
--- a/src/web_buffer.h
+++ b/libnetdata/buffer/buffer.h
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_WEB_BUFFER_H
 #define NETDATA_WEB_BUFFER_H 1
 
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
+
 #define WEB_DATA_LENGTH_INCREASE_STEP 1024
 
 typedef struct web_buffer {
diff --git a/libnetdata/clocks/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/clocks/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/clocks/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
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+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+
+
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
diff --git a/libnetdata/clocks/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/clocks/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..118d60317
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/clocks/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
+# Makefile.in generated by automake 1.14.1 from Makefile.am.
+# @configure_input@
+
+# Copyright (C) 1994-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+# This Makefile.in is free software; the Free Software Foundation
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+# with or without modifications, as long as this notice is preserved.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law; without
+# even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
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+AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
+
+all: all-am
+
+.SUFFIXES:
+$(srcdir)/Makefile.in: @MAINTAINER_MODE_TRUE@ $(srcdir)/Makefile.am  $(am__configure_deps)
+	@for dep in $?; do \
+	  case '$(am__configure_deps)' in \
+	    *$$dep*) \
+	      ( cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh ) \
+	        && { if test -f $@; then exit 0; else break; fi; }; \
+	      exit 1;; \
+	  esac; \
+	done; \
+	echo ' cd $(top_srcdir) && $(AUTOMAKE) --gnu libnetdata/clocks/Makefile'; \
+	$(am__cd) $(top_srcdir) && \
+	  $(AUTOMAKE) --gnu libnetdata/clocks/Makefile
+.PRECIOUS: Makefile
+Makefile: $(srcdir)/Makefile.in $(top_builddir)/config.status
+	@case '$?' in \
+	  *config.status*) \
+	    cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh;; \
+	  *) \
+	    echo ' cd $(top_builddir) && $(SHELL) ./config.status $(subdir)/$@ $(am__depfiles_maybe)'; \
+	    cd $(top_builddir) && $(SHELL) ./config.status $(subdir)/$@ $(am__depfiles_maybe);; \
+	esac;
+
+$(top_builddir)/config.status: $(top_srcdir)/configure $(CONFIG_STATUS_DEPENDENCIES)
+	cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh
+
+$(top_srcdir)/configure: @MAINTAINER_MODE_TRUE@ $(am__configure_deps)
+	cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh
+$(ACLOCAL_M4): @MAINTAINER_MODE_TRUE@ $(am__aclocal_m4_deps)
+	cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh
+$(am__aclocal_m4_deps):
+tags TAGS:
+
+ctags CTAGS:
+
+cscope cscopelist:
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+distdir: $(DISTFILES)
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+	topsrcdirstrip=`echo "$(top_srcdir)" | sed 's/[].[^$$\\*]/\\\\&/g'`; \
+	list='$(DISTFILES)'; \
+	  dist_files=`for file in $$list; do echo $$file; done | \
+	  sed -e "s|^$$srcdirstrip/||;t" \
+	      -e "s|^$$topsrcdirstrip/|$(top_builddir)/|;t"`; \
+	case $$dist_files in \
+	  */*) $(MKDIR_P) `echo "$$dist_files" | \
+			   sed '/\//!d;s|^|$(distdir)/|;s,/[^/]*$$,,' | \
+			   sort -u` ;; \
+	esac; \
+	for file in $$dist_files; do \
+	  if test -f $$file || test -d $$file; then d=.; else d=$(srcdir); fi; \
+	  if test -d $$d/$$file; then \
+	    dir=`echo "/$$file" | sed -e 's,/[^/]*$$,,'`; \
+	    if test -d "$(distdir)/$$file"; then \
+	      find "$(distdir)/$$file" -type d ! -perm -700 -exec chmod u+rwx {} \;; \
+	    fi; \
+	    if test -d $(srcdir)/$$file && test $$d != $(srcdir); then \
+	      cp -fpR $(srcdir)/$$file "$(distdir)$$dir" || exit 1; \
+	      find "$(distdir)/$$file" -type d ! -perm -700 -exec chmod u+rwx {} \;; \
+	    fi; \
+	    cp -fpR $$d/$$file "$(distdir)$$dir" || exit 1; \
+	  else \
+	    test -f "$(distdir)/$$file" \
+	    || cp -p $$d/$$file "$(distdir)/$$file" \
+	    || exit 1; \
+	  fi; \
+	done
+check-am: all-am
+check: check-am
+all-am: Makefile $(DATA)
+installdirs:
+install: install-am
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+
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+	@$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) install-exec-am install-data-am
+
+installcheck: installcheck-am
+install-strip:
+	if test -z '$(STRIP)'; then \
+	  $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) INSTALL_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" \
+	    install_sh_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" INSTALL_STRIP_FLAG=-s \
+	      install; \
+	else \
+	  $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) INSTALL_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" \
+	    install_sh_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" INSTALL_STRIP_FLAG=-s \
+	    "INSTALL_PROGRAM_ENV=STRIPPROG='$(STRIP)'" install; \
+	fi
+mostlyclean-generic:
+
+clean-generic:
+
+distclean-generic:
+	-test -z "$(CONFIG_CLEAN_FILES)" || rm -f $(CONFIG_CLEAN_FILES)
+	-test . = "$(srcdir)" || test -z "$(CONFIG_CLEAN_VPATH_FILES)" || rm -f $(CONFIG_CLEAN_VPATH_FILES)
+
+maintainer-clean-generic:
+	@echo "This command is intended for maintainers to use"
+	@echo "it deletes files that may require special tools to rebuild."
+	-test -z "$(MAINTAINERCLEANFILES)" || rm -f $(MAINTAINERCLEANFILES)
+clean: clean-am
+
+clean-am: clean-generic mostlyclean-am
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+	-rm -f Makefile
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+.PHONY: all all-am check check-am clean clean-generic cscopelist-am \
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+# Otherwise a system limit (for SysV at least) may be exceeded.
+.NOEXPORT:
diff --git a/libnetdata/clocks/README.md b/libnetdata/clocks/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/clocks/README.md
diff --git a/libnetdata/clocks/clocks.c b/libnetdata/clocks/clocks.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f303ccddc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/clocks/clocks.c
@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
+
+#ifndef HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME
+inline int clock_gettime(clockid_t clk_id, struct timespec *ts) {
+    struct timeval tv;
+    if(unlikely(gettimeofday(&tv, NULL) == -1)) {
+        error("gettimeofday() failed.");
+        return -1;
+    }
+    ts->tv_sec = tv.tv_sec;
+    ts->tv_nsec = (tv.tv_usec % USEC_PER_SEC) * NSEC_PER_USEC;
+    return 0;
+}
+#endif
+
+static inline time_t now_sec(clockid_t clk_id) {
+    struct timespec ts;
+    if(unlikely(clock_gettime(clk_id, &ts) == -1)) {
+        error("clock_gettime(%d, &timespec) failed.", clk_id);
+        return 0;
+    }
+    return ts.tv_sec;
+}
+
+static inline usec_t now_usec(clockid_t clk_id) {
+    struct timespec ts;
+    if(unlikely(clock_gettime(clk_id, &ts) == -1)) {
+        error("clock_gettime(%d, &timespec) failed.", clk_id);
+        return 0;
+    }
+    return (usec_t)ts.tv_sec * USEC_PER_SEC + (ts.tv_nsec % NSEC_PER_SEC) / NSEC_PER_USEC;
+}
+
+static inline int now_timeval(clockid_t clk_id, struct timeval *tv) {
+    struct timespec ts;
+
+    if(unlikely(clock_gettime(clk_id, &ts) == -1)) {
+        error("clock_gettime(%d, &timespec) failed.", clk_id);
+        tv->tv_sec = 0;
+        tv->tv_usec = 0;
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    tv->tv_sec = ts.tv_sec;
+    tv->tv_usec = (suseconds_t)((ts.tv_nsec % NSEC_PER_SEC) / NSEC_PER_USEC);
+    return 0;
+}
+
+inline time_t now_realtime_sec(void) {
+    return now_sec(CLOCK_REALTIME);
+}
+
+inline usec_t now_realtime_usec(void) {
+    return now_usec(CLOCK_REALTIME);
+}
+
+inline int now_realtime_timeval(struct timeval *tv) {
+    return now_timeval(CLOCK_REALTIME, tv);
+}
+
+inline time_t now_monotonic_sec(void) {
+    return now_sec(CLOCK_MONOTONIC);
+}
+
+inline usec_t now_monotonic_usec(void) {
+    return now_usec(CLOCK_MONOTONIC);
+}
+
+inline int now_monotonic_timeval(struct timeval *tv) {
+    return now_timeval(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, tv);
+}
+
+inline time_t now_boottime_sec(void) {
+    return now_sec(CLOCK_BOOTTIME);
+}
+
+inline usec_t now_boottime_usec(void) {
+    return now_usec(CLOCK_BOOTTIME);
+}
+
+inline int now_boottime_timeval(struct timeval *tv) {
+    return now_timeval(CLOCK_BOOTTIME, tv);
+}
+
+inline usec_t timeval_usec(struct timeval *tv) {
+    return (usec_t)tv->tv_sec * USEC_PER_SEC + (tv->tv_usec % USEC_PER_SEC);
+}
+
+inline msec_t timeval_msec(struct timeval *tv) {
+    return (msec_t)tv->tv_sec * MSEC_PER_SEC + ((tv->tv_usec % USEC_PER_SEC) / MSEC_PER_SEC);
+}
+
+inline susec_t dt_usec_signed(struct timeval *now, struct timeval *old) {
+    usec_t ts1 = timeval_usec(now);
+    usec_t ts2 = timeval_usec(old);
+
+    if(likely(ts1 >= ts2)) return (susec_t)(ts1 - ts2);
+    return -((susec_t)(ts2 - ts1));
+}
+
+inline usec_t dt_usec(struct timeval *now, struct timeval *old) {
+    usec_t ts1 = timeval_usec(now);
+    usec_t ts2 = timeval_usec(old);
+    return (ts1 > ts2) ? (ts1 - ts2) : (ts2 - ts1);
+}
+
+inline void heartbeat_init(heartbeat_t *hb)
+{
+    hb->monotonic = hb->realtime = 0ULL;
+}
+
+// waits for the next heartbeat
+// it waits using the monotonic clock
+// it returns the dt using the realtime clock
+
+usec_t heartbeat_next(heartbeat_t *hb, usec_t tick) {
+    heartbeat_t now;
+    now.monotonic = now_monotonic_usec();
+    now.realtime  = now_realtime_usec();
+
+    usec_t next_monotonic = now.monotonic - (now.monotonic % tick) + tick;
+
+    while(now.monotonic < next_monotonic) {
+        sleep_usec(next_monotonic - now.monotonic);
+        now.monotonic = now_monotonic_usec();
+        now.realtime  = now_realtime_usec();
+    }
+
+    if(likely(hb->realtime != 0ULL)) {
+        usec_t dt_monotonic = now.monotonic - hb->monotonic;
+        usec_t dt_realtime  = now.realtime - hb->realtime;
+
+        hb->monotonic = now.monotonic;
+        hb->realtime  = now.realtime;
+
+        if(unlikely(dt_monotonic >= tick + tick / 2)) {
+            errno = 0;
+            error("heartbeat missed %llu monotonic microseconds", dt_monotonic - tick);
+        }
+
+        return dt_realtime;
+    }
+    else {
+        hb->monotonic = now.monotonic;
+        hb->realtime  = now.realtime;
+        return 0ULL;
+    }
+}
+
+// returned the elapsed time, since the last heartbeat
+// using the monotonic clock
+
+inline usec_t heartbeat_monotonic_dt_to_now_usec(heartbeat_t *hb) {
+    if(!hb || !hb->monotonic) return 0ULL;
+    return now_monotonic_usec() - hb->monotonic;
+}
+
+int sleep_usec(usec_t usec) {
+
+#ifndef NETDATA_WITH_USLEEP
+    // we expect microseconds (1.000.000 per second)
+    // but timespec is nanoseconds (1.000.000.000 per second)
+    struct timespec rem, req = {
+            .tv_sec = (time_t) (usec / 1000000),
+            .tv_nsec = (suseconds_t) ((usec % 1000000) * 1000)
+    };
+
+    while (nanosleep(&req, &rem) == -1) {
+        if (likely(errno == EINTR)) {
+            debug(D_SYSTEM, "nanosleep() interrupted (while sleeping for %llu microseconds).", usec);
+            req.tv_sec = rem.tv_sec;
+            req.tv_nsec = rem.tv_nsec;
+        } else {
+            error("Cannot nanosleep() for %llu microseconds.", usec);
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+#else
+    int ret = usleep(usec);
+    if(unlikely(ret == -1 && errno == EINVAL)) {
+        // on certain systems, usec has to be up to 999999
+        if(usec > 999999) {
+            int counter = usec / 999999;
+            while(counter--)
+                usleep(999999);
+
+            usleep(usec % 999999);
+        }
+        else {
+            error("Cannot usleep() for %llu microseconds.", usec);
+            return ret;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if(ret != 0)
+        error("usleep() failed for %llu microseconds.", usec);
+
+    return ret;
+#endif
+}
diff --git a/src/clocks.h b/libnetdata/clocks/clocks.h
index ca5715254..d576d86b9 100644
--- a/src/clocks.h
+++ b/libnetdata/clocks/clocks.h
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_CLOCKS_H
 #define NETDATA_CLOCKS_H 1
 
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
+
 #ifndef HAVE_STRUCT_TIMESPEC
 struct timespec {
     time_t tv_sec;  /* seconds */
@@ -17,7 +21,10 @@ typedef unsigned long long msec_t;
 typedef unsigned long long usec_t;
 typedef long long susec_t;
 
-typedef usec_t heartbeat_t;
+typedef struct heartbeat {
+    usec_t monotonic;
+    usec_t realtime;
+} heartbeat_t;
 
 /* Linux value is as good as any other */
 #ifndef CLOCK_REALTIME
@@ -105,7 +112,7 @@ extern time_t now_boottime_sec(void);
 extern usec_t now_boottime_usec(void);
 
 
-extern usec_t timeval_usec(struct timeval *ts);
+extern usec_t timeval_usec(struct timeval *tv);
 extern msec_t timeval_msec(struct timeval *tv);
 
 extern usec_t dt_usec(struct timeval *now, struct timeval *old);
@@ -119,6 +126,8 @@ extern void heartbeat_init(heartbeat_t *hb);
 extern usec_t heartbeat_next(heartbeat_t *hb, usec_t tick);
 
 /* Returns elapsed time in microseconds since last heartbeat */
-extern usec_t heartbeat_dt_usec(heartbeat_t *hb);
+extern usec_t heartbeat_monotonic_dt_to_now_usec(heartbeat_t *hb);
+
+extern int sleep_usec(usec_t usec);
 
 #endif /* NETDATA_CLOCKS_H */
diff --git a/libnetdata/config/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/config/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/config/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+
+
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
diff --git a/libnetdata/config/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/config/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..940ccb8d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/config/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
+# Makefile.in generated by automake 1.14.1 from Makefile.am.
+# @configure_input@
+
+# Copyright (C) 1994-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+# This Makefile.in is free software; the Free Software Foundation
+# gives unlimited permission to copy and/or distribute it,
+# with or without modifications, as long as this notice is preserved.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law; without
+# even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
+# PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+
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+
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+      ?) ;; \
+      *) echo "am__make_running_with_option: internal error: invalid" \
+              "target option '$${target_option-}' specified" >&2; \
+         exit 1;; \
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+  if $(am__is_gnu_make); then \
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+      -[dEDm]) skip_next=yes;; \
+      -[JT]) skip_next=yes;; \
+    esac; \
+    case $$flg in \
+      *$$target_option*) has_opt=yes; break;; \
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+  done; \
+  test $$has_opt = yes
+am__make_dryrun = (target_option=n; $(am__make_running_with_option))
+am__make_keepgoing = (target_option=k; $(am__make_running_with_option))
+pkgdatadir = $(datadir)/@PACKAGE@
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+install_sh_DATA = $(install_sh) -c -m 644
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+transform = $(program_transform_name)
+NORMAL_INSTALL = :
+PRE_INSTALL = :
+POST_INSTALL = :
+NORMAL_UNINSTALL = :
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+POST_UNINSTALL = :
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+DIST_COMMON = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in $(srcdir)/Makefile.am \
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+
+.SUFFIXES:
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diff --git a/libnetdata/config/README.md b/libnetdata/config/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5e170caa9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/config/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+# netdata ini config files
+
+Configuration files `netdata.conf` and `stream.conf` are netdata ini files.
+
+## Motivation
+
+The whole idea came up when we were evaluating the documentation involved
+in maintaining a complex configuration system. Our intention was to give
+configuration options for everything imaginable. But then, documenting all
+these options would require a tremendous amount of time, users would have
+to search through endless pages for the option they need, etc.
+
+We concluded then that **configuring software like that is a waste of time
+and effort**. Of course there must be plenty of configuration options, but
+the implementation itself should require a lot less effort for both the
+developers and the users.
+
+So, we did this:
+
+1. No configuration is required to run netdata
+2. There are plenty of options to tweak
+3. There is minimal documentation (or no at all)
+
+## Why this works?
+
+The configuration file is a `name = value` dictionary with `[sections]`.
+Write whatever you like there as long as it follows this simple format.
+
+Netdata loads this dictionary and then when the code needs a value from
+it, it just looks up the `name` in the dictionary at the proper `section`.
+In all places, in the code, there are both the `names` and their
+`default values`, so if something is not found in the configuration
+file, the default is used. The lookup is made using B-Trees and hashes
+(no string comparisons), so they are super fast. Also the `names` of the
+settings can be `my super duper setting that once set to yes, will turn the world upside down = no`
+- so goodbye to most of the documentation involved.
+
+Next, netdata can generate a valid configuration for the user to edit.
+No need to remember anything or copy and paste settings. Just get the
+configuration from the server (`/netdata.conf` on your netdata server),
+edit it and save it.
+
+Last, what about options you believe you have set, but you misspelled?
+When you get the configuration file from the server, there will be a
+comment above all `name = value` pairs the server does not use.
+So you know that whatever you wrote there, is not used.
diff --git a/src/appconfig.c b/libnetdata/config/appconfig.c
index 2424864b5..411538446 100644
--- a/src/appconfig.c
+++ b/libnetdata/config/appconfig.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 #define CONFIG_FILE_LINE_MAX ((CONFIG_MAX_NAME + CONFIG_MAX_VALUE + 1024) * 2)
 
@@ -7,11 +9,11 @@
 
 #define CONFIG_VALUE_LOADED  0x01 // has been loaded from the config
 #define CONFIG_VALUE_USED    0x02 // has been accessed from the program
-#define CONFIG_VALUE_CHANGED 0x04 // has been changed from the loaded value
+#define CONFIG_VALUE_CHANGED 0x04 // has been changed from the loaded value or the internal default value
 #define CONFIG_VALUE_CHECKED 0x08 // has been checked if the value is different from the default
 
 struct config_option {
-    avl avl;                // the index - this has to be first!
+    avl avl;                // the index entry of this entry - this has to be first!
 
