Merge pull request #1 from google/master

catch up

7 files changed, 1449 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/pkg/safemem/BUILD b/pkg/safemem/BUILD
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ce30382ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/safemem/BUILD
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+load("//tools:defs.bzl", "go_library", "go_test")
+
+package(licenses = ["notice"])
+
+go_library(
+    name = "safemem",
+    srcs = [
+        "block_unsafe.go",
+        "io.go",
+        "safemem.go",
+        "seq_unsafe.go",
+    ],
+    visibility = ["//:sandbox"],
+    deps = [
+        "//pkg/safecopy",
+    ],
+)
+
+go_test(
+    name = "safemem_test",
+    size = "small",
+    srcs = [
+        "io_test.go",
+        "seq_test.go",
+    ],
+    library = ":safemem",
+)
diff --git a/pkg/safemem/block_unsafe.go b/pkg/safemem/block_unsafe.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e7fd30743
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/safemem/block_unsafe.go
@@ -0,0 +1,279 @@
+// Copyright 2018 The gVisor Authors.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package safemem
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
+	"unsafe"
+
+	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/safecopy"
+)
+
+// A Block is a range of contiguous bytes, similar to []byte but with the
+// following differences:
+//
+// - The memory represented by a Block may require the use of safecopy to
+// access.
+//
+// - Block does not carry a capacity and cannot be expanded.
+//
+// Blocks are immutable and may be copied by value. The zero value of Block
+// represents an empty range, analogous to a nil []byte.
+type Block struct {
+	// [start, start+length) is the represented memory.
+	//
+	// start is an unsafe.Pointer to ensure that Block prevents the represented
+	// memory from being garbage-collected.
+	start  unsafe.Pointer
+	length int
+
+	// needSafecopy is true if accessing the represented memory requires the
+	// use of safecopy.
+	needSafecopy bool
+}
+
+// BlockFromSafeSlice returns a Block equivalent to slice, which is safe to
+// access without safecopy.
+func BlockFromSafeSlice(slice []byte) Block {
+	return blockFromSlice(slice, false)
+}
+
+// BlockFromUnsafeSlice returns a Block equivalent to bs, which is not safe to
+// access without safecopy.
+func BlockFromUnsafeSlice(slice []byte) Block {
+	return blockFromSlice(slice, true)
+}
+
+func blockFromSlice(slice []byte, needSafecopy bool) Block {
+	if len(slice) == 0 {
+		return Block{}
+	}
+	return Block{
+		start:        unsafe.Pointer(&slice[0]),
+		length:       len(slice),
+		needSafecopy: needSafecopy,
+	}
+}
+
+// BlockFromSafePointer returns a Block equivalent to [ptr, ptr+len), which is
+// safe to access without safecopy.
+//
+// Preconditions: ptr+len does not overflow.
+func BlockFromSafePointer(ptr unsafe.Pointer, len int) Block {
+	return blockFromPointer(ptr, len, false)
+}
+
+// BlockFromUnsafePointer returns a Block equivalent to [ptr, ptr+len), which
+// is not safe to access without safecopy.
+//
+// Preconditions: ptr+len does not overflow.
+func BlockFromUnsafePointer(ptr unsafe.Pointer, len int) Block {
+	return blockFromPointer(ptr, len, true)
+}
+
+func blockFromPointer(ptr unsafe.Pointer, len int, needSafecopy bool) Block {
+	if uptr := uintptr(ptr); uptr+uintptr(len) < uptr {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("ptr %#x + len %#x overflows", ptr, len))
+	}
+	return Block{
+		start:        ptr,
+		length:       len,
+		needSafecopy: needSafecopy,
+	}
+}
+
+// DropFirst returns a Block equivalent to b, but with the first n bytes
+// omitted. It is analogous to the [n:] operation on a slice, except that if n
+// > b.Len(), DropFirst returns an empty Block instead of panicking.
+//
+// Preconditions: n >= 0.
+func (b Block) DropFirst(n int) Block {
+	if n < 0 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid n: %d", n))
+	}
+	return b.DropFirst64(uint64(n))
+}
+
+// DropFirst64 is equivalent to DropFirst but takes a uint64.
+func (b Block) DropFirst64(n uint64) Block {
+	if n >= uint64(b.length) {
+		return Block{}
+	}
+	return Block{
+		start:        unsafe.Pointer(uintptr(b.start) + uintptr(n)),
+		length:       b.length - int(n),
+		needSafecopy: b.needSafecopy,
+	}
+}
+
+// TakeFirst returns a Block equivalent to the first n bytes of b. It is
+// analogous to the [:n] operation on a slice, except that if n > b.Len(),
+// TakeFirst returns a copy of b instead of panicking.
+//
+// Preconditions: n >= 0.
+func (b Block) TakeFirst(n int) Block {
+	if n < 0 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid n: %d", n))
+	}
+	return b.TakeFirst64(uint64(n))
+}
+
+// TakeFirst64 is equivalent to TakeFirst but takes a uint64.
+func (b Block) TakeFirst64(n uint64) Block {
+	if n == 0 {
+		return Block{}
+	}
+	if n >= uint64(b.length) {
+		return b
+	}
+	return Block{
+		start:        b.start,
+		length:       int(n),
+		needSafecopy: b.needSafecopy,
+	}
+}
+
+// ToSlice returns a []byte equivalent to b.
+func (b Block) ToSlice() []byte {
+	var bs []byte
+	hdr := (*reflect.SliceHeader)(unsafe.Pointer(&bs))
+	hdr.Data = uintptr(b.start)
+	hdr.Len = b.length
+	hdr.Cap = b.length
+	return bs
+}
+
+// Addr returns b's start address as a uintptr. It returns uintptr instead of
+// unsafe.Pointer so that code using safemem cannot obtain unsafe.Pointers
+// without importing the unsafe package explicitly.
+//
+// Note that a uintptr is not recognized as a pointer by the garbage collector,
+// such that if there are no uses of b after a call to b.Addr() and the address
+// is to Go-managed memory, the returned uintptr does not prevent garbage
+// collection of the pointee.
+func (b Block) Addr() uintptr {
+	return uintptr(b.start)
+}
+
+// Len returns b's length in bytes.
