Sounds good.. We just need to make it safe to ensure the other does not mess-up something once we use pooled buffers.
 Hi, all.  I'm still learning the Netty internals and would appreciate some opinions on my attempted solution to this issue:
1. What should the behaviour be when replacing with a null value?  My implementation throws an NPE.  This might be related to question 2 if we assume a null replacement should be treated as empty.
2. How should pending bytes in the old buffer be handled when the new buffer does not have enough space to store them?  One idea is to create a composite buffer.  I have not chosen how to handle this, other than to let the IndexOutOfBoundsException happen when I attempt a write from the old to new buffer.  Note that when I transfer the data, I let the reader index advance from the old buffer.
3. After transferring the bytes, should discardReadBytes() be called on the old buffer?
4. Should the replacement operation be executed on the event loop?  My implementation ensures this.
 I'm testing the following decision: A null parameter wraps the old buffer in a read-only buffer.  The reason: we want to drain whatever's left and then shut down the buffer.  i.e. 'null' means 'shut down'.
 My thoughts:

1) I think throwing a NPE is preferable than accepting null as a value. If a user wants to replace with an empty buffer they could always use Unpooled.EMPTY_BUFFER.

2) In order to avoid making the "wrong decision" for any particular use case, we could force the user to choose what to do with any unread bytes in the buffer. They could always drain into a new buffer before replacement, or handle them in whatever way is appropriate after returning the old buffer. This would allow users to do things like limit the capacity of the buffer (for say a length delimited frame decoder) then swap the buffer when it is full without having to have "read" the bytes first or worry that they would be transferred to the replacement buffer.

3) If you don't transfer the bytes then nothing should be done on any buffer other than to swap the pointers.

4) Yes -- it should.
 +1 to everything that @jpinner said
 Would an exception be appropriate, then, for the case where a user is trying to replace the buffer and there are still readable bytes?
 The operation could return the old buffer instance so that the user can append/prepend its content to the new buffer.
 this makes sense as it "may" be ok to replace the buffer even if it still has data left to read... The user may want to do exactly that 
 Well, the implementation has just become a lot simpler...
 Being new to Netty development, where can I paste my git diff for this implementation to have it reviewed and discussed?
 The best would be to "fork" netty, commit and push your changes and then issue a pull-request..

Am 12.11.2012 um 20:44 schrieb ssilverman notifications@github.com:

> Being new to Netty development, where can I paste my git diff for this implementation to have it reviewed and discussed?
> 
> —
> Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub.
 Done.
 merged in.. See #732

please add "newInboundMsgBuf" as message of the NPE.
 please add "newOutboundMsgBuf" as message of the NPE.
 Just in case it's unclear, it should be:

```
throw new NullPointerException("newInboundMsgBuf");
```

to be consistent with all NPE messages in Netty.

Allow replacing an inbound or outbound buffer of a handler.
Previous Netty 4 alphas did not allow replacing a handler's inbound/outbound buffer once it's created - it's final.  Is there any reason to keep it final though?

Just like a user can replace a decoder on the fly using `ByteToMessageDecoder.replace(..)`, what if a user can replace a handler's inbound (or outbound) buffer very easily?  It will give a user an alternative way to implement a decoder (or encoder).

For example, a `FixedLengthFrameDecoder` could prepare two inbound buffers and simply wait until the first inbound buffer is full, and replace the first buffer with the second buffer to continue reading the second message.  There is no need to copy the frame from the buffer at all.

transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/ChannelHandlerContext.java transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelHandlerContext.java transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelPipeline.java transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask.java
transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/ChannelHandlerContext.java transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelHandlerContext.java transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelPipeline.java
diff --git a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/ChannelHandlerContext.java b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/ChannelHandlerContext.java
index 86172fb6e8c..a095f877c3b 100755
--- a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/ChannelHandlerContext.java
+++ b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/ChannelHandlerContext.java
@@ -212,6 +212,46 @@ public interface ChannelHandlerContext
      */
     <T> MessageBuf<T> outboundMessageBuffer();
 