     uint8_t flags;
     uint32_t hash;          // a simple hash to speed up searching
@@ -24,7 +26,7 @@ struct config_option {
 };
 
 struct section {
-    avl avl;
+    avl avl;                // the index entry of this section - this has to be first!
 
     uint32_t hash;          // a simple hash to speed up searching
                             // we first compare hashes, and only if the hashes are equal we do string comparisons
@@ -40,25 +42,6 @@ struct section {
                             // readers are protected using the rwlock in avl_tree_lock
 };
 
-static int appconfig_section_compare(void *a, void *b);
-
-struct config netdata_config = {
-        .sections = NULL,
-        .mutex = NETDATA_MUTEX_INITIALIZER,
-        .index = {
-            { NULL, appconfig_section_compare },
-            AVL_LOCK_INITIALIZER
-        }
-};
-
-struct config stream_config = {
-        .sections = NULL,
-        .mutex = NETDATA_MUTEX_INITIALIZER,
-        .index = {
-                { NULL, appconfig_section_compare },
-                AVL_LOCK_INITIALIZER
-        }
-};
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // locking
@@ -104,7 +87,7 @@ static struct config_option *appconfig_option_index_find(struct section *co, con
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // config sections index
 
-static int appconfig_section_compare(void *a, void *b) {
+int appconfig_section_compare(void *a, void *b) {
     if(((struct section *)a)->hash < ((struct section *)b)->hash) return -1;
     else if(((struct section *)a)->hash > ((struct section *)b)->hash) return 1;
     else return strcmp(((struct section *)a)->name, ((struct section *)b)->name);
@@ -445,7 +428,7 @@ int appconfig_load(struct config *root, char *filename, int overwrite_used)
 
     FILE *fp = fopen(filename, "r");
     if(!fp) {
-        error("CONFIG: cannot open file '%s'", filename);
+        // info("CONFIG: cannot open file '%s'. Using internal defaults.", filename);
         return 0;
     }
 
@@ -493,10 +476,8 @@ int appconfig_load(struct config *root, char *filename, int overwrite_used)
             error("CONFIG: ignoring line %d of file '%s', name is empty.", line, filename);
             continue;
         }
-        if(!value) {
-            debug(D_CONFIG, "CONFIG: ignoring line %d of file '%s', value is empty.", line, filename);
-            continue;
-        }
+
+        if(!value) value = "";
 
         struct config_option *cv = appconfig_option_index_find(co, name, 0);
 
diff --git a/libnetdata/config/appconfig.h b/libnetdata/config/appconfig.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6ac666d8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/config/appconfig.h
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+/*
+ * This section manages ini config files, like netdata.conf and stream.conf
+ *
+ * It is organized like this:
+ *
+ * struct config (i.e. netdata.conf or stream.conf)
+ *   .sections    = a linked list of struct section
+ *   .mutex       = a mutex to protect the above linked list due to multi-threading
+ *   .index       = an AVL tree of struct section
+ *
+ * struct section (i.e. [global] or [health] of netdata.conf)
+ *   .value       = a linked list of struct config_option
+ *   .mutex       = a mutex to protect the above linked list due to multi-threading
+ *   .value_index = an AVL tree of struct config_option
+ *
+ * struct config_option (ie. a name-value pair for each ini file option)
+ *
+ * The following operations on name-value options are supported:
+ *    SET           to set the value of an option
+ *    SET DEFAULT   to set the value and the default value of an option
+ *    GET           to get the value of an option
+ *    EXISTS        to check if an option exists
+ *    MOVE          to move an option from a section to another section, and/or rename it
+ *
+ *    GET and SET operations are provided for the following data types:
+ *                  STRING
+ *                  NUMBER (long long)
+ *                  FLOAT (long double)
+ *                  BOOLEAN (false, true)
+ *                  BOOLEAN ONDEMAND (false, true, auto)
+ *
+ *   GET and SET operations create struct config_option, if it is not already present.
+ *   This allows netdata to run even without netdata.conf and stream.conf. The internal
+ *   defaults are used to create the structure that should exist in the ini file and the config
+ *   file can be downloaded from the server.
+ *
+ *   Also 2 operations are supported for the whole config file:
+ *
+ *     LOAD         To load the ini file from disk
+ *     GENERATE     To generate the ini file (this is used to download the ini file from the server)
+ *
+ * For each option (name-value pair), the system maintains 4 flags:
+ *   LOADED   to indicate that the value has been loaded from the file
+ *   USED     to indicate that netdata used the value
+ *   CHANGED  to indicate that the value has been changed from the loaded value or the internal default value
+ *   CHECKED  is used internally for optimization (to avoid an strcmp() every time GET is called).
+ *
+ * TODO:
+ * 1. The linked lists and the mutexes can be removed and the AVL trees can become DICTIONARY.
+ *    This part of the code was written before we add traversal to AVL.
+ *
+ * 2. High level data types could be supported, to simplify the rest of the code:
+ *       MULTIPLE CHOICE  to let the user select one of the supported keywords
+ *                        this would allow users see in comments the available options
+ *
+ *       SIMPLE PATTERN   to let the user define netdata SIMPLE PATTERNS
+ *
+ * 3. Sorting of options should be supported.
+ *    Today, when the ini file is downloaded from the server, the options are shown in the order
+ *    they appear in the linked list (the order they were added, listing changed options first).
+ *    If we remove the linked list, the order they appear in the AVL tree will be used (which is
+ *    random due to simple_hash()).
+ *    Ideally, we support sorting of options when generating the ini file.
+ *
+ * 4. There is no free() operation. So, memory is freed on netdata exit.
+ *
+ * 5. Avoid memory fragmentation
+ *    Since entries are created from multiple threads and a lot of allocations are required
+ *    for each config_option, fragmentation can be a problem for IoT.
+ *
+ * 6. Although this way of managing options is quite flexible and dynamic, it wastes memory
+ *    for the names of the options. Since most of the option names are static, we could provide
+ *    a method to allocate only the dynamic option names.
+ */
+
+#ifndef NETDATA_CONFIG_H
+#define NETDATA_CONFIG_H 1
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
+
+#define CONFIG_FILENAME "netdata.conf"
+
+#define CONFIG_SECTION_GLOBAL   "global"
+#define CONFIG_SECTION_WEB      "web"
+#define CONFIG_SECTION_STATSD   "statsd"
+#define CONFIG_SECTION_PLUGINS  "plugins"
+#define CONFIG_SECTION_REGISTRY "registry"
+#define CONFIG_SECTION_HEALTH   "health"
+#define CONFIG_SECTION_BACKEND  "backend"
+#define CONFIG_SECTION_STREAM   "stream"
+
+// these are used to limit the configuration names and values lengths
+// they are not enforced by config.c functions (they will strdup() all strings, no matter of their length)
+#define CONFIG_MAX_NAME 1024
+#define CONFIG_MAX_VALUE 2048
+
+struct config {
+    struct section *sections;
+    netdata_mutex_t mutex;
+    avl_tree_lock index;
+};
+
+#define CONFIG_BOOLEAN_INVALID 100  // an invalid value to check for validity (used as default initialization when needed)
+
+#define CONFIG_BOOLEAN_NO   0       // disabled
+#define CONFIG_BOOLEAN_YES  1       // enabled
+
+#ifndef CONFIG_BOOLEAN_AUTO
+#define CONFIG_BOOLEAN_AUTO 2       // enabled if it has useful info when enabled
+#endif
+
+extern int appconfig_load(struct config *root, char *filename, int overwrite_used);
+
+extern char *appconfig_get(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name, const char *default_value);
+extern long long appconfig_get_number(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name, long long value);
+extern LONG_DOUBLE appconfig_get_float(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name, LONG_DOUBLE value);
+extern int appconfig_get_boolean(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name, int value);
+extern int appconfig_get_boolean_ondemand(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name, int value);
+
+extern const char *appconfig_set(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name, const char *value);
+extern const char *appconfig_set_default(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name, const char *value);
+extern long long appconfig_set_number(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name, long long value);
+extern LONG_DOUBLE appconfig_set_float(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name, LONG_DOUBLE value);
+extern int appconfig_set_boolean(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name, int value);
+
+extern int appconfig_exists(struct config *root, const char *section, const char *name);
+extern int appconfig_move(struct config *root, const char *section_old, const char *name_old, const char *section_new, const char *name_new);
+
+extern void appconfig_generate(struct config *root, BUFFER *wb, int only_changed);
+
+extern int appconfig_section_compare(void *a, void *b);
+
+#endif /* NETDATA_CONFIG_H */
diff --git a/libnetdata/dictionary/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/dictionary/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/dictionary/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+
+
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
diff --git a/libnetdata/dictionary/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/dictionary/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bafd64a8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/dictionary/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
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+
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+# with or without modifications, as long as this notice is preserved.
+
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+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law; without
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diff --git a/libnetdata/dictionary/README.md b/libnetdata/dictionary/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/dictionary/README.md
diff --git a/src/dictionary.c b/libnetdata/dictionary/dictionary.c
index 512b4bbe6..dd94a801d 100644
--- a/src/dictionary.c
+++ b/libnetdata/dictionary/dictionary.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // dictionary statistics
diff --git a/src/dictionary.h b/libnetdata/dictionary/dictionary.h
index f028dbb30..61b9bfc61 100644
--- a/src/dictionary.h
+++ b/libnetdata/dictionary/dictionary.h
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_DICTIONARY_H
 #define NETDATA_DICTIONARY_H 1
 
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
+
 struct dictionary_stats {
     unsigned long long inserts;
     unsigned long long deletes;
@@ -35,7 +39,7 @@ typedef struct dictionary {
 
 extern DICTIONARY *dictionary_create(uint8_t flags);
 extern void dictionary_destroy(DICTIONARY *dict);
-extern void *dictionary_set(DICTIONARY *dict, const char *name, void *value, size_t value_len);
+extern void *dictionary_set(DICTIONARY *dict, const char *name, void *value, size_t value_len) NEVERNULL;
 extern void *dictionary_get(DICTIONARY *dict, const char *name);
 extern int dictionary_del(DICTIONARY *dict, const char *name);
 
diff --git a/libnetdata/eval/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/eval/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/eval/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+
+
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
diff --git a/libnetdata/eval/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/eval/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0b8341b03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/eval/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
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+# with or without modifications, as long as this notice is preserved.
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diff --git a/libnetdata/eval/README.md b/libnetdata/eval/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/eval/README.md
diff --git a/src/eval.c b/libnetdata/eval/eval.c
index 84369f6d4..0316edac0 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/libnetdata/eval/eval.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // data structures for storing the parsed expression in memory
@@ -1057,33 +1059,33 @@ static inline EVAL_NODE *parse_full_expression(const char **string, int *error)
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // public API
 
-int expression_evaluate(EVAL_EXPRESSION *exp) {
-    exp->error = EVAL_ERROR_OK;
+int expression_evaluate(EVAL_EXPRESSION *expression) {
+    expression->error = EVAL_ERROR_OK;
 
-    buffer_reset(exp->error_msg);
-    exp->result = eval_node(exp, (EVAL_NODE *)exp->nodes, &exp->error);
+    buffer_reset(expression->error_msg);
+    expression->result = eval_node(expression, (EVAL_NODE *)expression->nodes, &expression->error);
 
-    if(unlikely(isnan(exp->result))) {
-        if(exp->error == EVAL_ERROR_OK)
-            exp->error = EVAL_ERROR_VALUE_IS_NAN;
+    if(unlikely(isnan(expression->result))) {
+        if(expression->error == EVAL_ERROR_OK)
+            expression->error = EVAL_ERROR_VALUE_IS_NAN;
     }
-    else if(unlikely(isinf(exp->result))) {
-        if(exp->error == EVAL_ERROR_OK)
-            exp->error = EVAL_ERROR_VALUE_IS_INFINITE;
+    else if(unlikely(isinf(expression->result))) {
+        if(expression->error == EVAL_ERROR_OK)
+            expression->error = EVAL_ERROR_VALUE_IS_INFINITE;
     }
-    else if(unlikely(exp->error == EVAL_ERROR_UNKNOWN_VARIABLE)) {
+    else if(unlikely(expression->error == EVAL_ERROR_UNKNOWN_VARIABLE)) {
         // although there is an unknown variable
         // the expression was evaluated successfully
-        exp->error = EVAL_ERROR_OK;
+        expression->error = EVAL_ERROR_OK;
     }
 
-    if(exp->error != EVAL_ERROR_OK) {
-        exp->result = NAN;
+    if(expression->error != EVAL_ERROR_OK) {
+        expression->result = NAN;
 
-        if(buffer_strlen(exp->error_msg))
-            buffer_strcat(exp->error_msg, "; ");
+        if(buffer_strlen(expression->error_msg))
+            buffer_strcat(expression->error_msg, "; ");
 
-        buffer_sprintf(exp->error_msg, "failed to evaluate expression with error %d (%s)", exp->error, expression_strerror(exp->error));
+        buffer_sprintf(expression->error_msg, "failed to evaluate expression with error %d (%s)", expression->error, expression_strerror(expression->error));
         return 0;
     }
 
@@ -1134,14 +1136,14 @@ EVAL_EXPRESSION *expression_parse(const char *string, const char **failed_at, in
     return exp;
 }
 
-void expression_free(EVAL_EXPRESSION *exp) {
-    if(!exp) return;
+void expression_free(EVAL_EXPRESSION *expression) {
+    if(!expression) return;
 
-    if(exp->nodes) eval_node_free((EVAL_NODE *)exp->nodes);
-    freez((void *)exp->source);
-    freez((void *)exp->parsed_as);
-    buffer_free(exp->error_msg);
-    freez(exp);
+    if(expression->nodes) eval_node_free((EVAL_NODE *)expression->nodes);
+    freez((void *)expression->source);
+    freez((void *)expression->parsed_as);
+    buffer_free(expression->error_msg);
+    freez(expression);
 }
 
 const char *expression_strerror(int error) {
diff --git a/src/eval.h b/libnetdata/eval/eval.h
index 6a5562fd4..57dae9d0b 100644
--- a/src/eval.h
+++ b/libnetdata/eval/eval.h
@@ -1,8 +1,22 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_EVAL_H
-#define NETDATA_EVAL_H
+#define NETDATA_EVAL_H 1
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 #define EVAL_MAX_VARIABLE_NAME_LENGTH 300
 
+typedef enum rrdcalc_status {
+    RRDCALC_STATUS_REMOVED       = -2,
+    RRDCALC_STATUS_UNDEFINED     = -1,
+    RRDCALC_STATUS_UNINITIALIZED =  0,
+    RRDCALC_STATUS_CLEAR         =  1,
+    RRDCALC_STATUS_RAISED        =  2,
+    RRDCALC_STATUS_WARNING       =  3,
+    RRDCALC_STATUS_CRITICAL      =  4
+} RRDCALC_STATUS;
+
 typedef struct eval_variable {
     char *name;
     uint32_t hash;
@@ -59,7 +73,7 @@ typedef struct eval_expression {
 extern EVAL_EXPRESSION *expression_parse(const char *string, const char **failed_at, int *error);
 
 // free all resources allocated for an expression
-extern void expression_free(EVAL_EXPRESSION *op);
+extern void expression_free(EVAL_EXPRESSION *expression);
 
 // convert an error code to a message
 extern const char *expression_strerror(int error);
@@ -69,4 +83,6 @@ extern const char *expression_strerror(int error);
 // 2 = FAILED, the error message is in: buffer_tostring(expression->error_msg)
 extern int expression_evaluate(EVAL_EXPRESSION *expression);
 
+extern int health_variable_lookup(const char *variable, uint32_t hash, struct rrdcalc *rc, calculated_number *result);
+
 #endif //NETDATA_EVAL_H
diff --git a/src/inlined.h b/libnetdata/inlined.h
index 9ab2dca73..6a5994c12 100644
--- a/src/inlined.h
+++ b/libnetdata/inlined.h
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_INLINED_H
-#define NETDATA_INLINED_H
+#define NETDATA_INLINED_H 1
 
-#include "common.h"
+#include "libnetdata.h"
 
 #ifdef KERNEL_32BIT
 typedef uint32_t kernel_uint_t;
@@ -245,12 +247,17 @@ static inline char *strncpyz(char *dst, const char *src, size_t n) {
 }
 
 static inline int read_file(const char *filename, char *buffer, size_t size) {
+    if(unlikely(!size)) return 3;
+
     int fd = open(filename, O_RDONLY, 0666);
-    if(unlikely(fd == -1))
+    if(unlikely(fd == -1)) {
+        buffer[0] = '\0';
         return 1;
+    }
 
     ssize_t r = read(fd, buffer, size);
     if(unlikely(r == -1)) {
+        buffer[0] = '\0';
         close(fd);
         return 2;
     }
diff --git a/src/common.c b/libnetdata/libnetdata.c
index 94fd5e429..de330cae8 100644
--- a/src/common.c
+++ b/libnetdata/libnetdata.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "libnetdata.h"
 
 #ifdef __APPLE__
 #define INHERIT_NONE 0
@@ -8,17 +10,6 @@
 #    define MADV_DONTFORK INHERIT_NONE
 #endif /* __FreeBSD__ || __APPLE__*/
 
-char *netdata_configured_hostname    = NULL;
-char *netdata_configured_config_dir  = NULL;
-char *netdata_configured_log_dir     = NULL;
-char *netdata_configured_plugins_dir = NULL;
-char *netdata_configured_web_dir     = NULL;
-char *netdata_configured_cache_dir   = NULL;
-char *netdata_configured_varlib_dir  = NULL;
-char *netdata_configured_home_dir    = NULL;
-char *netdata_configured_host_prefix = NULL;
-char *netdata_configured_timezone    = NULL;
-
 struct rlimit rlimit_nofile = { .rlim_cur = 1024, .rlim_max = 1024 };
 int enable_ksm = 1;
 
@@ -36,182 +27,172 @@ const char *program_version = VERSION;
 // routines.
 