+func (b Block) Len() int {
+	return b.length
+}
+
+// NeedSafecopy returns true if accessing b.ToSlice() requires the use of safecopy.
+func (b Block) NeedSafecopy() bool {
+	return b.needSafecopy
+}
+
+// String implements fmt.Stringer.String.
+func (b Block) String() string {
+	if uintptr(b.start) == 0 && b.length == 0 {
+		return "<nil>"
+	}
+	var suffix string
+	if b.needSafecopy {
+		suffix = "*"
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("[%#x-%#x)%s", uintptr(b.start), uintptr(b.start)+uintptr(b.length), suffix)
+}
+
+// Copy copies src.Len() or dst.Len() bytes, whichever is less, from src
+// to dst and returns the number of bytes copied.
+//
+// If src and dst overlap, the data stored in dst is unspecified.
+func Copy(dst, src Block) (int, error) {
+	if !dst.needSafecopy && !src.needSafecopy {
+		return copy(dst.ToSlice(), src.ToSlice()), nil
+	}
+
+	n := dst.length
+	if n > src.length {
+		n = src.length
+	}
+	if n == 0 {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+
+	switch {
+	case dst.needSafecopy && !src.needSafecopy:
+		return safecopy.CopyOut(dst.start, src.TakeFirst(n).ToSlice())
+	case !dst.needSafecopy && src.needSafecopy:
+		return safecopy.CopyIn(dst.TakeFirst(n).ToSlice(), src.start)
+	case dst.needSafecopy && src.needSafecopy:
+		n64, err := safecopy.Copy(dst.start, src.start, uintptr(n))
+		return int(n64), err
+	default:
+		panic("unreachable")
+	}
+}
+
+// Zero sets all bytes in dst to 0 and returns the number of bytes zeroed.
+func Zero(dst Block) (int, error) {
+	if !dst.needSafecopy {
+		bs := dst.ToSlice()
+		for i := range bs {
+			bs[i] = 0
+		}
+		return len(bs), nil
+	}
+
+	n64, err := safecopy.ZeroOut(dst.start, uintptr(dst.length))
+	return int(n64), err
+}
+
+// Safecopy atomics are no slower than non-safecopy atomics, so use the former
+// even when !b.needSafecopy to get consistent alignment checking.
+
+// SwapUint32 invokes safecopy.SwapUint32 on the first 4 bytes of b.
+//
+// Preconditions: b.Len() >= 4.
+func SwapUint32(b Block, new uint32) (uint32, error) {
+	if b.length < 4 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("insufficient length: %d", b.length))
+	}
+	return safecopy.SwapUint32(b.start, new)
+}
+
+// SwapUint64 invokes safecopy.SwapUint64 on the first 8 bytes of b.
+//
+// Preconditions: b.Len() >= 8.
+func SwapUint64(b Block, new uint64) (uint64, error) {
+	if b.length < 8 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("insufficient length: %d", b.length))
+	}
+	return safecopy.SwapUint64(b.start, new)
+}
+
+// CompareAndSwapUint32 invokes safecopy.CompareAndSwapUint32 on the first 4
+// bytes of b.
+//
+// Preconditions: b.Len() >= 4.
+func CompareAndSwapUint32(b Block, old, new uint32) (uint32, error) {
+	if b.length < 4 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("insufficient length: %d", b.length))
+	}
+	return safecopy.CompareAndSwapUint32(b.start, old, new)
+}
+
+// LoadUint32 invokes safecopy.LoadUint32 on the first 4 bytes of b.
+//
+// Preconditions: b.Len() >= 4.
+func LoadUint32(b Block) (uint32, error) {
+	if b.length < 4 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("insufficient length: %d", b.length))
+	}
+	return safecopy.LoadUint32(b.start)
+}
diff --git a/pkg/safemem/io.go b/pkg/safemem/io.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f039a5c34
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/safemem/io.go
@@ -0,0 +1,392 @@
+// Copyright 2018 The gVisor Authors.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package safemem
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+	"math"
+)
+
+// ErrEndOfBlockSeq is returned by BlockSeqWriter when attempting to write
+// beyond the end of the BlockSeq.
+var ErrEndOfBlockSeq = errors.New("write beyond end of BlockSeq")
+
+// Reader represents a streaming byte source like io.Reader.
+type Reader interface {
+	// ReadToBlocks reads up to dsts.NumBytes() bytes into dsts and returns the
+	// number of bytes read. It may return a partial read without an error
+	// (i.e. (n, nil) where 0 < n < dsts.NumBytes()). It should not return a
+	// full read with an error (i.e. (dsts.NumBytes(), err) where err != nil);
+	// note that this differs from io.Reader.Read (in particular, io.EOF should
+	// not be returned if ReadToBlocks successfully reads dsts.NumBytes()
+	// bytes.)
+	ReadToBlocks(dsts BlockSeq) (uint64, error)
+}
+
+// Writer represents a streaming byte sink like io.Writer.
+type Writer interface {
+	// WriteFromBlocks writes up to srcs.NumBytes() bytes from srcs and returns
+	// the number of bytes written. It may return a partial write without an
+	// error (i.e. (n, nil) where 0 < n < srcs.NumBytes()). It should not
+	// return a full write with an error (i.e. srcs.NumBytes(), err) where err
+	// != nil).
+	WriteFromBlocks(srcs BlockSeq) (uint64, error)
+}
+
+// ReadFullToBlocks repeatedly invokes r.ReadToBlocks until dsts.NumBytes()
+// bytes have been read or ReadToBlocks returns an error.
+func ReadFullToBlocks(r Reader, dsts BlockSeq) (uint64, error) {
+	var done uint64
+	for !dsts.IsEmpty() {
+		n, err := r.ReadToBlocks(dsts)
+		done += n
+		if err != nil {
+			return done, err
+		}
+		dsts = dsts.DropFirst64(n)
+	}
+	return done, nil
+}
+
+// WriteFullFromBlocks repeatedly invokes w.WriteFromBlocks until
+// srcs.NumBytes() bytes have been written or WriteFromBlocks returns an error.