+    /**
+     * Replaces the inbound byte buffer with the given buffer.  This returns the
+     * old buffer, so any readable bytes can be handled appropriately by the caller.
+     *
+     * @param newInboundByteBuf the new inbound byte buffer
+     * @return the old buffer.
+     * @throws NullPointerException if the argument is {@code null}.
+     */
+    ByteBuf replaceInboundByteBuffer(ByteBuf newInboundByteBuf);
+
+    /**
+     * Replaces the inbound message buffer with the given buffer.  This returns the
+     * old buffer, so any pending messages can be handled appropriately by the caller.
+     *
+     * @param newInboundMsgBuf the new inbound message buffer
+     * @return the old buffer.
+     * @throws NullPointerException if the argument is {@code null}.
+     */
+    <T> MessageBuf<T> replaceInboundMessageBuffer(MessageBuf<T> newInboundMsgBuf);
+
+    /**
+     * Replaces the outbound byte buffer with the given buffer.  This returns the
+     * old buffer, so any readable bytes can be handled appropriately by the caller.
+     *
+     * @param newOutboundByteBuf the new inbound byte buffer
+     * @return the old buffer.
+     * @throws NullPointerException if the argument is {@code null}.
+     */
+    ByteBuf replaceOutboundByteBuffer(ByteBuf newOutboundByteBuf);
+
+    /**
+     * Replaces the outbound message buffer with the given buffer.  This returns the
+     * old buffer, so any pending messages can be handled appropriately by the caller.
+     *
+     * @param newOutboundMsgBuf the new inbound message buffer
+     * @return the old buffer.
+     * @throws NullPointerException if the argument is {@code null}.
+     */
+    <T> MessageBuf<T> replaceOutboundMessageBuffer(MessageBuf<T> newOutboundMsgBuf);
+
     /**
      * Return {@code true} if the next {@link ChannelHandlerContext} has a {@link ByteBuf} for handling
      * inbound data.
diff --git a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelHandlerContext.java b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelHandlerContext.java
index 4decd85b974..329a7be192f 100755
--- a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelHandlerContext.java
+++ b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelHandlerContext.java
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@
 import java.util.EnumSet;
 import java.util.Queue;
 import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.concurrent.Callable;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentLinkedQueue;
+import java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException;
+import java.util.concurrent.Future;
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicReference;
 
@@ -48,10 +51,10 @@ final class DefaultChannelHandlerContext extends DefaultAttributeMap implements
     final int directions;
     private final ChannelHandler handler;
 
-    final MessageBuf<Object> inMsgBuf;
-    final ByteBuf inByteBuf;
-    final MessageBuf<Object> outMsgBuf;
-    final ByteBuf outByteBuf;
+    MessageBuf<Object> inMsgBuf;
+    ByteBuf inByteBuf;
+    MessageBuf<Object> outMsgBuf;
+    ByteBuf outByteBuf;
 