 #ifdef NETDATA_LOG_ALLOCATIONS
-static struct memory_statistics {
-    volatile size_t malloc_calls_made;
-    volatile size_t calloc_calls_made;
-    volatile size_t realloc_calls_made;
-    volatile size_t strdup_calls_made;
-    volatile size_t free_calls_made;
-    volatile size_t memory_calls_made;
-    volatile size_t allocated_memory;
-    volatile size_t mmapped_memory;
-} memory_statistics;
-
-static inline void print_allocations(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line) {
-    static struct memory_statistics old = { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 };
-
-    //if(unlikely(!(memory_statistics.memory_calls_made % 5))) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "(%04lu@%-10.10s:%-15.15s): Allocated %zu KB (+%zu B), mmapped %zu KB (+%zu B): malloc %zu (+%zu), calloc %zu (+%zu), realloc %zu (+%zu), strdup %zu (+%zu), free %zu (+%zu)\n",
-                line, file, function,
-                (memory_statistics.allocated_memory + 512) / 1024, memory_statistics.allocated_memory - old.allocated_memory,
-                (memory_statistics.mmapped_memory + 512) / 1024, memory_statistics.mmapped_memory - old.mmapped_memory,
-                memory_statistics.malloc_calls_made, memory_statistics.malloc_calls_made - old.malloc_calls_made,
-                memory_statistics.calloc_calls_made, memory_statistics.calloc_calls_made - old.calloc_calls_made,
-                memory_statistics.realloc_calls_made, memory_statistics.realloc_calls_made - old.realloc_calls_made,
-                memory_statistics.strdup_calls_made, memory_statistics.strdup_calls_made - old.strdup_calls_made,
-                memory_statistics.free_calls_made, memory_statistics.free_calls_made - old.free_calls_made
-        );
-
-        memcpy(&old, &memory_statistics, sizeof(struct memory_statistics));
-    //}
+static __thread struct memory_statistics {
+    volatile ssize_t malloc_calls_made;
+    volatile ssize_t calloc_calls_made;
+    volatile ssize_t realloc_calls_made;
+    volatile ssize_t strdup_calls_made;
+    volatile ssize_t free_calls_made;
+    volatile ssize_t memory_calls_made;
+    volatile ssize_t allocated_memory;
+    volatile ssize_t mmapped_memory;
+} memory_statistics = { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 };
+
+__thread size_t log_thread_memory_allocations = 0;
+
+static inline void print_allocations(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, const char *type, size_t size) {
+    static __thread struct memory_statistics old = { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 };
+
+    fprintf(stderr, "%s iteration %zu MEMORY TRACE: %lu@%s : %s : %s : %zu\n",
+            netdata_thread_tag(),
+            log_thread_memory_allocations,
+            line, file, function,
+            type, size
+    );
+
+    fprintf(stderr, "%s iteration %zu MEMORY ALLOCATIONS: (%04lu@%-40.40s:%-40.40s): Allocated %zd KB (%+zd B), mmapped %zd KB (%+zd B): %s : malloc %zd (%+zd), calloc %zd (%+zd), realloc %zd (%+zd), strdup %zd (%+zd), free %zd (%+zd)\n",
+            netdata_thread_tag(),
+            log_thread_memory_allocations,
+            line, file, function,
+            (memory_statistics.allocated_memory + 512) / 1024, memory_statistics.allocated_memory - old.allocated_memory,
+            (memory_statistics.mmapped_memory + 512) / 1024, memory_statistics.mmapped_memory - old.mmapped_memory,
+            type,
+            memory_statistics.malloc_calls_made, memory_statistics.malloc_calls_made - old.malloc_calls_made,
+            memory_statistics.calloc_calls_made, memory_statistics.calloc_calls_made - old.calloc_calls_made,
+            memory_statistics.realloc_calls_made, memory_statistics.realloc_calls_made - old.realloc_calls_made,
+            memory_statistics.strdup_calls_made, memory_statistics.strdup_calls_made - old.strdup_calls_made,
+            memory_statistics.free_calls_made, memory_statistics.free_calls_made - old.free_calls_made
+    );
+
+    memcpy(&old, &memory_statistics, sizeof(struct memory_statistics));
 }
 
-static inline void malloc_accounting(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, size_t size) {
-#if defined(HAVE_C___ATOMIC) && !defined(NETDATA_NO_ATOMIC_INSTRUCTIONS)
-    __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.memory_calls_made, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-    __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.malloc_calls_made, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-    __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.allocated_memory, size, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-#else
-    // this is for debugging - we don't care locking it
-    memory_statistics.memory_calls_made++;
-    memory_statistics.malloc_calls_made++;
-    memory_statistics.allocated_memory += size;
-#endif
-    print_allocations(file, function, line);
+static inline void mmap_accounting(size_t size) {
+    if(log_thread_memory_allocations) {
+        memory_statistics.memory_calls_made++;
+        memory_statistics.mmapped_memory += size;
+    }
 }
 
-static inline void mmap_accounting(size_t size) {
-#if defined(HAVE_C___ATOMIC) && !defined(NETDATA_NO_ATOMIC_INSTRUCTIONS)
-    __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.malloc_calls_made, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-    __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.mmapped_memory, size, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-#else
-    // this is for debugging - we don't care locking it
-    memory_statistics.memory_calls_made++;
-    memory_statistics.mmapped_memory += size;
-#endif
+void *mallocz_int(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, size_t size) {
+    if(log_thread_memory_allocations) {
+        memory_statistics.memory_calls_made++;
+        memory_statistics.malloc_calls_made++;
+        memory_statistics.allocated_memory += size;
+        print_allocations(file, function, line, "malloc()", size);
+    }
+
+    size_t *n = (size_t *)malloc(sizeof(size_t) + size);
+    if (unlikely(!n)) fatal("mallocz() cannot allocate %zu bytes of memory.", size);
+    *n = size;
+    return (void *)&n[1];
 }
 
-static inline void calloc_accounting(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, size_t size) {
-#if defined(HAVE_C___ATOMIC) && !defined(NETDATA_NO_ATOMIC_INSTRUCTIONS)
-    __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.memory_calls_made, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-    __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.calloc_calls_made, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-    __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.allocated_memory, size, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-#else
-    // this is for debugging - we don't care locking it
-    memory_statistics.memory_calls_made++;
-    memory_statistics.calloc_calls_made++;
-    memory_statistics.allocated_memory += size;
-#endif
-    print_allocations(file, function, line);
+void *callocz_int(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, size_t nmemb, size_t size) {
+    size = nmemb * size;
+
+    if(log_thread_memory_allocations) {
+        memory_statistics.memory_calls_made++;
+        memory_statistics.calloc_calls_made++;
+        memory_statistics.allocated_memory += size;
+        print_allocations(file, function, line, "calloc()", size);
+    }
+
+    size_t *n = (size_t *)calloc(1, sizeof(size_t) + size);
+    if (unlikely(!n)) fatal("callocz() cannot allocate %zu bytes of memory.", size);
+    *n = size;
+    return (void *)&n[1];
 }
 
-static inline void realloc_accounting(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, void *ptr, size_t size) {
-    (void)ptr;
+void *reallocz_int(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, void *ptr, size_t size) {
+    if(!ptr) return mallocz_int(file, function, line, size);
 
-#if defined(HAVE_C___ATOMIC) && !defined(NETDATA_NO_ATOMIC_INSTRUCTIONS)
-    __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.memory_calls_made, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-    __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.realloc_calls_made, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-    __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.allocated_memory, size, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-#else
-    // this is for debugging - we don't care locking it
-    memory_statistics.memory_calls_made++;
-    memory_statistics.realloc_calls_made++;
-    memory_statistics.allocated_memory += size;
-#endif
-    print_allocations(file, function, line);
+    size_t *n = (size_t *)ptr;
+    n--;
+    size_t old_size = *n;
+
+    n = realloc(n, sizeof(size_t) + size);
+    if (unlikely(!n)) fatal("reallocz() cannot allocate %zu bytes of memory (from %zu bytes).", size, old_size);
+
+    if(log_thread_memory_allocations) {
+        memory_statistics.memory_calls_made++;
+        memory_statistics.realloc_calls_made++;
+        memory_statistics.allocated_memory += (size - old_size);
+        print_allocations(file, function, line, "realloc()", size - old_size);
+    }
+
+    *n = size;
+    return (void *)&n[1];
 }
 
-static inline void strdup_accounting(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, const char *s) {
+char *strdupz_int(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, const char *s) {
     size_t size = strlen(s) + 1;
 
-#if defined(HAVE_C___ATOMIC) && !defined(NETDATA_NO_ATOMIC_INSTRUCTIONS)
-    __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.memory_calls_made, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-    __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.strdup_calls_made, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-    __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.allocated_memory, size, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-#else
-    // this is for debugging - we don't care locking it
-    memory_statistics.memory_calls_made++;
-    memory_statistics.strdup_calls_made++;
-    memory_statistics.allocated_memory += size;
-#endif
-    print_allocations(file, function, line);
+    if(log_thread_memory_allocations) {
+        memory_statistics.memory_calls_made++;
+        memory_statistics.strdup_calls_made++;
+        memory_statistics.allocated_memory += size;
+        print_allocations(file, function, line, "strdup()", size);
+    }
+
+    size_t *n = (size_t *)malloc(sizeof(size_t) + size);
+    if (unlikely(!n)) fatal("strdupz() cannot allocate %zu bytes of memory.", size);
+
+    *n = size;
+    char *t = (char *)&n[1];
+    strcpy(t, s);
+    return t;
 }
 
-static inline void free_accounting(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, void *ptr) {
-    (void)file;
-    (void)function;
-    (void)line;
+void freez_int(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, void *ptr) {
+    if(unlikely(!ptr)) return;
 
-    if(likely(ptr)) {
-#if defined(HAVE_C___ATOMIC) && !defined(NETDATA_NO_ATOMIC_INSTRUCTIONS)
-        __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.memory_calls_made, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-        __atomic_fetch_add(&memory_statistics.free_calls_made, 1, __ATOMIC_SEQ_CST);
-#else
-        // this is for debugging - we don't care locking it
+    size_t *n = (size_t *)ptr;
+    n--;
+    size_t size = *n;
+
+    if(log_thread_memory_allocations) {
         memory_statistics.memory_calls_made++;
         memory_statistics.free_calls_made++;
-#endif
+        memory_statistics.allocated_memory -= size;
+        print_allocations(file, function, line, "free()", size);
     }
-}
-#endif
 
-#ifdef NETDATA_LOG_ALLOCATIONS
-char *strdupz_int(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, const char *s) {
-    strdup_accounting(file, function, line, s);
+    free(n);
+}
 #else
-char *strdupz(const char *s) {
-#endif
 
+char *strdupz(const char *s) {
     char *t = strdup(s);
     if (unlikely(!t)) fatal("Cannot strdup() string '%s'", s);
     return t;
 }
 
-#ifdef NETDATA_LOG_ALLOCATIONS
-void *mallocz_int(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, size_t size) {
-    malloc_accounting(file, function, line, size);
-#else
-void *mallocz(size_t size) {
-#endif
+void freez(void *ptr) {
+    free(ptr);
+}
 
+void *mallocz(size_t size) {
     void *p = malloc(size);
     if (unlikely(!p)) fatal("Cannot allocate %zu bytes of memory.", size);
     return p;
 }
 
-#ifdef NETDATA_LOG_ALLOCATIONS
-void *callocz_int(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, size_t nmemb, size_t size) {
-    calloc_accounting(file, function, line, nmemb * size);
-#else
 void *callocz(size_t nmemb, size_t size) {
-#endif
-
     void *p = calloc(nmemb, size);
     if (unlikely(!p)) fatal("Cannot allocate %zu bytes of memory.", nmemb * size);
     return p;
 }
 
-#ifdef NETDATA_LOG_ALLOCATIONS
-void *reallocz_int(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, void *ptr, size_t size) {
-    realloc_accounting(file, function, line, ptr, size);
-#else
 void *reallocz(void *ptr, size_t size) {
-#endif
-
     void *p = realloc(ptr, size);
     if (unlikely(!p)) fatal("Cannot re-allocate memory to %zu bytes.", size);
     return p;
 }
 
-#ifdef NETDATA_LOG_ALLOCATIONS
-void freez_int(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, void *ptr) {
-    free_accounting(file, function, line, ptr);
-#else
-void freez(void *ptr) {
 #endif
 
-    free(ptr);
-}
+// --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 void json_escape_string(char *dst, const char *src, size_t size) {
     const char *t;
@@ -244,52 +225,6 @@ void json_fix_string(char *s) {
     }
 }
 
-int sleep_usec(usec_t usec) {
-
-#ifndef NETDATA_WITH_USLEEP
-    // we expect microseconds (1.000.000 per second)
-    // but timespec is nanoseconds (1.000.000.000 per second)
-    struct timespec rem, req = {
-            .tv_sec = (time_t) (usec / 1000000),
-            .tv_nsec = (suseconds_t) ((usec % 1000000) * 1000)
-    };
-
-    while (nanosleep(&req, &rem) == -1) {
-        if (likely(errno == EINTR)) {
-            debug(D_SYSTEM, "nanosleep() interrupted (while sleeping for %llu microseconds).", usec);
-            req.tv_sec = rem.tv_sec;
-            req.tv_nsec = rem.tv_nsec;
-        } else {
-            error("Cannot nanosleep() for %llu microseconds.", usec);
-            break;
-        }
-    }
-
-    return 0;
-#else
-    int ret = usleep(usec);
-    if(unlikely(ret == -1 && errno == EINVAL)) {
-        // on certain systems, usec has to be up to 999999
-        if(usec > 999999) {
-            int counter = usec / 999999;
-            while(counter--)
-                usleep(999999);
-
-            usleep(usec % 999999);
-        }
-        else {
-            error("Cannot usleep() for %llu microseconds.", usec);
-            return ret;
-        }
-    }
-
-    if(ret != 0)
-        error("usleep() failed for %llu microseconds.", usec);
-
-    return ret;
-#endif
-}
-
 unsigned char netdata_map_chart_names[256] = {
         [0] = '\0', //
         [1] = '_', //
@@ -1183,124 +1118,6 @@ int snprintfz(char *dst, size_t n, const char *fmt, ...) {
     return ret;
 }
 
-// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// system functions
-// to retrieve settings of the system
-
-int processors = 1;
-long get_system_cpus(void) {
-    processors = 1;
-
-    #ifdef __APPLE__
-        int32_t tmp_processors;
-
-        if (unlikely(GETSYSCTL_BY_NAME("hw.logicalcpu", tmp_processors))) {
-            error("Assuming system has %d processors.", processors);
-        } else {
-            processors = tmp_processors;
-        }
-
-        return processors;
-    #elif __FreeBSD__
-        int32_t tmp_processors;
-
-        if (unlikely(GETSYSCTL_BY_NAME("hw.ncpu", tmp_processors))) {
-            error("Assuming system has %d processors.", processors);
-        } else {
-            processors = tmp_processors;
-        }
-
-        return processors;
-    #else
-
-    char filename[FILENAME_MAX + 1];
-    snprintfz(filename, FILENAME_MAX, "%s/proc/stat", netdata_configured_host_prefix);
-
-    procfile *ff = procfile_open(filename, NULL, PROCFILE_FLAG_DEFAULT);
-    if(!ff) {
-        error("Cannot open file '%s'. Assuming system has %d processors.", filename, processors);
-        return processors;
-    }
-
-    ff = procfile_readall(ff);
-    if(!ff) {
-        error("Cannot open file '%s'. Assuming system has %d processors.", filename, processors);
-        return processors;
-    }
-
-    processors = 0;
-    unsigned int i;
-    for(i = 0; i < procfile_lines(ff); i++) {
-        if(!procfile_linewords(ff, i)) continue;
-
-        if(strncmp(procfile_lineword(ff, i, 0), "cpu", 3) == 0) processors++;
-    }
-    processors--;
-    if(processors < 1) processors = 1;
-
-    procfile_close(ff);
-
-    debug(D_SYSTEM, "System has %d processors.", processors);
-    return processors;
-
-    #endif /* __APPLE__, __FreeBSD__ */
-}
-
-pid_t pid_max = 32768;
-pid_t get_system_pid_max(void) {
-    #ifdef __APPLE__
-        // As we currently do not know a solution to query pid_max from the os
-        // we use the number defined in bsd/sys/proc_internal.h in XNU sources
-        pid_max = 99999;
-        return pid_max;
-    #elif __FreeBSD__
-        int32_t tmp_pid_max;
-
-        if (unlikely(GETSYSCTL_BY_NAME("kern.pid_max", tmp_pid_max))) {
-            pid_max = 99999;
-            error("Assuming system's maximum pid is %d.", pid_max);
-        } else {
-            pid_max = tmp_pid_max;
-        }
-
-        return pid_max;
-    #else
-
-    static char read = 0;
-    if(unlikely(read)) return pid_max;
-    read = 1;
-
-    char filename[FILENAME_MAX + 1];
-    snprintfz(filename, FILENAME_MAX, "%s/proc/sys/kernel/pid_max", netdata_configured_host_prefix);
-
-    unsigned long long max = 0;
-    if(read_single_number_file(filename, &max) != 0) {
-        error("Cannot open file '%s'. Assuming system supports %d pids.", filename, pid_max);
-        return pid_max;
-    }
-
-    if(!max) {
-        error("Cannot parse file '%s'. Assuming system supports %d pids.", filename, pid_max);
-        return pid_max;
-    }
-
-    pid_max = (pid_t) max;
-    return pid_max;
-
-    #endif /* __APPLE__, __FreeBSD__ */
-}
-
-unsigned int hz;
-void get_system_HZ(void) {
-    long ticks;
-
-    if ((ticks = sysconf(_SC_CLK_TCK)) == -1) {
-        error("Cannot get system clock ticks");
-    }
-
-    hz = (unsigned int) ticks;
-}
-
 /*
 // poor man cycle counting
 static unsigned long tsc;
@@ -1359,3 +1176,272 @@ int recursively_delete_dir(const char *path, const char *reason) {
 