+func WriteFullFromBlocks(w Writer, srcs BlockSeq) (uint64, error) {
+	var done uint64
+	for !srcs.IsEmpty() {
+		n, err := w.WriteFromBlocks(srcs)
+		done += n
+		if err != nil {
+			return done, err
+		}
+		srcs = srcs.DropFirst64(n)
+	}
+	return done, nil
+}
+
+// BlockSeqReader implements Reader by reading from a BlockSeq.
+type BlockSeqReader struct {
+	Blocks BlockSeq
+}
+
+// ReadToBlocks implements Reader.ReadToBlocks.
+func (r *BlockSeqReader) ReadToBlocks(dsts BlockSeq) (uint64, error) {
+	n, err := CopySeq(dsts, r.Blocks)
+	r.Blocks = r.Blocks.DropFirst64(n)
+	if err != nil {
+		return n, err
+	}
+	if n < dsts.NumBytes() {
+		return n, io.EOF
+	}
+	return n, nil
+}
+
+// BlockSeqWriter implements Writer by writing to a BlockSeq.
+type BlockSeqWriter struct {
+	Blocks BlockSeq
+}
+
+// WriteFromBlocks implements Writer.WriteFromBlocks.
+func (w *BlockSeqWriter) WriteFromBlocks(srcs BlockSeq) (uint64, error) {
+	n, err := CopySeq(w.Blocks, srcs)
+	w.Blocks = w.Blocks.DropFirst64(n)
+	if err != nil {
+		return n, err
+	}
+	if n < srcs.NumBytes() {
+		return n, ErrEndOfBlockSeq
+	}
+	return n, nil
+}
+
+// ReaderFunc implements Reader for a function with the semantics of
+// Reader.ReadToBlocks.
+type ReaderFunc func(dsts BlockSeq) (uint64, error)
+
+// ReadToBlocks implements Reader.ReadToBlocks.
+func (f ReaderFunc) ReadToBlocks(dsts BlockSeq) (uint64, error) {
+	return f(dsts)
+}
+
+// WriterFunc implements Writer for a function with the semantics of
+// Writer.WriteFromBlocks.
+type WriterFunc func(srcs BlockSeq) (uint64, error)
+
+// WriteFromBlocks implements Writer.WriteFromBlocks.
+func (f WriterFunc) WriteFromBlocks(srcs BlockSeq) (uint64, error) {
+	return f(srcs)
+}
+
+// ToIOReader implements io.Reader for a (safemem.)Reader.
+//
+// ToIOReader will return a successful partial read iff Reader.ReadToBlocks does
+// so.
+type ToIOReader struct {
+	Reader Reader
+}
+
+// Read implements io.Reader.Read.
+func (r ToIOReader) Read(dst []byte) (int, error) {
+	n, err := r.Reader.ReadToBlocks(BlockSeqOf(BlockFromSafeSlice(dst)))
+	return int(n), err
+}
+
+// ToIOWriter implements io.Writer for a (safemem.)Writer.
+type ToIOWriter struct {
+	Writer Writer
+}
+
+// Write implements io.Writer.Write.
+func (w ToIOWriter) Write(src []byte) (int, error) {
+	// io.Writer does not permit partial writes.
+	n, err := WriteFullFromBlocks(w.Writer, BlockSeqOf(BlockFromSafeSlice(src)))
+	return int(n), err
+}
+
+// FromIOReader implements Reader for an io.Reader by repeatedly invoking
+// io.Reader.Read until it returns an error or partial read. This is not
+// thread-safe.
+//
+// FromIOReader will return a successful partial read iff Reader.Read does so.
+type FromIOReader struct {
+	Reader io.Reader
+}
+
+// ReadToBlocks implements Reader.ReadToBlocks.
+func (r FromIOReader) ReadToBlocks(dsts BlockSeq) (uint64, error) {
+	var buf []byte
+	var done uint64
+	for !dsts.IsEmpty() {
+		dst := dsts.Head()
+		var n int
+		var err error
+		n, buf, err = r.readToBlock(dst, buf)
+		done += uint64(n)
+		if n != dst.Len() {
+			return done, err
+		}
+		dsts = dsts.Tail()
+		if err != nil {
+			if dsts.IsEmpty() && err == io.EOF {
+				return done, nil
+			}
+			return done, err
+		}
+	}
+	return done, nil
+}
+
+func (r FromIOReader) readToBlock(dst Block, buf []byte) (int, []byte, error) {
+	// io.Reader isn't safecopy-aware, so we have to buffer Blocks that require
+	// safecopy.
+	if !dst.NeedSafecopy() {
+		n, err := r.Reader.Read(dst.ToSlice())
+		return n, buf, err
+	}
+	if len(buf) < dst.Len() {
+		buf = make([]byte, dst.Len())
+	}
+	rn, rerr := r.Reader.Read(buf[:dst.Len()])
+	wbn, wberr := Copy(dst, BlockFromSafeSlice(buf[:rn]))
+	if wberr != nil {
+		return wbn, buf, wberr
+	}
+	return wbn, buf, rerr
+}
+
+// FromIOReaderAt implements Reader for an io.ReaderAt. Does not repeatedly
+// invoke io.ReaderAt.ReadAt because ReadAt is more strict than Read. A partial
+// read indicates an error. This is not thread-safe.
+type FromIOReaderAt struct {
+	ReaderAt io.ReaderAt
+	Offset   int64
+}
+
+// ReadToBlocks implements Reader.ReadToBlocks.
+func (r FromIOReaderAt) ReadToBlocks(dsts BlockSeq) (uint64, error) {
+	var buf []byte
+	var done uint64
+	for !dsts.IsEmpty() {
+		dst := dsts.Head()
+		var n int
+		var err error
+		n, buf, err = r.readToBlock(dst, buf)
+		done += uint64(n)
+		if n != dst.Len() {
+			return done, err
+		}
+		dsts = dsts.Tail()
+		if err != nil {
+			if dsts.IsEmpty() && err == io.EOF {
+				return done, nil
+			}
+			return done, err
+		}
+	}
+	return done, nil
+}
+
+func (r FromIOReaderAt) readToBlock(dst Block, buf []byte) (int, []byte, error) {
+	// io.Reader isn't safecopy-aware, so we have to buffer Blocks that require
+	// safecopy.
