Description of problem: the kernel side of systemtap has not been merged in the kernel.org kernel, and as a result doesn't get adjusted for API changes automatically. For the 2.6.20-rc1 kernel this is a specific issue since the systemtap kernel side just doesn't compile anymore.
Could you transcribe the build error (stap -vv)? Merging parts of src/runtime into the kernel proper is a frequently mentioned item, but we lack actual technical suggestions as to how to do it. The runtime's API is rather large and of course highly tuned to the needs of the translator. If you have any detailed ideas about this, please pass them on.
how about.. making a diff and submitting it together with one or two neat example .stp scripts and a bit of docs on how to use these stp scripts. Unless there's some really serious braindamage in the runtime, it's very likely to get accepted; especially if the .stp scripts are clearly useful. then the stap program needs a way to say "my full source tree is THERE" so that it uses the in-kernel runtime over it's own, and you're all set.
Could you elaborate? Do you imagine adding twenty-odd header files to the kernel tree, even though they wouldn't even be compiled during a kernel build?
I would expect so, especially if you put a few .stp files there. Bonus points for allowint the .stp's to be compiled if systemtap is installed on the system of course....
Systemtap 0.5.12 for fc6 should resolve the immediate problem. The secondary one of possibly plopping runtime or tapset pieces into the upstream kernel tree is being discussed on the public mailing list.