     // When the two handlers run in a different thread and they are next to each other,
     // each other's buffers can be accessed at the same time resulting in a race condition.
@@ -447,6 +450,222 @@ public <T> MessageBuf<T> outboundMessageBuffer() {
         return (MessageBuf<T>) outMsgBuf;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Executes a task on the event loop and waits for it to finish.  If the task is interrupted, then the
+     * current thread will be interrupted and this will return {@code null}.  It is expected that the task
+     * performs any appropriate locking.
+     * <p>
+     * If the {@link Callable#call()} call throws a {@link Throwable}, but it is not an instance of
+     * {@link Error}, {@link RuntimeException}, or {@link Exception}, then it is wrapped inside an
+     * {@link AssertionError} and that is thrown instead.</p>
+     *
+     * @param c execute this callable and return its value
+     * @param <T> the return value type
+     * @return the task's return value, or {@code null} if the task was interrupted.
+     * @see Callable#call()
+     * @see Future#get()
+     * @throws Error if the task threw this.
+     * @throws RuntimeException if the task threw this.
+     * @throws Exception if the task threw this.
+     * @throws ChannelPipelineException with a {@link Throwable} as a cause, if the task threw another type of
+     *         {@link Throwable}.
+     */
+    <T> T executeOnEventLoop(Callable<T> c) throws Exception {
+        return getFromFuture(executor().submit(c));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Executes a task on the event loop and waits for it to finish.  If the task is interrupted, then the
+     * current thread will be interrupted.  It is expected that the task performs any appropriate locking.
+     * <p>
+     * If the {@link Runnable#run()} call throws a {@link Throwable}, but it is not an instance of
+     * {@link Error} or {@link RuntimeException}, then it is wrapped inside a
+     * {@link ChannelPipelineException} and that is thrown instead.</p>
+     *
+     * @param r execute this runnable
+     * @see Runnable#run()
+     * @see Future#get()
+     * @throws Error if the task threw this.
+     * @throws RuntimeException if the task threw this.
+     * @throws ChannelPipelineException with a {@link Throwable} as a cause, if the task threw another type of
+     *         {@link Throwable}.
+     */
+    void executeOnEventLoop(Runnable r) {
+        waitForFuture(executor().submit(r));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Waits for a future to finish and gets the result.  If the task is interrupted, then the current thread
+     * will be interrupted and this will return {@code null}. It is expected that the task performs any
+     * appropriate locking.
+     * <p>
+     * If the internal call throws a {@link Throwable}, but it is not an instance of {@link Error},
+     * {@link RuntimeException}, or {@link Exception}, then it is wrapped inside an {@link AssertionError}
+     * and that is thrown instead.</p>
+     *
+     * @param future wait for this future
+     * @param <T> the return value type
+     * @return the task's return value, or {@code null} if the task was interrupted.
+     * @see Future#get()
+     * @throws Error if the task threw this.
+     * @throws RuntimeException if the task threw this.
+     * @throws Exception if the task threw this.
+     * @throws ChannelPipelineException with a {@link Throwable} as a cause, if the task threw another type of
+     *         {@link Throwable}.
+     */
+    <T> T getFromFuture(Future<T> future) throws Exception {
+        try {
+            return future.get();
+        } catch (ExecutionException ex) {
+            // In the arbitrary case, we can throw Error, RuntimeException, and Exception
+
+            Throwable t = ex.getCause();
+            if (t instanceof Error) { throw (Error) t; }
+            if (t instanceof RuntimeException) { throw (RuntimeException) t; }
+            if (t instanceof Exception) { throw (Exception) t; }
+            throw new ChannelPipelineException(t);
+        } catch (InterruptedException ex) {
+            // Interrupt the calling thread (note that this method is not called from the event loop)
+
+            Thread.currentThread().interrupt();
+            return null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Waits for a future to finish.  If the task is interrupted, then the current thread will be interrupted.
+     * It is expected that the task performs any appropriate locking.
+     * <p>
+     * If the internal call throws a {@link Throwable}, but it is not an instance of {@link Error} or
+     * {@link RuntimeException}, then it is wrapped inside a {@link ChannelPipelineException} and that is
+     * thrown instead.</p>
+     *
+     * @param future wait for this future
+     * @see Future#get()
+     * @throws Error if the task threw this.
+     * @throws RuntimeException if the task threw this.
+     * @throws ChannelPipelineException with a {@link Throwable} as a cause, if the task threw another type of
+     *         {@link Throwable}.
+     */
+    void waitForFuture(Future future) {