     return ret;
 }
+
+static int is_virtual_filesystem(const char *path, char **reason) {
+
+#if defined(__APPLE__) || defined(__FreeBSD__)
+    (void)path;
+    (void)reason;
+#else
+    struct statfs stat;
+    // stat.f_fsid.__val[0] is a file system id
+    // stat.f_fsid.__val[1] is the inode
+    // so their combination uniquely identifies the file/dir
+
+    if (statfs(path, &stat) == -1) {
+        if(reason) *reason = "failed to statfs()";
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if(stat.f_fsid.__val[0] != 0 || stat.f_fsid.__val[1] != 0) {
+        errno = EINVAL;
+        if(reason) *reason = "is not a virtual file system";
+        return -1;
+    }
+#endif
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+int verify_netdata_host_prefix() {
+    if(!netdata_configured_host_prefix)
+        netdata_configured_host_prefix = "";
+
+    if(!*netdata_configured_host_prefix)
+        return 0;
+
+    char buffer[FILENAME_MAX + 1];
+    char *path = netdata_configured_host_prefix;
+    char *reason = "unknown reason";
+    errno = 0;
+
+    struct stat sb;
+    if (stat(path, &sb) == -1) {
+        reason = "failed to stat()";
+        goto failed;
+    }
+
+    if((sb.st_mode & S_IFMT) != S_IFDIR) {
+        errno = EINVAL;
+        reason = "is not a directory";
+        goto failed;
+    }
+
+    path = buffer;
+    snprintfz(path, FILENAME_MAX, "%s/proc", netdata_configured_host_prefix);
+    if(is_virtual_filesystem(path, &reason) == -1)
+        goto failed;
+
+    snprintfz(path, FILENAME_MAX, "%s/sys", netdata_configured_host_prefix);
+    if(is_virtual_filesystem(path, &reason) == -1)
+        goto failed;
+
+    if(netdata_configured_host_prefix && *netdata_configured_host_prefix)
+        info("Using host prefix directory '%s'", netdata_configured_host_prefix);
+
+    return 0;
+
+failed:
+    error("Ignoring host prefix '%s': path '%s' %s", netdata_configured_host_prefix, path, reason);
+    netdata_configured_host_prefix = "";
+    return -1;
+}
+
+char *strdupz_path_subpath(const char *path, const char *subpath) {
+    if(unlikely(!path || !*path)) path = ".";
+    if(unlikely(!subpath)) subpath = "";
+
+    // skip trailing slashes in path
+    size_t len = strlen(path);
+    while(len > 0 && path[len - 1] == '/') len--;
+
+    // skip leading slashes in subpath
+    while(subpath[0] == '/') subpath++;
+
+    // if the last character in path is / and (there is a subpath or path is now empty)
+    // keep the trailing slash in path and remove the additional slash
+    char *slash = "/";
+    if(path[len] == '/' && (*subpath || len == 0)) {
+        slash = "";
+        len++;
+    }
+    else if(!*subpath) {
+        // there is no subpath
+        // no need for trailing slash
+        slash = "";
+    }
+
+    char buffer[FILENAME_MAX + 1];
+    snprintfz(buffer, FILENAME_MAX, "%.*s%s%s", (int)len, path, slash, subpath);
+    return strdupz(buffer);
+}
+
+int path_is_dir(const char *path, const char *subpath) {
+    char *s = strdupz_path_subpath(path, subpath);
+
+    size_t max_links = 100;
+
+    int is_dir = 0;
+    struct stat statbuf;
+    while(max_links-- && stat(s, &statbuf) == 0) {
+        if((statbuf.st_mode & S_IFMT) == S_IFDIR) {
+            is_dir = 1;
+            break;
+        }
+        else if((statbuf.st_mode & S_IFMT) == S_IFLNK) {
+            char buffer[FILENAME_MAX + 1];
+            ssize_t l = readlink(s, buffer, FILENAME_MAX);
+            if(l > 0) {
+                buffer[l] = '\0';
+                freez(s);
+                s = strdupz(buffer);
+                continue;
+            }
+            else {
+                is_dir = 0;
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        else {
+            is_dir = 0;
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    freez(s);
+    return is_dir;
+}
+
+int path_is_file(const char *path, const char *subpath) {
+    char *s = strdupz_path_subpath(path, subpath);
+
+    size_t max_links = 100;
+
+    int is_file = 0;
+    struct stat statbuf;
+    while(max_links-- && stat(s, &statbuf) == 0) {
+        if((statbuf.st_mode & S_IFMT) == S_IFREG) {
+            is_file = 1;
+            break;
+        }
+        else if((statbuf.st_mode & S_IFMT) == S_IFLNK) {
+            char buffer[FILENAME_MAX + 1];
+            ssize_t l = readlink(s, buffer, FILENAME_MAX);
+            if(l > 0) {
+                buffer[l] = '\0';
+                freez(s);
+                s = strdupz(buffer);
+                continue;
+            }
+            else {
+                is_file = 0;
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        else {
+            is_file = 0;
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    freez(s);
+    return is_file;
+}
+
+void recursive_config_double_dir_load(const char *user_path, const char *stock_path, const char *subpath, int (*callback)(const char *filename, void *data), void *data, size_t depth) {
+    if(depth > 3) {
+        error("CONFIG: Max directory depth reached while reading user path '%s', stock path '%s', subpath '%s'", user_path, stock_path, subpath);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    char *udir = strdupz_path_subpath(user_path, subpath);
+    char *sdir = strdupz_path_subpath(stock_path, subpath);
+
+    debug(D_HEALTH, "CONFIG traversing user-config directory '%s', stock config directory '%s'", udir, sdir);
+
+    DIR *dir = opendir(udir);
+    if (!dir) {
+        error("CONFIG cannot open user-config directory '%s'.", udir);
+    }
+    else {
+        struct dirent *de = NULL;
+        while((de = readdir(dir))) {
+            if(de->d_type == DT_DIR || de->d_type == DT_LNK) {
+                if( !de->d_name[0] ||
+                    (de->d_name[0] == '.' && de->d_name[1] == '\0') ||
+                    (de->d_name[0] == '.' && de->d_name[1] == '.' && de->d_name[2] == '\0')
+                        ) {
+                    debug(D_HEALTH, "CONFIG ignoring user-config directory '%s/%s'", udir, de->d_name);
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                if(path_is_dir(udir, de->d_name)) {
+                    recursive_config_double_dir_load(udir, sdir, de->d_name, callback, data, depth + 1);
+                    continue;
+                }
+            }
+
+            if(de->d_type == DT_REG || de->d_type == DT_LNK) {
+                size_t len = strlen(de->d_name);
+                if(path_is_file(udir, de->d_name) &&
+                   len > 5 && !strcmp(&de->d_name[len - 5], ".conf")) {
+                    char *filename = strdupz_path_subpath(udir, de->d_name);
+                    callback(filename, data);
+                    freez(filename);
+                }
+                else
+                    debug(D_HEALTH, "CONFIG ignoring user-config file '%s/%s'", udir, de->d_name);
+            }
+        }
+
+        closedir(dir);
+    }
+
+    debug(D_HEALTH, "CONFIG traversing stock config directory '%s', user config directory '%s'", sdir, udir);
+
+    dir = opendir(sdir);
+    if (!dir) {
+        error("CONFIG cannot open stock config directory '%s'.", sdir);
+    }
+    else {
+        struct dirent *de = NULL;
+        while((de = readdir(dir))) {
+            if(de->d_type == DT_DIR || de->d_type == DT_LNK) {
+                if( !de->d_name[0] ||
+                    (de->d_name[0] == '.' && de->d_name[1] == '\0') ||
+                    (de->d_name[0] == '.' && de->d_name[1] == '.' && de->d_name[2] == '\0')
+                        ) {
+                    debug(D_HEALTH, "CONFIG ignoring stock config directory '%s/%s'", sdir, de->d_name);
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                if(path_is_dir(sdir, de->d_name)) {
+                    // we recurse in stock subdirectory, only when there is no corresponding
+                    // user subdirectory - to avoid reading the files twice
+
+                    if(!path_is_dir(udir, de->d_name))
+                        recursive_config_double_dir_load(udir, sdir, de->d_name, callback, data, depth + 1);
+
+                    continue;
+                }
+            }
+
+            if(de->d_type == DT_REG || de->d_type == DT_LNK) {
+                size_t len = strlen(de->d_name);
+                if(path_is_file(sdir, de->d_name) && !path_is_file(udir, de->d_name) &&
+                   len > 5 && !strcmp(&de->d_name[len - 5], ".conf")) {
+                    char *filename = strdupz_path_subpath(sdir, de->d_name);
+                    callback(filename, data);
+                    freez(filename);
+                }
+                else
+                    debug(D_HEALTH, "CONFIG ignoring stock config file '%s/%s'", sdir, de->d_name);
+            }
+        }
+
+        closedir(dir);
+    }
+
+    freez(udir);
+    freez(sdir);
+}
diff --git a/src/common.h b/libnetdata/libnetdata.h
index 15fc50a6a..0bac3dc8f 100644
--- a/src/common.h
+++ b/libnetdata/libnetdata.h
@@ -1,10 +1,16 @@
-#ifndef NETDATA_COMMON_H
-#define NETDATA_COMMON_H 1
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#ifndef NETDATA_LIB_H
+#define NETDATA_LIB_H 1
 
 #ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
 #include <config.h>
 #endif
 
+#define OS_LINUX   1
+#define OS_FREEBSD 2
+#define OS_MACOS   3
+
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // system include files for all netdata C programs
@@ -14,9 +20,9 @@
 
 #if defined(HAVE_JEMALLOC_JEMALLOC_H)
 #include <jemalloc/jemalloc.h>
-#else
+#else // !defined(HAVE_JEMALLOC_JEMALLOC_H)
 #include <malloc.h>
-#endif
+#endif // !defined(HAVE_JEMALLOC_JEMALLOC_H)
 
 #elif defined(ENABLE_TCMALLOC)
 
@@ -28,7 +34,18 @@
 #include <malloc.h>
 #endif /* __FreeBSD__ || __APPLE__ */
 
-#endif
+#endif /* !defined(ENABLE_JEMALLOC) && !defined(ENABLE_TCMALLOC) */
+
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+#if defined(__FreeBSD__)
+#include <pthread_np.h>
+#define NETDATA_OS_TYPE "freebsd"
+#elif defined(__APPLE__)
+#define NETDATA_OS_TYPE "macos"
+#else
+#define NETDATA_OS_TYPE "linux"
+#endif /* __FreeBSD__, __APPLE__*/
 
 #include <pthread.h>
 #include <errno.h>
@@ -42,41 +59,20 @@
 #include <arpa/inet.h>
 #include <netinet/tcp.h>
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
-
-#ifdef HAVE_NETINET_IN_H
-#include <netinet/in.h>
-#endif
-
-#ifdef HAVE_RESOLV_H
-#include <resolv.h>
-#endif
-
+#include <libgen.h>
 #include <dirent.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <getopt.h>
 #include <grp.h>
 #include <pwd.h>
 #include <locale.h>
-
-#ifdef HAVE_NETDB_H
-#include <netdb.h>
-#endif
-
 #include <net/if.h>
-
 #include <poll.h>
 #include <signal.h>
 #include <syslog.h>
 #include <sys/mman.h>
-
-#ifdef HAVE_SYS_PRCTL_H
-#include <sys/prctl.h>
-#endif
-
 #include <sys/resource.h>
 #include <sys/socket.h>
-#include <sys/stat.h>
-#include <sys/statvfs.h>
 #include <sys/syscall.h>
 #include <sys/time.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
@@ -86,6 +82,42 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <uuid/uuid.h>
 
+#ifdef HAVE_NETINET_IN_H
+#include <netinet/in.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifdef HAVE_RESOLV_H
+#include <resolv.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifdef HAVE_NETDB_H
+#include <netdb.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifdef HAVE_SYS_PRCTL_H
+#include <sys/prctl.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifdef HAVE_SYS_STAT_H
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifdef HAVE_SYS_VFS_H
+#include <sys/vfs.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifdef HAVE_SYS_STATFS_H
+#include <sys/statfs.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifdef HAVE_SYS_MOUNT_H
+#include <sys/mount.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifdef HAVE_SYS_STATVFS_H
+#include <sys/statvfs.h>
+#endif
+
 // #1408
 #ifdef MAJOR_IN_MKDEV
 #include <sys/mkdev.h>
@@ -94,10 +126,6 @@
 #include <sys/sysmacros.h>
 #endif
 
-/*
-#include <mntent.h>
-*/
-
 #ifdef STORAGE_WITH_MATH
 #include <math.h>
 #include <float.h>
@@ -117,27 +145,6 @@
 #include <sys/capability.h>
 #endif
 
-// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// netdata chart priorities
-
-// This is a work in progress - to scope is to collect here all chart priorities.
-// These should be based on the CONTEXT of the charts + the chart id when needed
-// - for each SECTION +1000 (or +X000 for big sections)
-// - for each FAMILY  +100
-// - for each CHART   +10
-
-// Memory Section - 1xxx
-#define NETDATA_CHART_PRIO_MEM_SYSTEM              1000
-#define NETDATA_CHART_PRIO_MEM_SYSTEM_AVAILABLE    1010
-#define NETDATA_CHART_PRIO_MEM_SYSTEM_COMMITTED    1020
-#define NETDATA_CHART_PRIO_MEM_SYSTEM_PGFAULTS     1030
-#define NETDATA_CHART_PRIO_MEM_KERNEL              1100
-#define NETDATA_CHART_PRIO_MEM_SLAB                1200
-#define NETDATA_CHART_PRIO_MEM_HUGEPAGES           1250
-#define NETDATA_CHART_PRIO_MEM_KSM                 1300
-#define NETDATA_CHART_PRIO_MEM_NUMA                1400
-#define NETDATA_CHART_PRIO_MEM_HW                  1500
-
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // netdata common definitions
@@ -197,92 +204,6 @@
 
 #define GUID_LEN 36
 
-// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// netdata include files
-
-#include "clocks.h"
-#include "log.h"
-#include "threads.h"
-#include "locks.h"
-#include "simple_pattern.h"
-#include "avl.h"
-#include "global_statistics.h"
-#include "storage_number.h"
-#include "web_buffer.h"
-#include "web_buffer_svg.h"
-#include "url.h"
-#include "popen.h"
-
-#include "procfile.h"
-#include "appconfig.h"
-#include "dictionary.h"
-#include "proc_self_mountinfo.h"
-#include "plugin_checks.h"
-#include "plugin_idlejitter.h"
-#include "plugin_nfacct.h"
-
-#if defined(__FreeBSD__)
-#include <pthread_np.h>
-#include "plugin_freebsd.h"
-#define NETDATA_OS_TYPE "freebsd"
-#elif defined(__APPLE__)
-#include "plugin_macos.h"
-#define NETDATA_OS_TYPE "macos"
-#else
-#include "plugin_proc.h"
-#include "plugin_proc_diskspace.h"
-#define NETDATA_OS_TYPE "linux"
-#endif /* __FreeBSD__, __APPLE__*/
-
-typedef enum rrdcalc_status {
-    RRDCALC_STATUS_REMOVED       = -2,
-    RRDCALC_STATUS_UNDEFINED     = -1,
-    RRDCALC_STATUS_UNINITIALIZED =  0,
-    RRDCALC_STATUS_CLEAR         =  1,
-    RRDCALC_STATUS_RAISED        =  2,
-    RRDCALC_STATUS_WARNING       =  3,
-    RRDCALC_STATUS_CRITICAL      =  4
-} RRDCALC_STATUS;
-
-#include "eval.h"
-#include "health.h"
-
-#include "statistical.h"
-#include "socket.h"
-#include "rrd.h"
-#include "plugin_tc.h"
-#include "plugins_d.h"
-#include "statsd.h"
-#include "rrd2json.h"
-#include "rrd2json_api_old.h"
-#include "web_client.h"
-#include "web_server.h"
-#include "registry.h"
-#include "signals.h"
-#include "daemon.h"
-#include "main.h"
-#include "unit_test.h"
-#include "ipc.h"
-#include "backends.h"
-#include "backend_prometheus.h"
-#include "inlined.h"
-#include "adaptive_resortable_list.h"
-#include "rrdpush.h"
-#include "web_api_v1.h"
-#include "web_api_old.h"
-
-extern char *netdata_configured_hostname;
-extern char *netdata_configured_config_dir;
-extern char *netdata_configured_log_dir;
-extern char *netdata_configured_plugins_dir_base;
-extern char *netdata_configured_plugins_dir;
-extern char *netdata_configured_web_dir;
-extern char *netdata_configured_cache_dir;
-extern char *netdata_configured_varlib_dir;
-extern char *netdata_configured_home_dir;
-extern char *netdata_configured_host_prefix;
-extern char *netdata_configured_timezone;
-
 extern void netdata_fix_chart_id(char *s);
 extern void netdata_fix_chart_name(char *s);
 
@@ -296,6 +217,7 @@ extern int  snprintfz(char *dst, size_t n, const char *fmt, ...) PRINTFLIKE(3, 4
 
 // memory allocation functions that handle failures
 #ifdef NETDATA_LOG_ALLOCATIONS
+extern __thread size_t log_thread_memory_allocations;
 #define strdupz(s) strdupz_int(__FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, s)
 #define callocz(nmemb, size) callocz_int(__FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, nmemb, size)
 #define mallocz(size) mallocz_int(__FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, size)
@@ -307,13 +229,13 @@ extern void *callocz_int(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned
 extern void *mallocz_int(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, size_t size);
 extern void *reallocz_int(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, void *ptr, size_t size);
 extern void freez_int(const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, void *ptr);
-#else
+#else // NETDATA_LOG_ALLOCATIONS
 extern char *strdupz(const char *s) MALLOCLIKE NEVERNULL;
 extern void *callocz(size_t nmemb, size_t size) MALLOCLIKE NEVERNULL;
 extern void *mallocz(size_t size) MALLOCLIKE NEVERNULL;
 extern void *reallocz(void *ptr, size_t size) MALLOCLIKE NEVERNULL;
 extern void freez(void *ptr);
-#endif
+#endif // NETDATA_LOG_ALLOCATIONS
 
 extern void json_escape_string(char *dst, const char *src, size_t size);
 extern void json_fix_string(char *s);
@@ -327,19 +249,9 @@ extern struct rlimit rlimit_nofile;
 
 extern int enable_ksm;
 
-extern int sleep_usec(usec_t usec);
-
 extern char *fgets_trim_len(char *buf, size_t buf_size, FILE *fp, size_t *len);
 
-extern int processors;
-extern long get_system_cpus(void);
-
-extern pid_t pid_max;
-extern pid_t get_system_pid_max(void);
-
-/* Number of ticks per second */
-extern unsigned int hz;
-extern void get_system_HZ(void);
+extern int verify_netdata_host_prefix();
 
 extern int recursively_delete_dir(const char *path, const char *reason);
 
@@ -348,6 +260,18 @@ extern const char *os_type;
 
 extern const char *program_version;
 
+extern char *strdupz_path_subpath(const char *path, const char *subpath);
+extern int path_is_dir(const char *path, const char *subpath);
+extern int path_is_file(const char *path, const char *subpath);
+extern void recursive_config_double_dir_load(
+        const char *user_path
+        , const char *stock_path
+        , const char *subpath
+        , int (*callback)(const char *filename, void *data)
+        , void *data
+        , size_t depth
+);
+
 /* fix for alpine linux */
 #ifndef RUSAGE_THREAD
 #ifdef RUSAGE_CHILDREN
@@ -357,4 +281,28 @@ extern const char *program_version;
 