+	if !dst.NeedSafecopy() {
+		n, err := r.ReaderAt.ReadAt(dst.ToSlice(), r.Offset)
+		r.Offset += int64(n)
+		return n, buf, err
+	}
+	if len(buf) < dst.Len() {
+		buf = make([]byte, dst.Len())
+	}
+	rn, rerr := r.ReaderAt.ReadAt(buf[:dst.Len()], r.Offset)
+	r.Offset += int64(rn)
+	wbn, wberr := Copy(dst, BlockFromSafeSlice(buf[:rn]))
+	if wberr != nil {
+		return wbn, buf, wberr
+	}
+	return wbn, buf, rerr
+}
+
+// FromIOWriter implements Writer for an io.Writer by repeatedly invoking
+// io.Writer.Write until it returns an error or partial write.
+//
+// FromIOWriter will tolerate implementations of io.Writer.Write that return
+// partial writes with a nil error in contravention of io.Writer's
+// requirements, since Writer is permitted to do so. FromIOWriter will return a
+// successful partial write iff Writer.Write does so.
+type FromIOWriter struct {
+	Writer io.Writer
+}
+
+// WriteFromBlocks implements Writer.WriteFromBlocks.
+func (w FromIOWriter) WriteFromBlocks(srcs BlockSeq) (uint64, error) {
+	var buf []byte
+	var done uint64
+	for !srcs.IsEmpty() {
+		src := srcs.Head()
+		var n int
+		var err error
+		n, buf, err = w.writeFromBlock(src, buf)
+		done += uint64(n)
+		if n != src.Len() || err != nil {
+			return done, err
+		}
+		srcs = srcs.Tail()
+	}
+	return done, nil
+}
+
+func (w FromIOWriter) writeFromBlock(src Block, buf []byte) (int, []byte, error) {
+	// io.Writer isn't safecopy-aware, so we have to buffer Blocks that require
+	// safecopy.
+	if !src.NeedSafecopy() {
+		n, err := w.Writer.Write(src.ToSlice())
+		return n, buf, err
+	}
+	if len(buf) < src.Len() {
+		buf = make([]byte, src.Len())
+	}
+	bufn, buferr := Copy(BlockFromSafeSlice(buf[:src.Len()]), src)
+	wn, werr := w.Writer.Write(buf[:bufn])
+	if werr != nil {
+		return wn, buf, werr
+	}
+	return wn, buf, buferr
+}
+
+// FromVecReaderFunc implements Reader for a function that reads data into a
+// [][]byte and returns the number of bytes read as an int64.
+type FromVecReaderFunc struct {
+	ReadVec func(dsts [][]byte) (int64, error)
+}
+
+// ReadToBlocks implements Reader.ReadToBlocks.
+//
+// ReadToBlocks calls r.ReadVec at most once.
+func (r FromVecReaderFunc) ReadToBlocks(dsts BlockSeq) (uint64, error) {
+	if dsts.IsEmpty() {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+	// Ensure that we don't pass a [][]byte with a total length > MaxInt64.
+	dsts = dsts.TakeFirst64(uint64(math.MaxInt64))
+	dstSlices := make([][]byte, 0, dsts.NumBlocks())
+	// Buffer Blocks that require safecopy.
+	for tmp := dsts; !tmp.IsEmpty(); tmp = tmp.Tail() {
+		dst := tmp.Head()
+		if dst.NeedSafecopy() {
+			dstSlices = append(dstSlices, make([]byte, dst.Len()))
+		} else {
+			dstSlices = append(dstSlices, dst.ToSlice())
+		}
+	}
+	rn, rerr := r.ReadVec(dstSlices)
+	dsts = dsts.TakeFirst64(uint64(rn))
+	var done uint64
+	var i int
+	for !dsts.IsEmpty() {
+		dst := dsts.Head()
+		if dst.NeedSafecopy() {
+			n, err := Copy(dst, BlockFromSafeSlice(dstSlices[i]))
+			done += uint64(n)
+			if err != nil {
+				return done, err
+			}
+		} else {
+			done += uint64(dst.Len())
+		}
+		dsts = dsts.Tail()
+		i++
+	}
+	return done, rerr
+}
+
+// FromVecWriterFunc implements Writer for a function that writes data from a
+// [][]byte and returns the number of bytes written.
+type FromVecWriterFunc struct {
+	WriteVec func(srcs [][]byte) (int64, error)
+}
+
+// WriteFromBlocks implements Writer.WriteFromBlocks.
+//
+// WriteFromBlocks calls w.WriteVec at most once.
+func (w FromVecWriterFunc) WriteFromBlocks(srcs BlockSeq) (uint64, error) {
+	if srcs.IsEmpty() {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+	// Ensure that we don't pass a [][]byte with a total length > MaxInt64.
+	srcs = srcs.TakeFirst64(uint64(math.MaxInt64))
+	srcSlices := make([][]byte, 0, srcs.NumBlocks())
+	// Buffer Blocks that require safecopy.
+	var buferr error
+	for tmp := srcs; !tmp.IsEmpty(); tmp = tmp.Tail() {
+		src := tmp.Head()
+		if src.NeedSafecopy() {
+			slice := make([]byte, src.Len())
+			n, err := Copy(BlockFromSafeSlice(slice), src)
+			srcSlices = append(srcSlices, slice[:n])
+			if err != nil {
+				buferr = err
+				break
+			}
+		} else {
+			srcSlices = append(srcSlices, src.ToSlice())
+		}
+	}
+	n, err := w.WriteVec(srcSlices)
+	if err != nil {
+		return uint64(n), err
+	}
+	return uint64(n), buferr
+}
diff --git a/pkg/safemem/io_test.go b/pkg/safemem/io_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..629741bee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/safemem/io_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,199 @@
+// Copyright 2018 The gVisor Authors.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package safemem
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"io"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func makeBlocks(slices ...[]byte) []Block {
+	blocks := make([]Block, 0, len(slices))
+	for _, s := range slices {
+		blocks = append(blocks, BlockFromSafeSlice(s))
+	}
+	return blocks
+}
+
+func TestFromIOReaderFullRead(t *testing.T) {
+	r := FromIOReader{bytes.NewBufferString("foobar")}
+	dsts := makeBlocks(make([]byte, 3), make([]byte, 3))
+	n, err := r.ReadToBlocks(BlockSeqFromSlice(dsts))
+	if wantN := uint64(6); n != wantN || err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("ReadToBlocks: got (%v, %v), wanted (%v, nil)", n, err, wantN)
+	}
+	for i, want := range [][]byte{[]byte("foo"), []byte("bar")} {
+		if got := dsts[i].ToSlice(); !bytes.Equal(got, want) {
+			t.Errorf("dsts[%d]: got %q, wanted %q", i, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+type eofHidingReader struct {
+	Reader io.Reader
+}
+
+func (r eofHidingReader) Read(dst []byte) (int, error) {
+	n, err := r.Reader.Read(dst)
+	if err == io.EOF {
+		return n, nil
+	}
+	return n, err
+}
+
+func TestFromIOReaderPartialRead(t *testing.T) {
+	r := FromIOReader{eofHidingReader{bytes.NewBufferString("foob")}}
+	dsts := makeBlocks(make([]byte, 3), make([]byte, 3))
+	n, err := r.ReadToBlocks(BlockSeqFromSlice(dsts))
+	// FromIOReader should stop after the eofHidingReader returns (1, nil)
+	// for a 3-byte read.