+        try {
+            future.get();
+        } catch (ExecutionException ex) {
+            // In the arbitrary case, we can throw Error, RuntimeException, and Exception
+
+            Throwable t = ex.getCause();
+            if (t instanceof Error) { throw (Error) t; }
+            if (t instanceof RuntimeException) { throw (RuntimeException) t; }
+            throw new ChannelPipelineException(t);
+        } catch (InterruptedException ex) {
+            // Interrupt the calling thread (note that this method is not called from the event loop)
+
+            Thread.currentThread().interrupt();
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ByteBuf replaceInboundByteBuffer(final ByteBuf newInboundByteBuf) {
+        if (newInboundByteBuf == null) {
+            throw new NullPointerException("newInboundByteBuf");
+        }
+
+        if (!executor().inEventLoop()) {
+            try {
+                return executeOnEventLoop(new Callable<ByteBuf>() {
+                        @Override
+                        public ByteBuf call() {
+                            return replaceInboundByteBuffer(newInboundByteBuf);
+                        }
+                    });
+            } catch (Exception ex) {
+                // Ignore because call() does not throw an Exception
+            }
+        }
+
+        ByteBuf currentInboundByteBuf = inboundByteBuffer();
+
+        this.inByteBuf = newInboundByteBuf;
+        return currentInboundByteBuf;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    public <T> MessageBuf<T> replaceInboundMessageBuffer(final MessageBuf<T> newInboundMsgBuf) {
+        if (newInboundMsgBuf == null) {
+            throw new NullPointerException("newInboundMsgBuf");
+        }
+
+        if (!executor().inEventLoop()) {
+            try {
+                return executeOnEventLoop(new Callable<MessageBuf<T>>() {
+                    @Override
+                    public MessageBuf<T> call() {
+                        return replaceInboundMessageBuffer(newInboundMsgBuf);
+                    }
+                });
+            } catch (Exception ex) {
+                // Ignore because call() does not throw an Exception
+            }
+        }
+
+        MessageBuf<T> currentInboundMsgBuf = inboundMessageBuffer();
+
+        this.inMsgBuf = (MessageBuf<Object>) newInboundMsgBuf;
+        return currentInboundMsgBuf;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public ByteBuf replaceOutboundByteBuffer(final ByteBuf newOutboundByteBuf) {
+        if (newOutboundByteBuf == null) {
+            throw new NullPointerException("newOutboundByteBuf");
+        }
+
+        if (!executor().inEventLoop()) {
+            try {
+                return executeOnEventLoop(new Callable<ByteBuf>() {
+                    @Override
+                    public ByteBuf call() {
+                        return replaceOutboundByteBuffer(newOutboundByteBuf);
+                    }
+                });
+            } catch (Exception ex) {
+                // Ignore because call() does not throw an Exception
+            }
+        }
+
+        ByteBuf currentOutboundByteBuf = outboundByteBuffer();
+
+        this.outByteBuf = newOutboundByteBuf;
+        return currentOutboundByteBuf;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    public <T> MessageBuf<T> replaceOutboundMessageBuffer(final MessageBuf<T> newOutboundMsgBuf) {
+        if (newOutboundMsgBuf == null) {
+            throw new NullPointerException("newOutboundMsgBuf");
+        }
+
+        if (!executor().inEventLoop()) {
+            try {
+                return executeOnEventLoop(new Callable<MessageBuf<T>>() {
+                    @Override
+                    public MessageBuf<T> call() {
+                        return replaceOutboundMessageBuffer(newOutboundMsgBuf);
+                    }
+                });
+            } catch (Exception ex) {
+                // Ignore because call() does not throw an Exception
+            }
+        }
+
+        MessageBuf<T> currentOutboundMsgBuf = outboundMessageBuffer();
+
+        this.outMsgBuf = (MessageBuf<Object>) newOutboundMsgBuf;
+        return currentOutboundMsgBuf;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public boolean hasNextInboundByteBuffer() {
         DefaultChannelHandlerContext ctx = next;
diff --git a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelPipeline.java b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelPipeline.java
index eb2c980b5f9..bdda8d8b8f3 100755
--- a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelPipeline.java
+++ b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelPipeline.java
@@ -82,44 +82,35 @@ public ChannelPipeline addFirst(String name, ChannelHandler handler) {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ChannelPipeline addFirst(EventExecutorGroup group, final String name, final ChannelHandler handler) {
-        try {
-            Future<Throwable> future;
+    public ChannelPipeline addFirst(EventExecutorGroup group, final String name, ChannelHandler handler) {
+        final DefaultChannelHandlerContext nextCtx;
+        final DefaultChannelHandlerContext newCtx;
 