 #define BITS_IN_A_KILOBIT 1000
 
-#endif /* NETDATA_COMMON_H */
+
+extern void netdata_cleanup_and_exit(int ret) NORETURN;
+extern char *netdata_configured_host_prefix;
+
+#include "os.h"
+#include "storage_number/storage_number.h"
+#include "threads/threads.h"
+#include "buffer/buffer.h"
+#include "locks/locks.h"
+#include "avl/avl.h"
+#include "inlined.h"
+#include "clocks/clocks.h"
+#include "popen/popen.h"
+#include "simple_pattern/simple_pattern.h"
+#include "socket/socket.h"
+#include "config/appconfig.h"
+#include "log/log.h"
+#include "procfile/procfile.h"
+#include "dictionary/dictionary.h"
+#include "eval/eval.h"
+#include "statistical/statistical.h"
+#include "adaptive_resortable_list/adaptive_resortable_list.h"
+#include "url/url.h"
+
+#endif // NETDATA_LIB_H
diff --git a/libnetdata/locks/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/locks/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/locks/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+
+
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
diff --git a/libnetdata/locks/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/locks/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..38520f78e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/locks/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
+# Makefile.in generated by automake 1.14.1 from Makefile.am.
+# @configure_input@
+
+# Copyright (C) 1994-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+# This Makefile.in is free software; the Free Software Foundation
+# gives unlimited permission to copy and/or distribute it,
+# with or without modifications, as long as this notice is preserved.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law; without
+# even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
+# PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+
+@SET_MAKE@
+
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+VPATH = @srcdir@
+am__is_gnu_make = test -n '$(MAKEFILE_LIST)' && test -n '$(MAKELEVEL)'
+am__make_running_with_option = \
+  case $${target_option-} in \
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diff --git a/libnetdata/locks/README.md b/libnetdata/locks/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/locks/README.md
diff --git a/src/locks.c b/libnetdata/locks/locks.c
index c5b42c921..91e226902 100644
--- a/src/locks.c
+++ b/libnetdata/locks/locks.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // automatic thread cancelability management, based on locks
@@ -82,6 +84,7 @@ int __netdata_mutex_unlock(netdata_mutex_t *mutex) {
 
 int netdata_mutex_init_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, netdata_mutex_t *mutex) {
     usec_t start = 0;
+    (void)start;
 
     if(unlikely(debug_flags & D_LOCKS)) {
         start = now_boottime_usec();
@@ -97,6 +100,7 @@ int netdata_mutex_init_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const unsi
 
 int netdata_mutex_lock_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, netdata_mutex_t *mutex) {
     usec_t start = 0;
+    (void)start;
 
     if(unlikely(debug_flags & D_LOCKS)) {
         start = now_boottime_usec();
@@ -112,6 +116,7 @@ int netdata_mutex_lock_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const unsi
 
 int netdata_mutex_trylock_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, netdata_mutex_t *mutex) {
     usec_t start = 0;
+    (void)start;
 
     if(unlikely(debug_flags & D_LOCKS)) {
         start = now_boottime_usec();
@@ -127,6 +132,7 @@ int netdata_mutex_trylock_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const u
 
 int netdata_mutex_unlock_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, netdata_mutex_t *mutex) {
     usec_t start = 0;
+    (void)start;
 
     if(unlikely(debug_flags & D_LOCKS)) {
         start = now_boottime_usec();
@@ -215,6 +221,7 @@ int __netdata_rwlock_trywrlock(netdata_rwlock_t *rwlock) {
 
 int netdata_rwlock_destroy_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, netdata_rwlock_t *rwlock) {
     usec_t start = 0;
+    (void)start;
 
     if(unlikely(debug_flags & D_LOCKS)) {
         start = now_boottime_usec();
@@ -230,6 +237,7 @@ int netdata_rwlock_destroy_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const
 
 int netdata_rwlock_init_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, netdata_rwlock_t *rwlock) {
     usec_t start = 0;
+    (void)start;
 
     if(unlikely(debug_flags & D_LOCKS)) {
         start = now_boottime_usec();
@@ -245,6 +253,7 @@ int netdata_rwlock_init_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const uns
 
 int netdata_rwlock_rdlock_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, netdata_rwlock_t *rwlock) {
     usec_t start = 0;
+    (void)start;
 
     if(unlikely(debug_flags & D_LOCKS)) {
         start = now_boottime_usec();
@@ -260,6 +269,7 @@ int netdata_rwlock_rdlock_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const u
 
 int netdata_rwlock_wrlock_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, netdata_rwlock_t *rwlock) {
     usec_t start = 0;
+    (void)start;
 
     if(unlikely(debug_flags & D_LOCKS)) {
         start = now_boottime_usec();
@@ -275,6 +285,7 @@ int netdata_rwlock_wrlock_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const u
 
 int netdata_rwlock_unlock_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, netdata_rwlock_t *rwlock) {
     usec_t start = 0;
+    (void)start;
 
     if(unlikely(debug_flags & D_LOCKS)) {
         start = now_boottime_usec();
@@ -290,6 +301,7 @@ int netdata_rwlock_unlock_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const u
 
 int netdata_rwlock_tryrdlock_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, netdata_rwlock_t *rwlock) {
     usec_t start = 0;
+    (void)start;
 
     if(unlikely(debug_flags & D_LOCKS)) {
         start = now_boottime_usec();
@@ -305,6 +317,7 @@ int netdata_rwlock_tryrdlock_debug( const char *file, const char *function, cons
 
 int netdata_rwlock_trywrlock_debug( const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, netdata_rwlock_t *rwlock) {
     usec_t start = 0;
+    (void)start;
 
     if(unlikely(debug_flags & D_LOCKS)) {
         start = now_boottime_usec();
diff --git a/src/locks.h b/libnetdata/locks/locks.h
index 36962fef2..850dd7ebc 100644
--- a/src/locks.h
+++ b/libnetdata/locks/locks.h
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_LOCKS_H
-#define NETDATA_LOCKS_H
+#define NETDATA_LOCKS_H 1
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 typedef pthread_mutex_t netdata_mutex_t;
 #define NETDATA_MUTEX_INITIALIZER PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER
diff --git a/libnetdata/log/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/log/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/log/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
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+
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+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+
+
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
diff --git a/libnetdata/log/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/log/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..abf812b67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/log/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
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+
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+
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+# with or without modifications, as long as this notice is preserved.
+
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+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
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+	$(am__cd) $(top_srcdir) && \
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+	  *config.status*) \
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+	    fi; \
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+
+maintainer-clean-generic:
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diff --git a/libnetdata/log/README.md b/libnetdata/log/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/log/README.md
diff --git a/src/log.c b/libnetdata/log/log.c
index edb4482a0..198e98bd9 100644
--- a/src/log.c
+++ b/libnetdata/log/log.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 int web_server_is_multithreaded = 1;
 
@@ -56,7 +58,7 @@ static inline void log_unlock() {
     netdata_mutex_unlock(&log_mutex);
 }
 
-int open_log_file(int fd, FILE **fp, const char *filename, int *enabled_syslog) {
+static FILE *open_log_file(int fd, FILE *fp, const char *filename, int *enabled_syslog, int is_stdaccess, int *fd_ptr) {
     int f, devnull = 0;
 
     if(!filename || !*filename || !strcmp(filename, "none") ||  !strcmp(filename, "/dev/null")) {
@@ -75,8 +77,10 @@ int open_log_file(int fd, FILE **fp, const char *filename, int *enabled_syslog)
     // don't do anything if the user is willing
     // to have the standard one
     if(!strcmp(filename, "system")) {
-        if(fd != -1 && fp != &stdaccess)
-            return fd;
+        if(fd != -1 && !is_stdaccess) {
+            if(fd_ptr) *fd_ptr = fd;
+            return fp;
+        }
 
         filename = "stderr";
     }
@@ -91,19 +95,20 @@ int open_log_file(int fd, FILE **fp, const char *filename, int *enabled_syslog)
         f = open(filename, O_WRONLY | O_APPEND | O_CREAT, 0664);
         if(f == -1) {
             error("Cannot open file '%s'. Leaving %d to its default.", filename, fd);
-            return fd;
+            if(fd_ptr) *fd_ptr = fd;
+            return fp;
         }
     }
 
-    if(devnull && fp == &stdaccess) {
-        fd = -1;
-        *fp = NULL;
-    }
-
     // if there is a level-2 file pointer
     // flush it before switching the level-1 fds
-    if(fp && *fp)
-        fflush(*fp);
+    if(fp)
+        fflush(fp);
+
+    if(devnull && is_stdaccess) {
+        fd = -1;
+        fp = NULL;
+    }
 
     if(fd != f && fd != -1) {
         // it automatically closes
@@ -111,57 +116,61 @@ int open_log_file(int fd, FILE **fp, const char *filename, int *enabled_syslog)
         if (t == -1) {
             error("Cannot dup2() new fd %d to old fd %d for '%s'", f, fd, filename);
             close(f);
-            return fd;
+            if(fd_ptr) *fd_ptr = fd;
+            return fp;
         }
         // info("dup2() new fd %d to old fd %d for '%s'", f, fd, filename);
         close(f);
     }
     else fd = f;
 
-    if(fp && !*fp) {
-        *fp = fdopen(fd, "a");
-        if (!*fp)
+    if(!fp) {
+        fp = fdopen(fd, "a");
+        if (!fp)
             error("Cannot fdopen() fd %d ('%s')", fd, filename);
         else {
-            if (setvbuf(*fp, NULL, _IOLBF, 0) != 0)
+            if (setvbuf(fp, NULL, _IOLBF, 0) != 0)
                 error("Cannot set line buffering on fd %d ('%s')", fd, filename);
         }
     }
 
-    return fd;
+    if(fd_ptr) *fd_ptr = fd;
+    return fp;
 }
 
 void reopen_all_log_files() {
     if(stdout_filename)
-        open_log_file(STDOUT_FILENO, (FILE **)&stdout, stdout_filename, &output_log_syslog);
+        open_log_file(STDOUT_FILENO, stdout, stdout_filename, &output_log_syslog, 0, NULL);
 
     if(stderr_filename)
-        open_log_file(STDERR_FILENO, (FILE **)&stderr, stderr_filename, &error_log_syslog);
+        open_log_file(STDERR_FILENO, stderr, stderr_filename, &error_log_syslog, 0, NULL);
 
     if(stdaccess_filename)
-        stdaccess_fd = open_log_file(stdaccess_fd, (FILE **)&stdaccess, stdaccess_filename, &access_log_syslog);
+         stdaccess = open_log_file(stdaccess_fd, stdaccess, stdaccess_filename, &access_log_syslog, 1, &stdaccess_fd);
 }
 
 void open_all_log_files() {
     // disable stdin
-    open_log_file(STDIN_FILENO, (FILE **)&stdin, "/dev/null", NULL);
+    open_log_file(STDIN_FILENO, stdin, "/dev/null", NULL, 0, NULL);
 
-    open_log_file(STDOUT_FILENO, (FILE **)&stdout, stdout_filename, &output_log_syslog);
-    open_log_file(STDERR_FILENO, (FILE **)&stderr, stderr_filename, &error_log_syslog);
-    stdaccess_fd = open_log_file(stdaccess_fd, (FILE **)&stdaccess, stdaccess_filename, &access_log_syslog);
+    open_log_file(STDOUT_FILENO, stdout, stdout_filename, &output_log_syslog, 0, NULL);
+    open_log_file(STDERR_FILENO, stderr, stderr_filename, &error_log_syslog, 0, NULL);
+    stdaccess = open_log_file(stdaccess_fd, stdaccess, stdaccess_filename, &access_log_syslog, 1, &stdaccess_fd);
 }
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // error log throttling
 
-time_t error_log_throttle_period_backup = 0;
 time_t error_log_throttle_period = 1200;
 unsigned long error_log_errors_per_period = 200;
+unsigned long error_log_errors_per_period_backup = 0;
 
 int error_log_limit(int reset) {
     static time_t start = 0;
     static unsigned long counter = 0, prevented = 0;
 
+    // fprintf(stderr, "FLOOD: counter=%lu, allowed=%lu, backup=%lu, period=%llu\n", counter, error_log_errors_per_period, error_log_errors_per_period_backup, (unsigned long long)error_log_throttle_period);
+
     // do not throttle if the period is 0
     if(error_log_throttle_period == 0)
         return 0;
@@ -181,7 +190,7 @@ int error_log_limit(int reset) {
         if(prevented) {
             char date[LOG_DATE_LENGTH];
             log_date(date, LOG_DATE_LENGTH);
-            fprintf(stderr, "%s: %s Resetting logging for process '%s' (prevented %lu logs in the last %ld seconds).\n"
+            fprintf(stderr, "%s: %s LOG FLOOD PROTECTION reset for process '%s' (prevented %lu logs in the last %ld seconds).\n"
                     , date
                     , program_name
                     , program_name
@@ -202,7 +211,7 @@ int error_log_limit(int reset) {
         if(prevented) {
             char date[LOG_DATE_LENGTH];
             log_date(date, LOG_DATE_LENGTH);
-            fprintf(stderr, "%s: %s Resuming logging from process '%s' (prevented %lu logs in the last %ld seconds).\n"
+            fprintf(stderr, "%s: %s LOG FLOOD PROTECTION resuming logging from process '%s' (prevented %lu logs in the last %ld seconds).\n"
                     , date
                     , program_name
                     , program_name
@@ -224,7 +233,7 @@ int error_log_limit(int reset) {
         if(!prevented) {
             char date[LOG_DATE_LENGTH];
             log_date(date, LOG_DATE_LENGTH);
-            fprintf(stderr, "%s: %s Too many logs (%lu logs in %ld seconds, threshold is set to %lu logs in %ld seconds). Preventing more logs from process '%s' for %ld seconds.\n"
+            fprintf(stderr, "%s: %s LOG FLOOD PROTECTION too many logs (%lu logs in %ld seconds, threshold is set to %lu logs in %ld seconds). Preventing more logs from process '%s' for %ld seconds.\n"
                     , date
                     , program_name
                     , counter
diff --git a/src/log.h b/libnetdata/log/log.h
index 81c85481b..48e1599a7 100644
--- a/src/log.h
+++ b/libnetdata/log/log.h
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_LOG_H
 #define NETDATA_LOG_H 1
 
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
+
 #define D_WEB_BUFFER        0x0000000000000001
 #define D_WEB_CLIENT        0x0000000000000002
 #define D_LISTENER          0x0000000000000004
@@ -55,8 +59,8 @@ extern int access_log_syslog;
 extern int error_log_syslog;
 extern int output_log_syslog;
 
-extern time_t error_log_throttle_period, error_log_throttle_period_backup;
-extern unsigned long error_log_errors_per_period;
+extern time_t error_log_throttle_period;
+extern unsigned long error_log_errors_per_period, error_log_errors_per_period_backup;
 extern int error_log_limit(int reset);
 
 extern void open_all_log_files();
@@ -64,8 +68,11 @@ extern void reopen_all_log_files();
 
 static inline void debug_dummy(void) {}
 
-#define error_log_limit_reset() do { error_log_throttle_period = error_log_throttle_period_backup; error_log_limit(1); } while(0)
-#define error_log_limit_unlimited() do { error_log_throttle_period = 0; } while(0)
+#define error_log_limit_reset() do { error_log_errors_per_period = error_log_errors_per_period_backup; error_log_limit(1); } while(0)
+#define error_log_limit_unlimited() do { \
+        error_log_limit_reset(); \
+        error_log_errors_per_period = ((error_log_errors_per_period_backup * 10) < 10000) ? 10000 : (error_log_errors_per_period_backup * 10); \
+    } while(0)
 