+	if wantN := uint64(4); n != wantN || err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("ReadToBlocks: got (%v, %v), wanted (%v, nil)", n, err, wantN)
+	}
+	for i, want := range [][]byte{[]byte("foo"), []byte("b\x00\x00")} {
+		if got := dsts[i].ToSlice(); !bytes.Equal(got, want) {
+			t.Errorf("dsts[%d]: got %q, wanted %q", i, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+type singleByteReader struct {
+	Reader io.Reader
+}
+
+func (r singleByteReader) Read(dst []byte) (int, error) {
+	if len(dst) == 0 {
+		return r.Reader.Read(dst)
+	}
+	return r.Reader.Read(dst[:1])
+}
+
+func TestSingleByteReader(t *testing.T) {
+	r := FromIOReader{singleByteReader{bytes.NewBufferString("foobar")}}
+	dsts := makeBlocks(make([]byte, 3), make([]byte, 3))
+	n, err := r.ReadToBlocks(BlockSeqFromSlice(dsts))
+	// FromIOReader should stop after the singleByteReader returns (1, nil)
+	// for a 3-byte read.
+	if wantN := uint64(1); n != wantN || err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("ReadToBlocks: got (%v, %v), wanted (%v, nil)", n, err, wantN)
+	}
+	for i, want := range [][]byte{[]byte("f\x00\x00"), []byte("\x00\x00\x00")} {
+		if got := dsts[i].ToSlice(); !bytes.Equal(got, want) {
+			t.Errorf("dsts[%d]: got %q, wanted %q", i, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestReadFullToBlocks(t *testing.T) {
+	r := FromIOReader{singleByteReader{bytes.NewBufferString("foobar")}}
+	dsts := makeBlocks(make([]byte, 3), make([]byte, 3))
+	n, err := ReadFullToBlocks(r, BlockSeqFromSlice(dsts))
+	// ReadFullToBlocks should call into FromIOReader => singleByteReader
+	// repeatedly until dsts is exhausted.
+	if wantN := uint64(6); n != wantN || err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("ReadFullToBlocks: got (%v, %v), wanted (%v, nil)", n, err, wantN)
+	}
+	for i, want := range [][]byte{[]byte("foo"), []byte("bar")} {
+		if got := dsts[i].ToSlice(); !bytes.Equal(got, want) {
+			t.Errorf("dsts[%d]: got %q, wanted %q", i, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFromIOWriterFullWrite(t *testing.T) {
+	srcs := makeBlocks([]byte("foo"), []byte("bar"))
+	var dst bytes.Buffer
+	w := FromIOWriter{&dst}
+	n, err := w.WriteFromBlocks(BlockSeqFromSlice(srcs))
+	if wantN := uint64(6); n != wantN || err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("WriteFromBlocks: got (%v, %v), wanted (%v, nil)", n, err, wantN)
+	}
+	if got, want := dst.Bytes(), []byte("foobar"); !bytes.Equal(got, want) {
+		t.Errorf("dst: got %q, wanted %q", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+type limitedWriter struct {
+	Writer io.Writer
+	Done   int
+	Limit  int
+}
+
+func (w *limitedWriter) Write(src []byte) (int, error) {
+	count := len(src)
+	if count > (w.Limit - w.Done) {
+		count = w.Limit - w.Done
+	}
+	n, err := w.Writer.Write(src[:count])
+	w.Done += n
+	return n, err
+}
+
+func TestFromIOWriterPartialWrite(t *testing.T) {
+	srcs := makeBlocks([]byte("foo"), []byte("bar"))
+	var dst bytes.Buffer
+	w := FromIOWriter{&limitedWriter{&dst, 0, 4}}
+	n, err := w.WriteFromBlocks(BlockSeqFromSlice(srcs))
+	// FromIOWriter should stop after the limitedWriter returns (1, nil) for a
+	// 3-byte write.
+	if wantN := uint64(4); n != wantN || err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("WriteFromBlocks: got (%v, %v), wanted (%v, nil)", n, err, wantN)
+	}
+	if got, want := dst.Bytes(), []byte("foob"); !bytes.Equal(got, want) {
+		t.Errorf("dst: got %q, wanted %q", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+type singleByteWriter struct {
+	Writer io.Writer
+}
+
+func (w singleByteWriter) Write(src []byte) (int, error) {
+	if len(src) == 0 {
+		return w.Writer.Write(src)
+	}
+	return w.Writer.Write(src[:1])
+}
+
+func TestSingleByteWriter(t *testing.T) {
+	srcs := makeBlocks([]byte("foo"), []byte("bar"))
+	var dst bytes.Buffer
+	w := FromIOWriter{singleByteWriter{&dst}}
+	n, err := w.WriteFromBlocks(BlockSeqFromSlice(srcs))
+	// FromIOWriter should stop after the singleByteWriter returns (1, nil)
+	// for a 3-byte write.