-            synchronized (this) {
-                checkDuplicateName(name);
-                final DefaultChannelHandlerContext nextCtx = head.next;
-                final DefaultChannelHandlerContext newCtx =
-                        new DefaultChannelHandlerContext(this, group, head, nextCtx, name, handler);
+        synchronized (this) {
+            checkDuplicateName(name);
+            nextCtx = head.next;
+            newCtx = new DefaultChannelHandlerContext(this, group, head, nextCtx, name, handler);
 
-                if (!newCtx.channel().isRegistered() || newCtx.executor().inEventLoop()) {
-                    addFirst0(name, nextCtx, newCtx);
-                    return this;
-                }
-                future = newCtx.executor().submit(new DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask(this) {
-                    @Override
-                    void doCall() {
+            if (!newCtx.channel().isRegistered() || newCtx.executor().inEventLoop()) {
+                addFirst0(name, nextCtx, newCtx);
+                return this;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Run the following 'waiting' code outside of the above synchronized block
+        // in order to avoid deadlock
+
+        newCtx.executeOnEventLoop(new Runnable() {
+                @Override
+                public void run() {
+                    synchronized (DefaultChannelPipeline.this) {
                         checkDuplicateName(name);
                         addFirst0(name, nextCtx, newCtx);
                     }
-                });
-            }
-            // Call Future.get() outside of the synchronized block to prevent dead-lock
-            Throwable result = future.get();
-            if (result != null) {
-                // re-throw exception that was caught
-                throw result;
-            }
-            return this;
-
-        } catch (RuntimeException e) {
-            throw e;
-        } catch (Error e) {
-            throw e;
-        } catch (Throwable t) {
-            throw new ChannelPipelineException(t);
-        }
+                }
+            });
 
+        return this;
     }
 
     private void addFirst0(
@@ -141,46 +132,36 @@ public ChannelPipeline addLast(String name, ChannelHandler handler) {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public ChannelPipeline addLast(EventExecutorGroup group, final String name, final ChannelHandler handler) {
-        try {
-            Future<Throwable> future;
+    public ChannelPipeline addLast(EventExecutorGroup group, final String name, ChannelHandler handler) {
+        final DefaultChannelHandlerContext oldTail;
+        final DefaultChannelHandlerContext newTail;
 
-            synchronized (this) {
-                checkDuplicateName(name);
+        synchronized (this) {
+            checkDuplicateName(name);
 
-                final DefaultChannelHandlerContext oldTail = tail;
-                final DefaultChannelHandlerContext newTail =
-                        new DefaultChannelHandlerContext(this, group, oldTail, null, name, handler);
+            oldTail = tail;
+            newTail = new DefaultChannelHandlerContext(this, group, oldTail, null, name, handler);
 
-                if (!newTail.channel().isRegistered() || newTail.executor().inEventLoop()) {
-                    addLast0(name, oldTail, newTail);
-                    return this;
-                } else {
-                    future = newTail.executor().submit(new DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask(this) {
-                        @Override
-                        void doCall() {
-                            checkDuplicateName(name);
-                            addLast0(name, oldTail, newTail);
-                        }
-                    });
-                }
+            if (!newTail.channel().isRegistered() || newTail.executor().inEventLoop()) {
+                addLast0(name, oldTail, newTail);
+                return this;
             }
-            // Call Future.get() outside of synchronized block to prevent dead-lock
-            Throwable result = future.get();
-            if (result != null) {
-                // re-throw exception that was caught
-                throw result;
-            }
-            return this;
-
-        } catch (RuntimeException e) {
-            throw e;
-        } catch (Error e) {
-            throw e;
-        } catch (Throwable t) {
-            throw new ChannelPipelineException(t);
         }
 
+        // Run the following 'waiting' code outside of the above synchronized block
+        // in order to avoid deadlock
+
+        newTail.executeOnEventLoop(new Runnable() {
+                @Override
+                public void run() {
+                    synchronized (DefaultChannelPipeline.this) {
+                        checkDuplicateName(name);
+                        addLast0(name, oldTail, newTail);
+                    }
+                }
+            });
+
+        return this;
     }
 
     private void addLast0(
@@ -201,46 +182,35 @@ public ChannelPipeline addBefore(String baseName, String name, ChannelHandler ha
 