 #ifdef NETDATA_INTERNAL_CHECKS
 #define debug(type, args...) do { if(unlikely(debug_flags & type)) debug_int(__FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, ##args); } while(0)
diff --git a/libnetdata/os.c b/libnetdata/os.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0248eb627
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/os.c
@@ -0,0 +1,218 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "os.h"
+
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// system functions
+// to retrieve settings of the system
+
+int processors = 1;
+long get_system_cpus(void) {
+    processors = 1;
+
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+    int32_t tmp_processors;
+
+        if (unlikely(GETSYSCTL_BY_NAME("hw.logicalcpu", tmp_processors))) {
+            error("Assuming system has %d processors.", processors);
+        } else {
+            processors = tmp_processors;
+        }
+
+        return processors;
+#elif __FreeBSD__
+    int32_t tmp_processors;
+
+        if (unlikely(GETSYSCTL_BY_NAME("hw.ncpu", tmp_processors))) {
+            error("Assuming system has %d processors.", processors);
+        } else {
+            processors = tmp_processors;
+        }
+
+        return processors;
+#else
+
+    char filename[FILENAME_MAX + 1];
+    snprintfz(filename, FILENAME_MAX, "%s/proc/stat", netdata_configured_host_prefix);
+
+    procfile *ff = procfile_open(filename, NULL, PROCFILE_FLAG_DEFAULT);
+    if(!ff) {
+        error("Cannot open file '%s'. Assuming system has %d processors.", filename, processors);
+        return processors;
+    }
+
+    ff = procfile_readall(ff);
+    if(!ff) {
+        error("Cannot open file '%s'. Assuming system has %d processors.", filename, processors);
+        return processors;
+    }
+
+    processors = 0;
+    unsigned int i;
+    for(i = 0; i < procfile_lines(ff); i++) {
+        if(!procfile_linewords(ff, i)) continue;
+
+        if(strncmp(procfile_lineword(ff, i, 0), "cpu", 3) == 0) processors++;
+    }
+    processors--;
+    if(processors < 1) processors = 1;
+
+    procfile_close(ff);
+
+    debug(D_SYSTEM, "System has %d processors.", processors);
+    return processors;
+
+#endif /* __APPLE__, __FreeBSD__ */
+}
+
+pid_t pid_max = 32768;
+pid_t get_system_pid_max(void) {
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+    // As we currently do not know a solution to query pid_max from the os
+        // we use the number defined in bsd/sys/proc_internal.h in XNU sources
+        pid_max = 99999;
+        return pid_max;
+#elif __FreeBSD__
+    int32_t tmp_pid_max;
+
+        if (unlikely(GETSYSCTL_BY_NAME("kern.pid_max", tmp_pid_max))) {
+            pid_max = 99999;
+            error("Assuming system's maximum pid is %d.", pid_max);
+        } else {
+            pid_max = tmp_pid_max;
+        }
+
+        return pid_max;
+#else
+
+    static char read = 0;
+    if(unlikely(read)) return pid_max;
+    read = 1;
+
+    char filename[FILENAME_MAX + 1];
+    snprintfz(filename, FILENAME_MAX, "%s/proc/sys/kernel/pid_max", netdata_configured_host_prefix);
+
+    unsigned long long max = 0;
+    if(read_single_number_file(filename, &max) != 0) {
+        error("Cannot open file '%s'. Assuming system supports %d pids.", filename, pid_max);
+        return pid_max;
+    }
+
+    if(!max) {
+        error("Cannot parse file '%s'. Assuming system supports %d pids.", filename, pid_max);
+        return pid_max;
+    }
+
+    pid_max = (pid_t) max;
+    return pid_max;
+
+#endif /* __APPLE__, __FreeBSD__ */
+}
+
+unsigned int system_hz;
+void get_system_HZ(void) {
+    long ticks;
+
+    if ((ticks = sysconf(_SC_CLK_TCK)) == -1) {
+        error("Cannot get system clock ticks");
+    }
+
+    system_hz = (unsigned int) ticks;
+}
+
+// =====================================================================================================================
+// FreeBSD
+
+#if (TARGET_OS == OS_FREEBSD)
+
+int getsysctl_by_name(const char *name, void *ptr, size_t len) {
+    size_t nlen = len;
+
+    if (unlikely(sysctlbyname(name, ptr, &nlen, NULL, 0) == -1)) {
+        error("FREEBSD: sysctl(%s...) failed: %s", name, strerror(errno));
+        return 1;
+    }
+    if (unlikely(nlen != len)) {
+        error("FREEBSD: sysctl(%s...) expected %lu, got %lu", name, (unsigned long)len, (unsigned long)nlen);
+        return 1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+int getsysctl_simple(const char *name, int *mib, size_t miblen, void *ptr, size_t len) {
+    size_t nlen = len;
+
+    if (unlikely(!mib[0]))
+        if (unlikely(getsysctl_mib(name, mib, miblen)))
+            return 1;
+
+    if (unlikely(sysctl(mib, miblen, ptr, &nlen, NULL, 0) == -1)) {
+        error("FREEBSD: sysctl(%s...) failed: %s", name, strerror(errno));
+        return 1;
+    }
+    if (unlikely(nlen != len)) {
+        error("FREEBSD: sysctl(%s...) expected %lu, got %lu", name, (unsigned long)len, (unsigned long)nlen);
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+int getsysctl(const char *name, int *mib, size_t miblen, void *ptr, size_t *len) {
+    size_t nlen = *len;
+
+    if (unlikely(!mib[0]))
+        if (unlikely(getsysctl_mib(name, mib, miblen)))
+            return 1;
+
+    if (unlikely(sysctl(mib, miblen, ptr, len, NULL, 0) == -1)) {
+        error("FREEBSD: sysctl(%s...) failed: %s", name, strerror(errno));
+        return 1;
+    }
+    if (unlikely(ptr != NULL && nlen != *len)) {
+        error("FREEBSD: sysctl(%s...) expected %lu, got %lu", name, (unsigned long)*len, (unsigned long)nlen);
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+int getsysctl_mib(const char *name, int *mib, size_t len) {
+    size_t nlen = len;
+
+    if (unlikely(sysctlnametomib(name, mib, &nlen) == -1)) {
+        error("FREEBSD: sysctl(%s...) failed: %s", name, strerror(errno));
+        return 1;
+    }
+    if (unlikely(nlen != len)) {
+        error("FREEBSD: sysctl(%s...) expected %lu, got %lu", name, (unsigned long)len, (unsigned long)nlen);
+        return 1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+
+#endif
+
+
+// =====================================================================================================================
+// MacOS
+
+#if (TARGET_OS == OS_MACOS)
+
+int getsysctl_by_name(const char *name, void *ptr, size_t len) {
+    size_t nlen = len;
+
+    if (unlikely(sysctlbyname(name, ptr, &nlen, NULL, 0) == -1)) {
+        error("MACOS: sysctl(%s...) failed: %s", name, strerror(errno));
+        return 1;
+    }
+    if (unlikely(nlen != len)) {
+        error("MACOS: sysctl(%s...) expected %lu, got %lu", name, (unsigned long)len, (unsigned long)nlen);
+        return 1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+#endif // (TARGET_OS == OS_MACOS)
+
diff --git a/libnetdata/os.h b/libnetdata/os.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2494174bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/os.h
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#ifndef NETDATA_OS_H
+#define NETDATA_OS_H
+
+#include "libnetdata.h"
+
+// =====================================================================================================================
+// Linux
+
+#if (TARGET_OS == OS_LINUX)
+
+
+// =====================================================================================================================
+// FreeBSD
+
+#elif (TARGET_OS == OS_FREEBSD)
+
+#include <sys/sysctl.h>
+
+#define GETSYSCTL_BY_NAME(name, var) getsysctl_by_name(name, &(var), sizeof(var))
+extern int getsysctl_by_name(const char *name, void *ptr, size_t len);
+
+#define GETSYSCTL_MIB(name, mib) getsysctl_mib(name, mib, sizeof(mib)/sizeof(int))
+
+extern int getsysctl_mib(const char *name, int *mib, size_t len);
+
+#define GETSYSCTL_SIMPLE(name, mib, var) getsysctl_simple(name, mib, sizeof(mib)/sizeof(int), &(var), sizeof(var))
+#define GETSYSCTL_WSIZE(name, mib, var, size) getsysctl_simple(name, mib, sizeof(mib)/sizeof(int), var, size)
+
+extern int getsysctl_simple(const char *name, int *mib, size_t miblen, void *ptr, size_t len);
+
+#define GETSYSCTL_SIZE(name, mib, size) getsysctl(name, mib, sizeof(mib)/sizeof(int), NULL, &(size))
+#define GETSYSCTL(name, mib, var, size) getsysctl(name, mib, sizeof(mib)/sizeof(int), &(var), &(size))
+
+extern int getsysctl(const char *name, int *mib, size_t miblen, void *ptr, size_t *len);
+
+
+// =====================================================================================================================
+// MacOS
+
+#elif (TARGET_OS == OS_MACOS)
+
+#include <sys/sysctl.h>
+
+#define GETSYSCTL_BY_NAME(name, var) getsysctl_by_name(name, &(var), sizeof(var))
+extern int getsysctl_by_name(const char *name, void *ptr, size_t len);
+
+
+// =====================================================================================================================
+// unknown O/S
+
+#else
+#error unsupported operating system
+#endif
+
+
+// =====================================================================================================================
+// common for all O/S
+
+extern int processors;
+extern long get_system_cpus(void);
+
+extern pid_t pid_max;
+extern pid_t get_system_pid_max(void);
+
+extern unsigned int system_hz;
+extern void get_system_HZ(void);
+
+#endif //NETDATA_OS_H
diff --git a/libnetdata/popen/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/popen/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/popen/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+
+
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
diff --git a/libnetdata/popen/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/popen/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0a699332f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/popen/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
+# Makefile.in generated by automake 1.14.1 from Makefile.am.
+# @configure_input@
+
+# Copyright (C) 1994-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+# This Makefile.in is free software; the Free Software Foundation
+# gives unlimited permission to copy and/or distribute it,
+# with or without modifications, as long as this notice is preserved.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law; without
+# even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
+# PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+
+@SET_MAKE@
+
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
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+      ?) ;; \
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+              "target option '$${target_option-}' specified" >&2; \
+         exit 1;; \
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+  if $(am__is_gnu_make); then \
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+          | sed "s/$$bs$$bs[$$bs $$bs	]*//g"`;; \
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diff --git a/libnetdata/popen/README.md b/libnetdata/popen/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/popen/README.md
diff --git a/src/popen.c b/libnetdata/popen/popen.c
index eda1c05b9..845363fd2 100644
--- a/src/popen.c
+++ b/libnetdata/popen/popen.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 /*
 struct mypopen {
@@ -67,7 +69,7 @@ FILE *mypopen(const char *command, volatile pid_t *pidptr)
 
     // close all files
     int i;
-    for(i = (int) (sysconf(_SC_OPEN_MAX) - 1); i > 0; i--)
+    for(i = (int) (sysconf(_SC_OPEN_MAX) - 1); i >= 0; i--)
         if(i != STDIN_FILENO && i != STDERR_FILENO && i != pipefd[PIPE_WRITE]) close(i);
 
     // move the pipe to stdout
@@ -136,7 +138,7 @@ FILE *mypopene(const char *command, volatile pid_t *pidptr, char **env) {
 
     // close all files
     int i;
-    for(i = (int) (sysconf(_SC_OPEN_MAX) - 1); i > 0; i--)
+    for(i = (int) (sysconf(_SC_OPEN_MAX) - 1); i >= 0; i--)
         if(i != STDIN_FILENO && i != STDERR_FILENO && i != pipefd[PIPE_WRITE]) close(i);
 
     // move the pipe to stdout
diff --git a/src/popen.h b/libnetdata/popen/popen.h
index 3dd79bb4d..90d4b829b 100644
--- a/src/popen.h
+++ b/libnetdata/popen/popen.h
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_POPEN_H
 #define NETDATA_POPEN_H 1
 
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
+
 #define PIPE_READ 0
 #define PIPE_WRITE 1
 
@@ -8,4 +12,7 @@ extern FILE *mypopen(const char *command, volatile pid_t *pidptr);
 extern FILE *mypopene(const char *command, volatile pid_t *pidptr, char **env);
 extern int mypclose(FILE *fp, pid_t pid);
 
+extern void signals_unblock(void);
+extern void signals_reset(void);
+
 #endif /* NETDATA_POPEN_H */
diff --git a/libnetdata/procfile/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/procfile/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/procfile/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
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+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+
+
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
diff --git a/libnetdata/procfile/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/procfile/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..643e00ba1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/procfile/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
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+	README.md \
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+	$(am__cd) $(top_srcdir) && \
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+	  $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) INSTALL_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" \
+	    install_sh_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" INSTALL_STRIP_FLAG=-s \
+	    "INSTALL_PROGRAM_ENV=STRIPPROG='$(STRIP)'" install; \
+	fi
+mostlyclean-generic:
+
+clean-generic:
+
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+	-test -z "$(CONFIG_CLEAN_FILES)" || rm -f $(CONFIG_CLEAN_FILES)
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+
+maintainer-clean-generic:
+	@echo "This command is intended for maintainers to use"
+	@echo "it deletes files that may require special tools to rebuild."
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diff --git a/libnetdata/procfile/README.md b/libnetdata/procfile/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..279885f93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/procfile/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+
+# PROCFILE
+
+procfile is a library for reading text data files (i.e `/proc` files) in the fastest possible way.
+
+## How it works
+
+The library automatically adapts (through the iterations) its memory so that each file
+is read with single `read()` call.
+
+Then the library splits the file into words, using the supplied separators.
+The library also supported quoted words (i.e. strings within of which the separators are ignored).
+
+### Initialization
+
+Initially the caller: 
+
+- calls `procfile_open()` to open the file and allocate the structures needed.
+
+### Iterations
+
+For each iteration, the caller:
+
+- calls `procfile_readall()` to read updated contents.
+   This call also rewinds (`lseek()` to 0) before reading it.
+
+   For every file, a [BUFFER](../buffer/) is used that is automatically adjusted to fit
+   the entire file contents of the file. So the file is read with a single `read()` call
+   (providing atomicity / consistency when the data are read from the kernel).
+
+   Once the data are read, 2 arrays of pointers are updated:
+
+   - a `words` array, pointing to each word in the data read
+   - a `lines` array, pointing to the first word for each line
+
+   This is highly optimized. Both arrays are automatically adjusted to
+   fit all contents and are updated in a single pass on the data.
+   
+   The library provides a number of macros:
+   
+   - `procfile_lines()` returns the # of lines read
+   - `procfile_linewords()` returns the # of words in the given line
+   - `procfile_word()` returns a pointer the given word #
+   - `procfile_line()` returns a pointer to the first word of the given line #
+   - `procfile_lineword()` returns a pointer to the given word # of the given line #
+
+### Cleanup
+
+When the caller exits:
+
+- calls `procfile_free()` to close the file and free all memory used.
+
+### Performance
+
+- a **raspberry Pi 1** (the oldest single core one) can process 5.000+ `/proc` files per second.
+- a **J1900 Celeron** processor can process 23.000+ `/proc` files per second per core.
+
+To achieve this kind of performance, the library tries to work in batches so that the code
+and the data are inside the processor's caches.
+
+This library is extensively used in netdata and its plugins.
diff --git a/src/procfile.c b/libnetdata/procfile/procfile.c
index 044f975b5..4a812baab 100644
--- a/src/procfile.c
+++ b/libnetdata/procfile/procfile.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
-#include "procfile.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 #define PF_PREFIX "PROCFILE"
 
@@ -7,6 +8,8 @@
 #define PFLINES_INCREASE_STEP 10
 #define PROCFILE_INCREMENT_BUFFER 512
 
+int procfile_open_flags = O_RDONLY;
+
 int procfile_adaptive_initial_allocation = 0;
 
 // if adaptive allocation is set, these store the
@@ -391,7 +394,7 @@ void procfile_set_open_close(procfile *ff, const char *open, const char *close)
 procfile *procfile_open(const char *filename, const char *separators, uint32_t flags) {
     debug(D_PROCFILE, PF_PREFIX ": Opening file '%s'", filename);
 
-    int fd = open(filename, O_RDONLY, 0666);
+    int fd = open(filename, procfile_open_flags, 0666);
     if(unlikely(fd == -1)) {
         if(unlikely(!(flags & PROCFILE_FLAG_NO_ERROR_ON_FILE_IO))) error(PF_PREFIX ": Cannot open file '%s'", filename);
         return NULL;
@@ -427,7 +430,7 @@ procfile *procfile_reopen(procfile *ff, const char *filename, const char *separa
         close(ff->fd);
     }
 
-    ff->fd = open(filename, O_RDONLY, 0666);
+    ff->fd = open(filename, procfile_open_flags, 0666);
     if(unlikely(ff->fd == -1)) {
         procfile_close(ff);
         return NULL;
@@ -451,6 +454,7 @@ procfile *procfile_reopen(procfile *ff, const char *filename, const char *separa
 void procfile_print(procfile *ff) {
     size_t lines = procfile_lines(ff), l;
     char *s;
+    (void)s;
 
     debug(D_PROCFILE, "File '%s' with %zu lines and %zu words", procfile_filename(ff), ff->lines->len, ff->words->len);
 
diff --git a/src/procfile.h b/libnetdata/procfile/procfile.h
index 012c6efe1..b107358ab 100644
--- a/src/procfile.h
+++ b/libnetdata/procfile/procfile.h
@@ -1,31 +1,10 @@
-/*
- * procfile is a library for reading kernel files from /proc
- *
- * The idea is this:
- *
- *  - every file is opened once with procfile_open().
- *
- *  - to read updated contents, we rewind it (lseek() to 0) and read again
- *    with procfile_readall().
- *
- *  - for every file, we use a buffer that is adjusted to fit its entire
- *    contents in memory, allowing us to read it with a single read() call.
- *    (this provides atomicity / consistency on the data read from the kernel)
- *
- *  - once the data are read, we update two arrays of pointers:
- *     - a words array, pointing to each word in the data read
- *     - a lines array, pointing to the first word for each line
- *
- *    This is highly optimized. Both arrays are automatically adjusted to
- *    fit all contents and are updated in a single pass on the data:
- *     - a raspberry Pi can process 5.000+ files / sec.
- *     - a J1900 celeron processor can process 23.000+ files / sec.
-*/
-
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
 
 #ifndef NETDATA_PROCFILE_H
 #define NETDATA_PROCFILE_H 1
 
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // An array of words
 
@@ -103,6 +82,9 @@ extern char *procfile_filename(procfile *ff);
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+// set to the O_XXXX flags, to have procfile_open and procfile_reopen use them when opening proc files
+extern int procfile_open_flags;
+
 // set this to 1, to have procfile adapt its initial buffer allocation to the max allocation used so far
 extern int procfile_adaptive_initial_allocation;
 
diff --git a/libnetdata/simple_pattern/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/simple_pattern/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/simple_pattern/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
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+
+
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diff --git a/libnetdata/simple_pattern/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/simple_pattern/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..575850f03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/simple_pattern/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
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diff --git a/libnetdata/simple_pattern/README.md b/libnetdata/simple_pattern/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..22ccf373a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/simple_pattern/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+## netdata simple patterns
+
+Unix prefers regular expressions. But they are just too hard, too cryptic
+to use, write and understand.
+
+So, netdata supports **simple patterns**.
+
+Simple patterns are a space separated list of words, that can have `*`
+as a wildcard. Each world may use any number of `*`. Simple patterns
+allow **negative** matches by prefixing a word with `!`.
+
+So, `pattern = !*bad* *` will match anything, except all those that
+contain the word `bad`. 
+
+Simple patterns are quite powerful: `pattern = *foobar* !foo* !*bar *`
+matches everything containing `foobar`, except strings that start
+with `foo` or end with `bar`.
+
+You can use the netdata command line to check simple patterns,
+like this:
+
+```sh
+# netdata -W simple-pattern '*foobar* !foo* !*bar *' 'hello world'
+RESULT: MATCHED - pattern '*foobar* !foo* !*bar *' matches 'hello world'
+
+# netdata -W simple-pattern '*foobar* !foo* !*bar *' 'hello world bar'
+RESULT: NOT MATCHED - pattern '*foobar* !foo* !*bar *' does not match 'hello world bar'
+
+# netdata -W simple-pattern '*foobar* !foo* !*bar *' 'hello world foobar'
+RESULT: MATCHED - pattern '*foobar* !foo* !*bar *' matches 'hello world foobar'
+```
+
+netdata stops processing to the first positive or negative match
+(left to right). If it is not matched by either positive or negative
+patterns, it is denied at the end.
+
diff --git a/src/simple_pattern.c b/libnetdata/simple_pattern/simple_pattern.c
index 747b5150a..57b0aecc8 100644
--- a/src/simple_pattern.c
+++ b/libnetdata/simple_pattern/simple_pattern.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 struct simple_pattern {
     const char *match;
diff --git a/src/simple_pattern.h b/libnetdata/simple_pattern/simple_pattern.h
index d0b75af7e..b96a018ef 100644
--- a/src/simple_pattern.h
+++ b/libnetdata/simple_pattern/simple_pattern.h
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_SIMPLE_PATTERN_H
 #define NETDATA_SIMPLE_PATTERN_H
 