+	if wantN := uint64(1); n != wantN || err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("WriteFromBlocks: got (%v, %v), wanted (%v, nil)", n, err, wantN)
+	}
+	if got, want := dst.Bytes(), []byte("f"); !bytes.Equal(got, want) {
+		t.Errorf("dst: got %q, wanted %q", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestWriteFullToBlocks(t *testing.T) {
+	srcs := makeBlocks([]byte("foo"), []byte("bar"))
+	var dst bytes.Buffer
+	w := FromIOWriter{singleByteWriter{&dst}}
+	n, err := WriteFullFromBlocks(w, BlockSeqFromSlice(srcs))
+	// WriteFullToBlocks should call into FromIOWriter => singleByteWriter
+	// repeatedly until srcs is exhausted.
+	if wantN := uint64(6); n != wantN || err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("WriteFullFromBlocks: got (%v, %v), wanted (%v, nil)", n, err, wantN)
+	}
+	if got, want := dst.Bytes(), []byte("foobar"); !bytes.Equal(got, want) {
+		t.Errorf("dst: got %q, wanted %q", got, want)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/safemem/safemem.go b/pkg/safemem/safemem.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3e70d33a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/safemem/safemem.go
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+// Copyright 2018 The gVisor Authors.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+// Package safemem provides the Block and BlockSeq types.
+package safemem
diff --git a/pkg/safemem/seq_test.go b/pkg/safemem/seq_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..de34005e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/safemem/seq_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
+// Copyright 2018 The gVisor Authors.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package safemem
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestBlockSeqOfEmptyBlock(t *testing.T) {
+	bs := BlockSeqOf(Block{})
+	if !bs.IsEmpty() {
+		t.Errorf("BlockSeqOf(Block{}).IsEmpty(): got false, wanted true; BlockSeq is %v", bs)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBlockSeqOfNonemptyBlock(t *testing.T) {
+	b := BlockFromSafeSlice(make([]byte, 1))
+	bs := BlockSeqOf(b)
+	if bs.IsEmpty() {
+		t.Fatalf("BlockSeqOf(non-empty Block).IsEmpty(): got true, wanted false; BlockSeq is %v", bs)
+	}
+	if head := bs.Head(); head != b {
+		t.Fatalf("BlockSeqOf(non-empty Block).Head(): got %v, wanted %v", head, b)
+	}
+	if tail := bs.Tail(); !tail.IsEmpty() {
+		t.Fatalf("BlockSeqOf(non-empty Block).Tail().IsEmpty(): got false, wanted true: tail is %v", tail)
+	}
+}
+
+type blockSeqTest struct {
+	desc string
+
+	pieces     []string
+	haveOffset bool
+	offset     uint64
+	haveLimit  bool
+	limit      uint64
+
+	want string
+}
+
+func (t blockSeqTest) NonEmptyByteSlices() [][]byte {
+	// t is a value, so we can mutate it freely.
+	slices := make([][]byte, 0, len(t.pieces))
+	for _, str := range t.pieces {
+		if t.haveOffset {
+			strOff := t.offset
+			if strOff > uint64(len(str)) {
+				strOff = uint64(len(str))
+			}
+			str = str[strOff:]
+			t.offset -= strOff
+		}
+		if t.haveLimit {
+			strLim := t.limit
+			if strLim > uint64(len(str)) {
+				strLim = uint64(len(str))
+			}
+			str = str[:strLim]
+			t.limit -= strLim
+		}
+		if len(str) != 0 {
+			slices = append(slices, []byte(str))
+		}
+	}
+	return slices
+}
+
+func (t blockSeqTest) BlockSeq() BlockSeq {
+	blocks := make([]Block, 0, len(t.pieces))
+	for _, str := range t.pieces {
+		blocks = append(blocks, BlockFromSafeSlice([]byte(str)))
+	}
+	bs := BlockSeqFromSlice(blocks)
+	if t.haveOffset {
+		bs = bs.DropFirst64(t.offset)
+	}
+	if t.haveLimit {
+		bs = bs.TakeFirst64(t.limit)
+	}
+	return bs
+}
+
+var blockSeqTests = []blockSeqTest{
+	{
+		desc: "Empty sequence",
+	},
+	{
+		desc:   "Sequence of length 1",
+		pieces: []string{"foobar"},
+		want:   "foobar",
+	},
+	{
+		desc:   "Sequence of length 2",
+		pieces: []string{"foo", "bar"},
+		want:   "foobar",
+	},
+	{
+		desc:   "Empty Blocks",
+		pieces: []string{"", "foo", "", "", "bar", ""},
+		want:   "foobar",
+	},
+	{
+		desc:       "Sequence with non-zero offset",
+		pieces:     []string{"foo", "bar"},
+		haveOffset: true,
+		offset:     2,
+		want:       "obar",
+	},
+	{
+		desc:      "Sequence with non-maximal limit",
+		pieces:    []string{"foo", "bar"},
+		haveLimit: true,
+		limit:     5,
+		want:      "fooba",
+	},
+	{
+		desc:       "Sequence with offset and limit",
+		pieces:     []string{"foo", "bar"},
+		haveOffset: true,
+		offset:     2,
+		haveLimit:  true,
+		limit:      3,
+		want:       "oba",
+	},
+}
+
+func TestBlockSeqNumBytes(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, test := range blockSeqTests {
+		t.Run(test.desc, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got, want := test.BlockSeq().NumBytes(), uint64(len(test.want)); got != want {
+				t.Errorf("NumBytes: got %d, wanted %d", got, want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBlockSeqIterBlocks(t *testing.T) {
+	// Tests BlockSeq iteration using Head/Tail.
+	for _, test := range blockSeqTests {
+		t.Run(test.desc, func(t *testing.T) {
+			srcs := test.BlockSeq()
+			// "Note that a non-nil empty slice and a nil slice ... are not
+			// deeply equal." - reflect
+			slices := make([][]byte, 0, 0)
+			for !srcs.IsEmpty() {
+				src := srcs.Head()
+				slices = append(slices, src.ToSlice())
+				nextSrcs := srcs.Tail()
+				if got, want := nextSrcs.NumBytes(), srcs.NumBytes()-uint64(src.Len()); got != want {
+					t.Fatalf("%v.Tail(): got %v (%d bytes), wanted %d bytes", srcs, nextSrcs, got, want)
+				}
+				srcs = nextSrcs
+			}
+			if wantSlices := test.NonEmptyByteSlices(); !reflect.DeepEqual(slices, wantSlices) {
+				t.Errorf("Accumulated slices: got %v, wanted %v", slices, wantSlices)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBlockSeqIterBytes(t *testing.T) {
+	// Tests BlockSeq iteration using Head/DropFirst.