     @Override
     public ChannelPipeline addBefore(
-            EventExecutorGroup group, String baseName, final String name, final ChannelHandler handler) {
-        try {
-            Future<Throwable> future;
+            EventExecutorGroup group, String baseName, final String name, ChannelHandler handler) {
+        final DefaultChannelHandlerContext ctx;
+        final DefaultChannelHandlerContext newCtx;
 
-            synchronized (this) {
-                final DefaultChannelHandlerContext ctx = getContextOrDie(baseName);
-                checkDuplicateName(name);
-                final DefaultChannelHandlerContext newCtx =
-                        new DefaultChannelHandlerContext(this, group, ctx.prev, ctx, name, handler);
+        synchronized (this) {
+            ctx = getContextOrDie(baseName);
+            checkDuplicateName(name);
+            newCtx = new DefaultChannelHandlerContext(this, group, ctx.prev, ctx, name, handler);
 
-                if (!newCtx.channel().isRegistered() || newCtx.executor().inEventLoop()) {
-                    addBefore0(name, ctx, newCtx);
-                    return this;
-                } else {
-                    future = newCtx.executor().submit(new DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask(this) {
-                        @Override
-                        void doCall() {
-                            checkDuplicateName(name);
-                            addBefore0(name, ctx, newCtx);
-                        }
-                    });
-                }
+            if (!newCtx.channel().isRegistered() || newCtx.executor().inEventLoop()) {
+                addBefore0(name, ctx, newCtx);
+                return this;
             }
+        }
 
-            // Call Future.get() outside of synchronized block to prevent dead-lock
-            Throwable result = future.get();
-            if (result != null) {
-                // re-throw exception that was caught
-                throw result;
-            }
-            return this;
+        // Run the following 'waiting' code outside of the above synchronized block
+        // in order to avoid deadlock
 
-        } catch (RuntimeException e) {
-            throw e;
-        } catch (Error e) {
-            throw e;
-        } catch (Throwable t) {
-            throw new ChannelPipelineException(t);
-        }
+        newCtx.executeOnEventLoop(new Runnable() {
+                @Override
+                public void run() {
+                    synchronized (DefaultChannelPipeline.this) {
+                        checkDuplicateName(name);
+                        addBefore0(name, ctx, newCtx);
+                    }
+                }
+            });
 
+        return this;
     }
 
     private void addBefore0(final String name, DefaultChannelHandlerContext ctx, DefaultChannelHandlerContext newCtx) {
@@ -260,49 +230,38 @@ public ChannelPipeline addAfter(String baseName, String name, ChannelHandler han
 
     @Override
     public ChannelPipeline addAfter(
-            EventExecutorGroup group, String baseName, final String name, final ChannelHandler handler) {
-
-        try {
-            Future<Throwable> future;
-
-            synchronized (this) {
-                final DefaultChannelHandlerContext ctx = getContextOrDie(baseName);
-                if (ctx == tail) {
-                    return addLast(name, handler);
-                }
-                checkDuplicateName(name);
-                final DefaultChannelHandlerContext newCtx =
-                        new DefaultChannelHandlerContext(this, group, ctx, ctx.next, name, handler);
+            EventExecutorGroup group, String baseName, final String name, ChannelHandler handler) {
+        final DefaultChannelHandlerContext ctx;
+        final DefaultChannelHandlerContext newCtx;
 
-                if (!newCtx.channel().isRegistered() || newCtx.executor().inEventLoop()) {
-                    addAfter0(name, ctx, newCtx);
-                    return this;
-                } else {
-                    future = newCtx.executor().submit(new DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask(this) {
-                        @Override
-                        void doCall() {
-                            checkDuplicateName(name);
-                            addAfter0(name, ctx, newCtx);
-                        }
-                    });
-                }
-            }
-            // Call Future.get() outside of synchronized block to prevent dead-lock
-            Throwable result = future.get();
-            if (result != null) {
-                // re-throw exception that was caught
-                throw result;
+        synchronized (this) {
+            ctx = getContextOrDie(baseName);
+            if (ctx == tail) {
+                return addLast(name, handler);
             }
-            return this;
+            checkDuplicateName(name);
+            newCtx = new DefaultChannelHandlerContext(this, group, ctx, ctx.next, name, handler);
 