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
+
+
 typedef enum {
     SIMPLE_PATTERN_EXACT,
     SIMPLE_PATTERN_PREFIX,
diff --git a/libnetdata/socket/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/socket/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
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+OPTIONAL_ZLIB_CLFAGS = @OPTIONAL_ZLIB_CLFAGS@
+OPTIONAL_ZLIB_LIBS = @OPTIONAL_ZLIB_LIBS@
+PACKAGE = @PACKAGE@
+PACKAGE_BUGREPORT = @PACKAGE_BUGREPORT@
+PACKAGE_NAME = @PACKAGE_NAME@
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+PACKAGE_RPM_VERSION = @PACKAGE_RPM_VERSION@
+PACKAGE_STRING = @PACKAGE_STRING@
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+PACKAGE_URL = @PACKAGE_URL@
+PACKAGE_VERSION = @PACKAGE_VERSION@
+PATH_SEPARATOR = @PATH_SEPARATOR@
+PKG_CONFIG = @PKG_CONFIG@
+PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR = @PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR@
+PKG_CONFIG_PATH = @PKG_CONFIG_PATH@
+PTHREAD_CC = @PTHREAD_CC@
+PTHREAD_CFLAGS = @PTHREAD_CFLAGS@
+PTHREAD_LIBS = @PTHREAD_LIBS@
+SET_MAKE = @SET_MAKE@
+SHELL = @SHELL@
+SSE_CANDIDATE = @SSE_CANDIDATE@
+STRIP = @STRIP@
+UUID_CFLAGS = @UUID_CFLAGS@
+UUID_LIBS = @UUID_LIBS@
+VERSION = @VERSION@
+ZLIB_CFLAGS = @ZLIB_CFLAGS@
+ZLIB_LIBS = @ZLIB_LIBS@
+abs_builddir = @abs_builddir@
+abs_srcdir = @abs_srcdir@
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+build_vendor = @build_vendor@
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+top_build_prefix = @top_build_prefix@
+top_builddir = @top_builddir@
+top_srcdir = @top_srcdir@
+varlibdir = @varlibdir@
+webdir = @webdir@
+AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
+
+all: all-am
+
+.SUFFIXES:
+$(srcdir)/Makefile.in: @MAINTAINER_MODE_TRUE@ $(srcdir)/Makefile.am  $(am__configure_deps)
+	@for dep in $?; do \
+	  case '$(am__configure_deps)' in \
+	    *$$dep*) \
+	      ( cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh ) \
+	        && { if test -f $@; then exit 0; else break; fi; }; \
+	      exit 1;; \
+	  esac; \
+	done; \
+	echo ' cd $(top_srcdir) && $(AUTOMAKE) --gnu libnetdata/socket/Makefile'; \
+	$(am__cd) $(top_srcdir) && \
+	  $(AUTOMAKE) --gnu libnetdata/socket/Makefile
+.PRECIOUS: Makefile
+Makefile: $(srcdir)/Makefile.in $(top_builddir)/config.status
+	@case '$?' in \
+	  *config.status*) \
+	    cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh;; \
+	  *) \
+	    echo ' cd $(top_builddir) && $(SHELL) ./config.status $(subdir)/$@ $(am__depfiles_maybe)'; \
+	    cd $(top_builddir) && $(SHELL) ./config.status $(subdir)/$@ $(am__depfiles_maybe);; \
+	esac;
+
+$(top_builddir)/config.status: $(top_srcdir)/configure $(CONFIG_STATUS_DEPENDENCIES)
+	cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh
+
+$(top_srcdir)/configure: @MAINTAINER_MODE_TRUE@ $(am__configure_deps)
+	cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh
+$(ACLOCAL_M4): @MAINTAINER_MODE_TRUE@ $(am__aclocal_m4_deps)
+	cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh
+$(am__aclocal_m4_deps):
+tags TAGS:
+
+ctags CTAGS:
+
+cscope cscopelist:
+
+
+distdir: $(DISTFILES)
+	@srcdirstrip=`echo "$(srcdir)" | sed 's/[].[^$$\\*]/\\\\&/g'`; \
+	topsrcdirstrip=`echo "$(top_srcdir)" | sed 's/[].[^$$\\*]/\\\\&/g'`; \
+	list='$(DISTFILES)'; \
+	  dist_files=`for file in $$list; do echo $$file; done | \
+	  sed -e "s|^$$srcdirstrip/||;t" \
+	      -e "s|^$$topsrcdirstrip/|$(top_builddir)/|;t"`; \
+	case $$dist_files in \
+	  */*) $(MKDIR_P) `echo "$$dist_files" | \
+			   sed '/\//!d;s|^|$(distdir)/|;s,/[^/]*$$,,' | \
+			   sort -u` ;; \
+	esac; \
+	for file in $$dist_files; do \
+	  if test -f $$file || test -d $$file; then d=.; else d=$(srcdir); fi; \
+	  if test -d $$d/$$file; then \
+	    dir=`echo "/$$file" | sed -e 's,/[^/]*$$,,'`; \
+	    if test -d "$(distdir)/$$file"; then \
+	      find "$(distdir)/$$file" -type d ! -perm -700 -exec chmod u+rwx {} \;; \
+	    fi; \
+	    if test -d $(srcdir)/$$file && test $$d != $(srcdir); then \
+	      cp -fpR $(srcdir)/$$file "$(distdir)$$dir" || exit 1; \
+	      find "$(distdir)/$$file" -type d ! -perm -700 -exec chmod u+rwx {} \;; \
+	    fi; \
+	    cp -fpR $$d/$$file "$(distdir)$$dir" || exit 1; \
+	  else \
+	    test -f "$(distdir)/$$file" \
+	    || cp -p $$d/$$file "$(distdir)/$$file" \
+	    || exit 1; \
+	  fi; \
+	done
+check-am: all-am
+check: check-am
+all-am: Makefile $(DATA)
+installdirs:
+install: install-am
+install-exec: install-exec-am
+install-data: install-data-am
+uninstall: uninstall-am
+
+install-am: all-am
+	@$(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) install-exec-am install-data-am
+
+installcheck: installcheck-am
+install-strip:
+	if test -z '$(STRIP)'; then \
+	  $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) INSTALL_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" \
+	    install_sh_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" INSTALL_STRIP_FLAG=-s \
+	      install; \
+	else \
+	  $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) INSTALL_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" \
+	    install_sh_PROGRAM="$(INSTALL_STRIP_PROGRAM)" INSTALL_STRIP_FLAG=-s \
+	    "INSTALL_PROGRAM_ENV=STRIPPROG='$(STRIP)'" install; \
+	fi
+mostlyclean-generic:
+
+clean-generic:
+
+distclean-generic:
+	-test -z "$(CONFIG_CLEAN_FILES)" || rm -f $(CONFIG_CLEAN_FILES)
+	-test . = "$(srcdir)" || test -z "$(CONFIG_CLEAN_VPATH_FILES)" || rm -f $(CONFIG_CLEAN_VPATH_FILES)
+
+maintainer-clean-generic:
+	@echo "This command is intended for maintainers to use"
+	@echo "it deletes files that may require special tools to rebuild."
+	-test -z "$(MAINTAINERCLEANFILES)" || rm -f $(MAINTAINERCLEANFILES)
+clean: clean-am
+
+clean-am: clean-generic mostlyclean-am
+
+distclean: distclean-am
+	-rm -f Makefile
+distclean-am: clean-am distclean-generic
+
+dvi: dvi-am
+
+dvi-am:
+
+html: html-am
+
+html-am:
+
+info: info-am
+
+info-am:
+
+install-data-am:
+
+install-dvi: install-dvi-am
+
+install-dvi-am:
+
+install-exec-am:
+
+install-html: install-html-am
+
+install-html-am:
+
+install-info: install-info-am
+
+install-info-am:
+
+install-man:
+
+install-pdf: install-pdf-am
+
+install-pdf-am:
+
+install-ps: install-ps-am
+
+install-ps-am:
+
+installcheck-am:
+
+maintainer-clean: maintainer-clean-am
+	-rm -f Makefile
+maintainer-clean-am: distclean-am maintainer-clean-generic
+
+mostlyclean: mostlyclean-am
+
+mostlyclean-am: mostlyclean-generic
+
+pdf: pdf-am
+
+pdf-am:
+
+ps: ps-am
+
+ps-am:
+
+uninstall-am:
+
+.MAKE: install-am install-strip
+
+.PHONY: all all-am check check-am clean clean-generic cscopelist-am \
+	ctags-am distclean distclean-generic distdir dvi dvi-am html \
+	html-am info info-am install install-am install-data \
+	install-data-am install-dvi install-dvi-am install-exec \
+	install-exec-am install-html install-html-am install-info \
+	install-info-am install-man install-pdf install-pdf-am \
+	install-ps install-ps-am install-strip installcheck \
+	installcheck-am installdirs maintainer-clean \
+	maintainer-clean-generic mostlyclean mostlyclean-generic pdf \
+	pdf-am ps ps-am tags-am uninstall uninstall-am
+
+
+# Tell versions [3.59,3.63) of GNU make to not export all variables.
+# Otherwise a system limit (for SysV at least) may be exceeded.
+.NOEXPORT:
diff --git a/libnetdata/socket/README.md b/libnetdata/socket/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/socket/README.md
diff --git a/src/socket.c b/libnetdata/socket/socket.c
index 8bede73fd..c266efeb4 100644
--- a/src/socket.c
+++ b/libnetdata/socket/socket.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // various library calls
@@ -45,12 +47,14 @@ int sock_setreuse(int fd, int reuse) {
 }
 
 int sock_setreuse_port(int fd, int reuse) {
-    int ret = -1;
+    int ret;
 
 #ifdef SO_REUSEPORT
     ret = setsockopt(fd, SOL_SOCKET, SO_REUSEPORT, &reuse, sizeof(reuse));
     if(ret == -1 && errno != ENOPROTOOPT)
         error("failed to set SO_REUSEPORT on socket %d", fd);
+#else
+    ret = -1;
 #endif
 
     return ret;
@@ -80,7 +84,7 @@ int sock_enlarge_out(int fd) {
 
 // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-char *strdup_client_description(int family, const char *protocol, const char *ip, int port) {
+char *strdup_client_description(int family, const char *protocol, const char *ip, uint16_t port) {
     char buffer[100 + 1];
 
     switch(family) {
@@ -148,7 +152,7 @@ int create_listen_socket_unix(const char *path, int listen_backlog) {
     return sock;
 }
 
-int create_listen_socket4(int socktype, const char *ip, int port, int listen_backlog) {
+int create_listen_socket4(int socktype, const char *ip, uint16_t port, int listen_backlog) {
     int sock;
 
     debug(D_LISTENER, "LISTENER: IPv4 creating new listening socket on ip '%s' port %d, socktype %d", ip, port, socktype);
@@ -244,7 +248,7 @@ int create_listen_socket6(int socktype, uint32_t scope_id, const char *ip, int p
     return sock;
 }
 
-static inline int listen_sockets_add(LISTEN_SOCKETS *sockets, int fd, int family, int socktype, const char *protocol, const char *ip, int port) {
+static inline int listen_sockets_add(LISTEN_SOCKETS *sockets, int fd, int family, int socktype, const char *protocol, const char *ip, uint16_t port) {
     if(sockets->opened >= MAX_LISTEN_FDS) {
         error("LISTENER: Too many listening sockets. Failed to add listening %s socket at ip '%s' port %d, protocol %s, socktype %d", protocol, ip, port, protocol, socktype);
         close(fd);
@@ -296,7 +300,7 @@ void listen_sockets_close(LISTEN_SOCKETS *sockets) {
     sockets->failed = 0;
 }
 
-static inline int bind_to_this(LISTEN_SOCKETS *sockets, const char *definition, int default_port, int listen_backlog) {
+static inline int bind_to_this(LISTEN_SOCKETS *sockets, const char *definition, uint16_t default_port, int listen_backlog) {
     int added = 0;
     struct addrinfo hints;
     struct addrinfo *result = NULL, *rp = NULL;
@@ -396,10 +400,10 @@ static inline int bind_to_this(LISTEN_SOCKETS *sockets, const char *definition,
 
     for (rp = result; rp != NULL; rp = rp->ai_next) {
         int fd = -1;
-        int family = -1;
+        int family;
 
         char rip[INET_ADDRSTRLEN + INET6_ADDRSTRLEN] = "INVALID";
-        int rport = default_port;
+        uint16_t rport = default_port;
 
         family = rp->ai_addr->sa_family;
         switch (family) {
@@ -444,17 +448,19 @@ static inline int bind_to_this(LISTEN_SOCKETS *sockets, const char *definition,
 int listen_sockets_setup(LISTEN_SOCKETS *sockets) {
     listen_sockets_init(sockets);
 
-    sockets->backlog = (int) config_get_number(sockets->config_section, "listen backlog", sockets->backlog);
+    sockets->backlog = (int) appconfig_get_number(sockets->config, sockets->config_section, "listen backlog", sockets->backlog);
 
-    int old_port = sockets->default_port;
-    sockets->default_port = (int) config_get_number(sockets->config_section, "default port", sockets->default_port);
-    if(sockets->default_port < 1 || sockets->default_port > 65535) {
-        error("LISTENER: Invalid listen port %d given. Defaulting to %d.", sockets->default_port, old_port);
-        sockets->default_port = (int) config_set_number(sockets->config_section, "default port", old_port);
+    long long int old_port = sockets->default_port;
+    long long int new_port = appconfig_get_number(sockets->config, sockets->config_section, "default port", sockets->default_port);
+    if(new_port < 1 || new_port > 65535) {
+        error("LISTENER: Invalid listen port %lld given. Defaulting to %lld.", new_port, old_port);
+        sockets->default_port = (uint16_t) appconfig_set_number(sockets->config, sockets->config_section, "default port", old_port);
     }
+    else sockets->default_port = (uint16_t)new_port;
+
     debug(D_OPTIONS, "LISTENER: Default listen port set to %d.", sockets->default_port);
 
-    char *s = config_get(sockets->config_section, "bind to", sockets->default_bind_to);
+    char *s = appconfig_get(sockets->config, sockets->config_section, "bind to", sockets->default_bind_to);
     while(*s) {
         char *e = s;
 
@@ -585,6 +591,8 @@ static inline int connect_to_this_ip46(int protocol, int socktype, const char *h
         switch (ai->ai_addr->sa_family) {
             case PF_INET: {
                 struct sockaddr_in *pSadrIn = (struct sockaddr_in *)ai->ai_addr;
+                (void)pSadrIn;
+
                 debug(D_CONNECT_TO, "ai_addr = sin_family: %d (AF_INET = %d, AF_INET6 = %d), sin_addr: '%s', sin_port: '%s'",
                       pSadrIn->sin_family,
                       AF_INET,
@@ -596,6 +604,8 @@ static inline int connect_to_this_ip46(int protocol, int socktype, const char *h
 
             case PF_INET6: {
                 struct sockaddr_in6 *pSadrIn6 = (struct sockaddr_in6 *) ai->ai_addr;
+                (void)pSadrIn6;
+
                 debug(D_CONNECT_TO,"ai_addr = sin6_family: %d (AF_INET = %d, AF_INET6 = %d), sin6_addr: '%s', sin6_port: '%s', sin6_flowinfo: %u, sin6_scope_id: %u",
                       pSadrIn6->sin6_family,
                       AF_INET,
@@ -968,10 +978,10 @@ inline POLLINFO *poll_add_fd(POLLJOB *p
                              , uint32_t flags
                              , const char *client_ip
                              , const char *client_port
-                             , void *(*add_callback)(POLLINFO *pi, short int *events, void *data)
-                             , void  (*del_callback)(POLLINFO *pi)
-                             , int   (*rcv_callback)(POLLINFO *pi, short int *events)
-                             , int   (*snd_callback)(POLLINFO *pi, short int *events)
+                             , void *(*add_callback)(POLLINFO * /*pi*/, short int * /*events*/, void * /*data*/)
+                             , void  (*del_callback)(POLLINFO * /*pi*/)
+                             , int   (*rcv_callback)(POLLINFO * /*pi*/, short int * /*events*/)
+                             , int   (*snd_callback)(POLLINFO * /*pi*/, short int * /*events*/)
                              , void *data
 ) {
     debug(D_POLLFD, "POLLFD: ADD: request to add fd %d, slots = %zu, used = %zu, min = %zu, max = %zu, next free = %zd", fd, p->slots, p->used, p->min, p->max, p->first_free?(ssize_t)p->first_free->slot:(ssize_t)-1);
@@ -1286,7 +1296,9 @@ static void poll_events_process(POLLJOB *p, POLLINFO *pi, struct pollfd *pf, sho
 
                     debug(D_POLLFD, "POLLFD: LISTENER: reading data from UDP slot %zu (fd %d)", i, fd);
 
-                    // FIXME: access_list is not applied to UDP
+                    // TODO: access_list is not applied to UDP
+                    // but checking the access list on every UDP packet will destroy
+                    // performance, especially for statsd.
 
                     pf->events = 0;
                     pi->rcv_callback(pi, &pf->events);
@@ -1349,11 +1361,11 @@ static void poll_events_process(POLLJOB *p, POLLINFO *pi, struct pollfd *pf, sho
 }
 
 void poll_events(LISTEN_SOCKETS *sockets
-        , void *(*add_callback)(POLLINFO *pi, short int *events, void *data)
-        , void  (*del_callback)(POLLINFO *pi)
-        , int   (*rcv_callback)(POLLINFO *pi, short int *events)
-        , int   (*snd_callback)(POLLINFO *pi, short int *events)
-        , void  (*tmr_callback)(void *timer_data)
+        , void *(*add_callback)(POLLINFO * /*pi*/, short int * /*events*/, void * /*data*/)
+        , void  (*del_callback)(POLLINFO * /*pi*/)
+        , int   (*rcv_callback)(POLLINFO * /*pi*/, short int * /*events*/)
+        , int   (*snd_callback)(POLLINFO * /*pi*/, short int * /*events*/)
+        , void  (*tmr_callback)(void * /*timer_data*/)
         , SIMPLE_PATTERN *access_list
         , void *data
         , time_t tcp_request_timeout_seconds
@@ -1423,6 +1435,8 @@ void poll_events(LISTEN_SOCKETS *sockets
 
     usec_t timer_usec = timer_milliseconds * USEC_PER_MS;
     usec_t now_usec = 0, next_timer_usec = 0, last_timer_usec = 0;
+    (void)last_timer_usec;
+
     if(unlikely(timer_usec)) {
         now_usec = now_boottime_usec();
         next_timer_usec = now_usec - (now_usec % timer_usec) + timer_usec;
diff --git a/src/socket.h b/libnetdata/socket/socket.h
index 7b3e726ec..f5412b63d 100644
--- a/src/socket.h
+++ b/libnetdata/socket/socket.h
@@ -1,14 +1,19 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_SOCKET_H
 #define NETDATA_SOCKET_H
 
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
+
 #ifndef MAX_LISTEN_FDS
 #define MAX_LISTEN_FDS 50
 #endif
 
 typedef struct listen_sockets {
+    struct config *config;              // the config file to use
     const char *config_section;         // the netdata configuration section to read settings from
     const char *default_bind_to;        // the default bind to configuration string
-    int default_port;                   // the default port to use
+    uint16_t default_port;              // the default port to use
     int backlog;                        // the default listen backlog to use
 
     size_t opened;                      // the number of sockets opened
@@ -19,7 +24,7 @@ typedef struct listen_sockets {
     int fds_families[MAX_LISTEN_FDS];   // the family of the open sockets (AF_UNIX, AF_INET, AF_INET6)
 } LISTEN_SOCKETS;
 