+	for _, test := range blockSeqTests {
+		t.Run(test.desc, func(t *testing.T) {
+			srcs := test.BlockSeq()
+			var dst bytes.Buffer
+			for !srcs.IsEmpty() {
+				src := srcs.Head()
+				var b [1]byte
+				n, err := Copy(BlockFromSafeSlice(b[:]), src)
+				if n != 1 || err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("Copy: got (%v, %v), wanted (1, nil)", n, err)
+				}
+				dst.WriteByte(b[0])
+				nextSrcs := srcs.DropFirst(1)
+				if got, want := nextSrcs.NumBytes(), srcs.NumBytes()-1; got != want {
+					t.Fatalf("%v.DropFirst(1): got %v (%d bytes), wanted %d bytes", srcs, nextSrcs, got, want)
+				}
+				srcs = nextSrcs
+			}
+			if got := string(dst.Bytes()); got != test.want {
+				t.Errorf("Copied string: got %q, wanted %q", got, test.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBlockSeqDropBeyondLimit(t *testing.T) {
+	blocks := []Block{BlockFromSafeSlice([]byte("123")), BlockFromSafeSlice([]byte("4"))}
+	bs := BlockSeqFromSlice(blocks)
+	if got, want := bs.NumBytes(), uint64(4); got != want {
+		t.Errorf("%v.NumBytes(): got %d, wanted %d", bs, got, want)
+	}
+	bs = bs.TakeFirst(1)
+	if got, want := bs.NumBytes(), uint64(1); got != want {
+		t.Errorf("%v.NumBytes(): got %d, wanted %d", bs, got, want)
+	}
+	bs = bs.DropFirst(2)
+	if got, want := bs.NumBytes(), uint64(0); got != want {
+		t.Errorf("%v.NumBytes(): got %d, wanted %d", bs, got, want)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/safemem/seq_unsafe.go b/pkg/safemem/seq_unsafe.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f5f0574f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/safemem/seq_unsafe.go
@@ -0,0 +1,319 @@
+// Copyright 2018 The gVisor Authors.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package safemem
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
+	"syscall"
+	"unsafe"
+)
+
+// A BlockSeq represents a sequence of Blocks, each of which has non-zero
+// length.
+//
+// BlockSeqs are immutable and may be copied by value. The zero value of
+// BlockSeq represents an empty sequence.
+type BlockSeq struct {
+	// If length is 0, then the BlockSeq is empty. Invariants: data == 0;
+	// offset == 0; limit == 0.
+	//
+	// If length is -1, then the BlockSeq represents the single Block{data,
+	// limit, false}. Invariants: offset == 0; limit > 0; limit does not
+	// overflow the range of an int.
+	//
+	// If length is -2, then the BlockSeq represents the single Block{data,
+	// limit, true}. Invariants: offset == 0; limit > 0; limit does not
+	// overflow the range of an int.
+	//
+	// Otherwise, length >= 2, and the BlockSeq represents the `length` Blocks
+	// in the array of Blocks starting at address `data`, starting at `offset`
+	// bytes into the first Block and limited to the following `limit` bytes.
+	// Invariants: data != 0; offset < len(data[0]); limit > 0; offset+limit <=
+	// the combined length of all Blocks in the array; the first Block in the
+	// array has non-zero length.
+	//
+	// length is never 1; sequences consisting of a single Block are always
+	// stored inline (with length < 0).
+	data   unsafe.Pointer
+	length int
+	offset int
+	limit  uint64
+}
+
+// BlockSeqOf returns a BlockSeq representing the single Block b.
+func BlockSeqOf(b Block) BlockSeq {
+	if b.length == 0 {
+		return BlockSeq{}
+	}
+	bs := BlockSeq{
+		data:   b.start,
+		length: -1,
+		limit:  uint64(b.length),
+	}
+	if b.needSafecopy {
+		bs.length = -2
+	}
+	return bs
+}
+
+// BlockSeqFromSlice returns a BlockSeq representing all Blocks in slice.
+// If slice contains Blocks with zero length, BlockSeq will skip them during
+// iteration.
+//
+// Whether the returned BlockSeq shares memory with slice is unspecified;
+// clients should avoid mutating slices passed to BlockSeqFromSlice.
+//
+// Preconditions: The combined length of all Blocks in slice <= math.MaxUint64.
+func BlockSeqFromSlice(slice []Block) BlockSeq {
+	slice = skipEmpty(slice)
+	var limit uint64
+	for _, b := range slice {
+		sum := limit + uint64(b.Len())
+		if sum < limit {
+			panic("BlockSeq length overflows uint64")
+		}
+		limit = sum
+	}
+	return blockSeqFromSliceLimited(slice, limit)
+}
+
+// Preconditions: The combined length of all Blocks in slice <= limit. If
+// len(slice) != 0, the first Block in slice has non-zero length, and limit >
+// 0.
+func blockSeqFromSliceLimited(slice []Block, limit uint64) BlockSeq {
+	switch len(slice) {
+	case 0:
+		return BlockSeq{}
+	case 1:
+		return BlockSeqOf(slice[0].TakeFirst64(limit))
+	default:
+		return BlockSeq{
+			data:   unsafe.Pointer(&slice[0]),
+			length: len(slice),
+			limit:  limit,
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func skipEmpty(slice []Block) []Block {
+	for i, b := range slice {
+		if b.Len() != 0 {
+			return slice[i:]
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// IsEmpty returns true if bs contains no Blocks.
+//
+// Invariants: bs.IsEmpty() == (bs.NumBlocks() == 0) == (bs.NumBytes() == 0).
+// (Of these, prefer to use bs.IsEmpty().)
+func (bs BlockSeq) IsEmpty() bool {
+	return bs.length == 0
+}
+
+// NumBlocks returns the number of Blocks in bs.
+func (bs BlockSeq) NumBlocks() int {
+	// In general, we have to count: if bs represents a windowed slice then the
+	// slice may contain Blocks with zero length, and bs.length may be larger
+	// than the actual number of Blocks due to bs.limit.