-extern char *strdup_client_description(int family, const char *protocol, const char *ip, int port);
+extern char *strdup_client_description(int family, const char *protocol, const char *ip, uint16_t port);
 
 extern int listen_sockets_setup(LISTEN_SOCKETS *sockets);
 extern void listen_sockets_close(LISTEN_SOCKETS *sockets);
diff --git a/libnetdata/statistical/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/statistical/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/statistical/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+
+
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
diff --git a/libnetdata/statistical/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/statistical/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8209a1ecb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/statistical/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
+# Makefile.in generated by automake 1.14.1 from Makefile.am.
+# @configure_input@
+
+# Copyright (C) 1994-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+# This Makefile.in is free software; the Free Software Foundation
+# gives unlimited permission to copy and/or distribute it,
+# with or without modifications, as long as this notice is preserved.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law; without
+# even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
+# PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+
+@SET_MAKE@
+
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+VPATH = @srcdir@
+am__is_gnu_make = test -n '$(MAKEFILE_LIST)' && test -n '$(MAKELEVEL)'
+am__make_running_with_option = \
+  case $${target_option-} in \
+      ?) ;; \
+      *) echo "am__make_running_with_option: internal error: invalid" \
+              "target option '$${target_option-}' specified" >&2; \
+         exit 1;; \
+  esac; \
+  has_opt=no; \
+  sane_makeflags=$$MAKEFLAGS; \
+  if $(am__is_gnu_make); then \
+    sane_makeflags=$$MFLAGS; \
+  else \
+    case $$MAKEFLAGS in \
+      *\\[\ \	]*) \
+        bs=\\; \
+        sane_makeflags=`printf '%s\n' "$$MAKEFLAGS" \
+          | sed "s/$$bs$$bs[$$bs $$bs	]*//g"`;; \
+    esac; \
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diff --git a/libnetdata/statistical/README.md b/libnetdata/statistical/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/statistical/README.md
diff --git a/src/statistical.c b/libnetdata/statistical/statistical.c
index d4b33fd5a..15792fd15 100644
--- a/src/statistical.c
+++ b/libnetdata/statistical/statistical.c
@@ -1,37 +1,36 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
 
-// --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-inline LONG_DOUBLE sum_and_count(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, size_t *count) {
-    if(unlikely(entries == 0)) {
-        if(likely(count))
-            *count = 0;
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
-        return NAN;
-    }
+LONG_DOUBLE default_single_exponential_smoothing_alpha = 0.1;
 
-    if(unlikely(entries == 1)) {
-        if(likely(count))
-            *count = (isnan(series[0])?0:1);
+void log_series_to_stderr(LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, calculated_number result, const char *msg) {
+    const LONG_DOUBLE *value, *end = &series[entries];
 
-        return series[0];
+    fprintf(stderr, "%s of %zu entries [ ", msg, entries);
+    for(value = series; value < end ;value++) {
+        if(value != series) fprintf(stderr, ", ");
+        fprintf(stderr, "%" LONG_DOUBLE_MODIFIER, *value);
     }
+    fprintf(stderr, " ] results in " CALCULATED_NUMBER_FORMAT "\n", result);
+}
+
+// --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-    size_t i, c = 0;
+inline LONG_DOUBLE sum_and_count(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, size_t *count) {
+    const LONG_DOUBLE *value, *end = &series[entries];
     LONG_DOUBLE sum = 0;
+    size_t c = 0;
 
-    for(i = 0; i < entries ; i++) {
-        LONG_DOUBLE value = series[i];
-        if(unlikely(isnan(value) || isinf(value))) continue;
-        c++;
-        sum += value;
+    for(value = series; value < end ; value++) {
+        if(isnormal(*value)) {
+            sum += *value;
+            c++;
+        }
     }
 
-    if(likely(count))
-        *count = c;
-
-    if(unlikely(c == 0))
-        return NAN;
+    if(unlikely(!c)) sum = NAN;
+    if(likely(count)) *count = c;
 
     return sum;
 }
@@ -44,9 +43,7 @@ inline LONG_DOUBLE average(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries) {
     size_t count = 0;
     LONG_DOUBLE sum = sum_and_count(series, entries, &count);
 
-    if(unlikely(count == 0))
-        return NAN;
-
+    if(unlikely(!count)) return NAN;
     return sum / (LONG_DOUBLE)count;
 }
 
@@ -65,7 +62,7 @@ LONG_DOUBLE moving_average(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, size_t per
 
     for(i = 0, count = 0; i < entries; i++) {
         LONG_DOUBLE value = series[i];
-        if(unlikely(isnan(value) || isinf(value))) continue;
+        if(unlikely(!isnormal(value))) continue;
 
         if(unlikely(count < period)) {
             sum += value;
@@ -116,33 +113,25 @@ inline LONG_DOUBLE *copy_series(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries) {
 }
 
 LONG_DOUBLE median_on_sorted_series(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries) {
-    if(unlikely(entries == 0))
-        return NAN;
-
-    if(unlikely(entries == 1))
-        return series[0];
-
-    if(unlikely(entries == 2))
-        return (series[0] + series[1]) / 2;
+    if(unlikely(entries == 0)) return NAN;
+    if(unlikely(entries == 1)) return series[0];
+    if(unlikely(entries == 2)) return (series[0] + series[1]) / 2;
 
-    LONG_DOUBLE avg;
+    LONG_DOUBLE average;
     if(entries % 2 == 0) {
         size_t m = entries / 2;
-        avg = (series[m] + series[m + 1]) / 2;
+        average = (series[m] + series[m + 1]) / 2;
     }
     else {
-        avg = series[entries / 2];
+        average = series[entries / 2];
     }
 
-    return avg;
+    return average;
 }
 
 LONG_DOUBLE median(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries) {
-    if(unlikely(entries == 0))
-        return NAN;
-
-    if(unlikely(entries == 1))
-        return series[0];
+    if(unlikely(entries == 0)) return NAN;
+    if(unlikely(entries == 1)) return series[0];
 
     if(unlikely(entries == 2))
         return (series[0] + series[1]) / 2;
@@ -184,7 +173,7 @@ LONG_DOUBLE running_median_estimate(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries) {
 
     for(i = 0; i < entries ; i++) {
         LONG_DOUBLE value = series[i];
-        if(unlikely(isnan(value) || isinf(value))) continue;
+        if(unlikely(!isnormal(value))) continue;
 
         average += ( value - average ) * 0.1f; // rough running average.
         median += copysignl( average * 0.01, value - median );
@@ -196,47 +185,36 @@ LONG_DOUBLE running_median_estimate(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries) {
 // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 LONG_DOUBLE standard_deviation(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries) {
-    if(unlikely(entries < 1))
-        return NAN;
-
-    if(unlikely(entries == 1))
-        return series[0];
-
-    size_t i, count = 0;
-    LONG_DOUBLE sum = 0;
+    if(unlikely(entries == 0)) return NAN;
+    if(unlikely(entries == 1)) return series[0];
 
-    for(i = 0; i < entries ; i++) {
-        LONG_DOUBLE value = series[i];
-        if(unlikely(isnan(value) || isinf(value))) continue;
+    const LONG_DOUBLE *value, *end = &series[entries];
+    size_t count;
+    LONG_DOUBLE sum;
 
-        count++;
-        sum += value;
+    for(count = 0, sum = 0, value = series ; value < end ;value++) {
+        if(likely(isnormal(*value))) {
+            count++;
+            sum += *value;
+        }
     }
 
-    if(unlikely(count == 0))
-        return NAN;
-
-    if(unlikely(count == 1))
-        return sum;
+    if(unlikely(count == 0)) return NAN;
+    if(unlikely(count == 1)) return sum;
 
     LONG_DOUBLE average = sum / (LONG_DOUBLE)count;
 
-    for(i = 0, count = 0, sum = 0; i < entries ; i++) {
-        LONG_DOUBLE value = series[i];
-        if(unlikely(isnan(value) || isinf(value))) continue;
-
-        count++;
-        sum += powl(value - average, 2);
+    for(count = 0, sum = 0, value = series ; value < end ;value++) {
+        if(isnormal(*value)) {
+            count++;
+            sum += powl(*value - average, 2);
+        }
     }
 
-    if(unlikely(count == 0))
-        return NAN;
-
-    if(unlikely(count == 1))
-        return average;
-
-    LONG_DOUBLE variance = sum / (LONG_DOUBLE)(count - 1); // remove -1 to have a population stddev
+    if(unlikely(count == 0)) return NAN;
+    if(unlikely(count == 1)) return average;
 
+    LONG_DOUBLE variance = sum / (LONG_DOUBLE)(count); // remove -1 from count to have a population stddev
     LONG_DOUBLE stddev = sqrtl(variance);
     return stddev;
 }
@@ -244,21 +222,36 @@ LONG_DOUBLE standard_deviation(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries) {
 // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 LONG_DOUBLE single_exponential_smoothing(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, LONG_DOUBLE alpha) {
-    size_t i, count = 0;
-    LONG_DOUBLE level = 0, sum = 0;
+    if(unlikely(entries == 0))
+        return NAN;
 
     if(unlikely(isnan(alpha)))
-        alpha = 0.3;
+        alpha = default_single_exponential_smoothing_alpha;
 
-    for(i = 0; i < entries ; i++) {
-        LONG_DOUBLE value = series[i];
-        if(unlikely(isnan(value) || isinf(value))) continue;
-        count++;
+    const LONG_DOUBLE *value = series, *end = &series[entries];
+    LONG_DOUBLE level = (1.0 - alpha) * (*value);
+
+    for(value++ ; value < end; value++) {
+        if(likely(isnormal(*value)))
+            level = alpha * (*value) + (1.0 - alpha) * level;
+    }
 
-        sum += value;
+    return level;
+}
+
+LONG_DOUBLE single_exponential_smoothing_reverse(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, LONG_DOUBLE alpha) {
+    if(unlikely(entries == 0))
+        return NAN;
 
-        LONG_DOUBLE last_level = level;
-        level = alpha * value + (1.0 - alpha) * last_level;
+    if(unlikely(isnan(alpha)))
+        alpha = default_single_exponential_smoothing_alpha;
+
+    const LONG_DOUBLE *value = &series[entries -1];
+    LONG_DOUBLE level = (1.0 - alpha) * (*value);
+
+    for(value++ ; value >= series; value--) {
+        if(likely(isnormal(*value)))
+            level = alpha * (*value) + (1.0 - alpha) * level;
     }
 
     return level;
@@ -268,8 +261,10 @@ LONG_DOUBLE single_exponential_smoothing(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entri
 
 // http://grisha.org/blog/2016/02/16/triple-exponential-smoothing-forecasting-part-ii/
 LONG_DOUBLE double_exponential_smoothing(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, LONG_DOUBLE alpha, LONG_DOUBLE beta, LONG_DOUBLE *forecast) {
-    size_t i, count = 0;
-    LONG_DOUBLE level = series[0], trend, sum;
+    if(unlikely(entries == 0))
+        return NAN;
+
+    LONG_DOUBLE level, trend;
 
     if(unlikely(isnan(alpha)))
         alpha = 0.3;
@@ -277,24 +272,22 @@ LONG_DOUBLE double_exponential_smoothing(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entri
     if(unlikely(isnan(beta)))
         beta = 0.05;
 
+    level = series[0];
+
     if(likely(entries > 1))
         trend = series[1] - series[0];
     else
         trend = 0;
 
-    sum = series[0];
-
-    for(i = 1; i < entries ; i++) {
-        LONG_DOUBLE value = series[i];
-        if(unlikely(isnan(value) || isinf(value))) continue;
-        count++;
+    const LONG_DOUBLE *value = series;
+    for(value++ ; value >= series; value--) {
+        if(likely(isnormal(*value))) {
 
-        sum += value;
+            LONG_DOUBLE last_level = level;
+            level = alpha * *value + (1.0 - alpha) * (level + trend);
+            trend = beta * (level - last_level) + (1.0 - beta) * trend;
 
-        LONG_DOUBLE last_level = level;
-
-        level = alpha * value + (1.0 - alpha) * (level + trend);
-        trend = beta * (level - last_level) + (1.0 - beta) * trend;
+        }
     }
 
     if(forecast)
diff --git a/src/statistical.h b/libnetdata/statistical/statistical.h
index 675389021..586c6b34a 100644
--- a/src/statistical.h
+++ b/libnetdata/statistical/statistical.h
@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_STATISTICAL_H
-#define NETDATA_STATISTICAL_H
+#define NETDATA_STATISTICAL_H 1
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
+
+#ifndef isnormal
+#define isnormal(x) (fpclassify(x) == FP_NORMAL)
+#endif
+
+extern void log_series_to_stderr(LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, calculated_number result, const char *msg);
 
 extern LONG_DOUBLE average(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries);
 extern LONG_DOUBLE moving_average(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, size_t period);
@@ -8,6 +18,7 @@ extern LONG_DOUBLE moving_median(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, size
 extern LONG_DOUBLE running_median_estimate(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries);
 extern LONG_DOUBLE standard_deviation(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries);
 extern LONG_DOUBLE single_exponential_smoothing(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, LONG_DOUBLE alpha);
+extern LONG_DOUBLE single_exponential_smoothing_reverse(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, LONG_DOUBLE alpha);
 extern LONG_DOUBLE double_exponential_smoothing(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, LONG_DOUBLE alpha, LONG_DOUBLE beta, LONG_DOUBLE *forecast);
 extern LONG_DOUBLE holtwinters(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, LONG_DOUBLE alpha, LONG_DOUBLE beta, LONG_DOUBLE gamma, LONG_DOUBLE *forecast);
 extern LONG_DOUBLE sum_and_count(const LONG_DOUBLE *series, size_t entries, size_t *count);
diff --git a/libnetdata/storage_number/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/storage_number/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/storage_number/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
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+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+
+
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
diff --git a/libnetdata/storage_number/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/storage_number/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1ab5afd87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/storage_number/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
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diff --git a/libnetdata/storage_number/README.md b/libnetdata/storage_number/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..206c42b87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/storage_number/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# netdata storage number
+
+Although `netdata` does all its calculations using `long double`, it stores all values using
+a **custom-made 32-bit number**.
+
+This custom-made number can store in 29 bits values from `-167772150000000.0` to  `167772150000000.0`
+with a precision of 0.00001 (yes, it's a floating point number, meaning that higher integer values
+have less decimal precision) and 3 bits for flags.
+
+This provides an extremely optimized memory footprint with just 0.0001% max accuracy loss.
diff --git a/src/storage_number.c b/libnetdata/storage_number/storage_number.c
index c7bbaa8d9..db4cb700b 100644
--- a/src/storage_number.c
+++ b/libnetdata/storage_number/storage_number.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 storage_number pack_storage_number(calculated_number value, uint32_t flags)
 {
diff --git a/src/storage_number.h b/libnetdata/storage_number/storage_number.h
index ef81863fd..5353ab60b 100644
--- a/src/storage_number.h
+++ b/libnetdata/storage_number/storage_number.h
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_STORAGE_NUMBER_H
-#define NETDATA_STORAGE_NUMBER_H
+#define NETDATA_STORAGE_NUMBER_H 1
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 #ifdef NETDATA_WITHOUT_LONG_DOUBLE
 
diff --git a/libnetdata/threads/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/threads/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/threads/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
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new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0a4460bcc
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@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
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+	installcheck-am installdirs maintainer-clean \
+	maintainer-clean-generic mostlyclean mostlyclean-generic pdf \
+	pdf-am ps ps-am tags-am uninstall uninstall-am
+
+
+# Tell versions [3.59,3.63) of GNU make to not export all variables.
+# Otherwise a system limit (for SysV at least) may be exceeded.
+.NOEXPORT:
diff --git a/libnetdata/threads/README.md b/libnetdata/threads/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/threads/README.md
diff --git a/src/threads.c b/libnetdata/threads/threads.c
index b9ca3c085..133d9a547 100644
--- a/src/threads.c
+++ b/libnetdata/threads/threads.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 static size_t default_stacksize = 0, wanted_stacksize = 0;
 static pthread_attr_t *attr = NULL;
diff --git a/src/threads.h b/libnetdata/threads/threads.h
index e2ed6a4ff..eec6ad0e3 100644
--- a/src/threads.h
+++ b/libnetdata/threads/threads.h
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_THREADS_H
-#define NETDATA_THREADS_H
+#define NETDATA_THREADS_H 1
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 extern pid_t gettid(void);
 
diff --git a/libnetdata/url/Makefile.am b/libnetdata/url/Makefile.am
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1cb69ed99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/url/Makefile.am
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+
+
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
diff --git a/libnetdata/url/Makefile.in b/libnetdata/url/Makefile.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8ccc4fd64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/url/Makefile.in
@@ -0,0 +1,464 @@
+# Makefile.in generated by automake 1.14.1 from Makefile.am.
+# @configure_input@
+
+# Copyright (C) 1994-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+# This Makefile.in is free software; the Free Software Foundation
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+# with or without modifications, as long as this notice is preserved.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law; without
+# even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
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+AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = subdir-objects
+MAINTAINERCLEANFILES = $(srcdir)/Makefile.in
+dist_noinst_DATA = \
+	README.md \
+	$(NULL)
+
+all: all-am
+
+.SUFFIXES:
+$(srcdir)/Makefile.in: @MAINTAINER_MODE_TRUE@ $(srcdir)/Makefile.am  $(am__configure_deps)
+	@for dep in $?; do \
+	  case '$(am__configure_deps)' in \
+	    *$$dep*) \
+	      ( cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh ) \
+	        && { if test -f $@; then exit 0; else break; fi; }; \
+	      exit 1;; \
+	  esac; \
+	done; \
+	echo ' cd $(top_srcdir) && $(AUTOMAKE) --gnu libnetdata/url/Makefile'; \
+	$(am__cd) $(top_srcdir) && \
+	  $(AUTOMAKE) --gnu libnetdata/url/Makefile
+.PRECIOUS: Makefile
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+	@case '$?' in \
+	  *config.status*) \
+	    cd $(top_builddir) && $(MAKE) $(AM_MAKEFLAGS) am--refresh;; \
+	  *) \
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+			   sed '/\//!d;s|^|$(distdir)/|;s,/[^/]*$$,,' | \
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+	fi
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diff --git a/libnetdata/url/README.md b/libnetdata/url/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libnetdata/url/README.md
diff --git a/src/url.c b/libnetdata/url/url.c
index 6be4d9648..07a9f8069 100644
--- a/src/url.c
+++ b/libnetdata/url/url.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "common.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // URL encode / decode
@@ -58,7 +60,9 @@ char *url_decode_r(char *to, char *url, size_t size) {
     while(*s && d < e) {
         if(unlikely(*s == '%')) {
             if(likely(s[1] && s[2])) {
-                *d++ = from_hex(s[1]) << 4 | from_hex(s[2]);
+                char t = from_hex(s[1]) << 4 | from_hex(s[2]);
+                // avoid HTTP header injection
+                *d++ = (char)((isprint(t))? t : ' ');
                 s += 2;
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/url.h b/libnetdata/url/url.h
index fa44d49a8..6cef6d7a8 100644
--- a/src/url.h
+++ b/libnetdata/url/url.h
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
+
 #ifndef NETDATA_URL_H
 #define NETDATA_URL_H 1
 
+#include "../libnetdata.h"
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // URL encode / decode
 // code from: http://www.geekhideout.com/urlcode.shtml