+	var n int
+	for !bs.IsEmpty() {
+		n++
+		bs = bs.Tail()
+	}
+	return n
+}
+
+// NumBytes returns the sum of Block.Len() for all Blocks in bs.
+func (bs BlockSeq) NumBytes() uint64 {
+	return bs.limit
+}
+
+// Head returns the first Block in bs.
+//
+// Preconditions: !bs.IsEmpty().
+func (bs BlockSeq) Head() Block {
+	if bs.length == 0 {
+		panic("empty BlockSeq")
+	}
+	if bs.length < 0 {
+		return bs.internalBlock()
+	}
+	return (*Block)(bs.data).DropFirst(bs.offset).TakeFirst64(bs.limit)
+}
+
+// Preconditions: bs.length < 0.
+func (bs BlockSeq) internalBlock() Block {
+	return Block{
+		start:        bs.data,
+		length:       int(bs.limit),
+		needSafecopy: bs.length == -2,
+	}
+}
+
+// Tail returns a BlockSeq consisting of all Blocks in bs after the first.
+//
+// Preconditions: !bs.IsEmpty().
+func (bs BlockSeq) Tail() BlockSeq {
+	if bs.length == 0 {
+		panic("empty BlockSeq")
+	}
+	if bs.length < 0 {
+		return BlockSeq{}
+	}
+	head := (*Block)(bs.data).DropFirst(bs.offset)
+	headLen := uint64(head.Len())
+	if headLen >= bs.limit {
+		// The head Block exhausts the limit, so the tail is empty.
+		return BlockSeq{}
+	}
+	var extSlice []Block
+	extSliceHdr := (*reflect.SliceHeader)(unsafe.Pointer(&extSlice))
+	extSliceHdr.Data = uintptr(bs.data)
+	extSliceHdr.Len = bs.length
+	extSliceHdr.Cap = bs.length
+	tailSlice := skipEmpty(extSlice[1:])
+	tailLimit := bs.limit - headLen
+	return blockSeqFromSliceLimited(tailSlice, tailLimit)
+}
+
+// DropFirst returns a BlockSeq equivalent to bs, but with the first n bytes
+// omitted. If n > bs.NumBytes(), DropFirst returns an empty BlockSeq.
+//
+// Preconditions: n >= 0.
+func (bs BlockSeq) DropFirst(n int) BlockSeq {
+	if n < 0 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid n: %d", n))
+	}
+	return bs.DropFirst64(uint64(n))
+}
+
+// DropFirst64 is equivalent to DropFirst but takes an uint64.
+func (bs BlockSeq) DropFirst64(n uint64) BlockSeq {
+	if n >= bs.limit {
+		return BlockSeq{}
+	}
+	for {
+		// Calling bs.Head() here is surprisingly expensive, so inline getting
+		// the head's length.
+		var headLen uint64
+		if bs.length < 0 {
+			headLen = bs.limit
+		} else {
+			headLen = uint64((*Block)(bs.data).Len() - bs.offset)
+		}
+		if n < headLen {
+			// Dropping ends partway through the head Block.
+			if bs.length < 0 {
+				return BlockSeqOf(bs.internalBlock().DropFirst64(n))
+			}
+			bs.offset += int(n)
+			bs.limit -= n
+			return bs
+		}
+		n -= headLen
+		bs = bs.Tail()
+	}
+}
+
+// TakeFirst returns a BlockSeq equivalent to the first n bytes of bs. If n >
+// bs.NumBytes(), TakeFirst returns a BlockSeq equivalent to bs.
+//
+// Preconditions: n >= 0.
+func (bs BlockSeq) TakeFirst(n int) BlockSeq {
+	if n < 0 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid n: %d", n))
+	}
+	return bs.TakeFirst64(uint64(n))
+}
+
+// TakeFirst64 is equivalent to TakeFirst but takes a uint64.
+func (bs BlockSeq) TakeFirst64(n uint64) BlockSeq {
+	if n == 0 {
+		return BlockSeq{}
+	}
+	if bs.limit > n {
+		bs.limit = n
+	}
+	return bs
+}
+
+// String implements fmt.Stringer.String.
+func (bs BlockSeq) String() string {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	buf.WriteByte('[')
+	var sep string
+	for !bs.IsEmpty() {
+		buf.WriteString(sep)
+		sep = " "
+		buf.WriteString(bs.Head().String())
+		bs = bs.Tail()
+	}
+	buf.WriteByte(']')
+	return buf.String()
+}
+
+// CopySeq copies srcs.NumBytes() or dsts.NumBytes() bytes, whichever is less,
+// from srcs to dsts and returns the number of bytes copied.
+//
+// If srcs and dsts overlap, the data stored in dsts is unspecified.
+func CopySeq(dsts, srcs BlockSeq) (uint64, error) {
+	var done uint64
+	for !dsts.IsEmpty() && !srcs.IsEmpty() {
+		dst := dsts.Head()
+		src := srcs.Head()
+		n, err := Copy(dst, src)
+		done += uint64(n)
+		if err != nil {
+			return done, err
+		}
+		dsts = dsts.DropFirst(n)
+		srcs = srcs.DropFirst(n)
+	}
+	return done, nil
+}
+
+// ZeroSeq sets all bytes in dsts to 0 and returns the number of bytes zeroed.
+func ZeroSeq(dsts BlockSeq) (uint64, error) {
+	var done uint64
+	for !dsts.IsEmpty() {
+		n, err := Zero(dsts.Head())
+		done += uint64(n)
+		if err != nil {
+			return done, err
+		}
+		dsts = dsts.DropFirst(n)
+	}
+	return done, nil
+}
+
+// IovecsFromBlockSeq returns a []syscall.Iovec representing seq.
+func IovecsFromBlockSeq(bs BlockSeq) []syscall.Iovec {
+	iovs := make([]syscall.Iovec, 0, bs.NumBlocks())
+	for ; !bs.IsEmpty(); bs = bs.Tail() {
+		b := bs.Head()
+		iovs = append(iovs, syscall.Iovec{
+			Base: &b.ToSlice()[0],
+			Len:  uint64(b.Len()),
+		})
+		// We don't need to care about b.NeedSafecopy(), because the host
+		// kernel will handle such address ranges just fine (by returning
+		// EFAULT).
+	}
+	return iovs
+}