-        } catch (RuntimeException e) {
-            throw e;
-        } catch (Error e) {
-            throw e;
-        } catch (Throwable t) {
-            throw new ChannelPipelineException(t);
+            if (!newCtx.channel().isRegistered() || newCtx.executor().inEventLoop()) {
+                addAfter0(name, ctx, newCtx);
+                return this;
+            }
         }
 
+        // Run the following 'waiting' code outside of the above synchronized block
+        // in order to avoid deadlock
+
+        newCtx.executeOnEventLoop(new Runnable() {
+                @Override
+                public void run() {
+                    synchronized (DefaultChannelPipeline.this) {
+                        checkDuplicateName(name);
+                        addAfter0(name, ctx, newCtx);
+                    }
+                }
+            });
+
+        return this;
     }
 
     private void addAfter0(final String name, DefaultChannelHandlerContext ctx, DefaultChannelHandlerContext newCtx) {
@@ -394,65 +353,59 @@ public <T extends ChannelHandler> T remove(Class<T> handlerType) {
     }
 
     private DefaultChannelHandlerContext remove(final DefaultChannelHandlerContext ctx) {
-        try {
-            DefaultChannelHandlerContext context;
-            Future<Throwable> future;
-            synchronized (this) {
+        DefaultChannelHandlerContext context;
+        Future future;
+
+        synchronized (this) {
+            if (head == tail) {
+                return null;
+            } else if (ctx == head) {
+                throw new Error(); // Should never happen.
+            } else if (ctx == tail) {
                 if (head == tail) {
-                    return null;
-                } else if (ctx == head) {
-                    throw new Error(); // Should never happen.
-                } else if (ctx == tail) {
-                    if (head == tail) {
-                        throw new NoSuchElementException();
-                    }
+                    throw new NoSuchElementException();
+                }
 
-                    final DefaultChannelHandlerContext oldTail = tail;
-                    if (!oldTail.channel().isRegistered() || oldTail.executor().inEventLoop()) {
-                        removeLast0(oldTail);
-                        return oldTail;
-                    } else {
-                        future = oldTail.executor().submit(new DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask(this) {
+                final DefaultChannelHandlerContext oldTail = tail;
+                if (!oldTail.channel().isRegistered() || oldTail.executor().inEventLoop()) {
+                    removeLast0(oldTail);
+                    return oldTail;
+                } else {
+                    future = oldTail.executor().submit(new Runnable() {
                             @Override
-                            void doCall() {
-                                removeLast0(oldTail);
+                            public void run() {
+                                synchronized (DefaultChannelPipeline.this) {
+                                    removeLast0(oldTail);
+                                }
                             }
                         });
-                        context = oldTail;
-                    }
+                    context = oldTail;
+                }
 
+            } else {
+                if (!ctx.channel().isRegistered() || ctx.executor().inEventLoop()) {
+                    remove0(ctx);
+                    return ctx;
                 } else {
-                    if (!ctx.channel().isRegistered() || ctx.executor().inEventLoop()) {
-                        remove0(ctx);
-                        return ctx;
-                    } else {
-                       future = ctx.executor().submit(new DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask(this) {
+                   future = ctx.executor().submit(new Runnable() {
                            @Override
-                           void doCall() {
-                               remove0(ctx);
+                           public void run() {
+                               synchronized (DefaultChannelPipeline.this) {
+                                   remove0(ctx);
+                               }
                            }
                        });
-                       context = ctx;
-                    }
+                   context = ctx;
                 }
             }
+        }
 
-            // Call Future.get() outside of synchronized block to prevent dead-lock
-            Throwable result = future.get();
-            if (result != null) {
-                // re-throw exception that was caught
-                throw result;
-            }
+        // Run the following 'waiting' code outside of the above synchronized block
+        // in order to avoid deadlock
 
-            return context;
-        } catch (RuntimeException e) {
-            throw e;
-        } catch (Error e) {
-            throw e;
-        } catch (Throwable t) {
-            throw new ChannelPipelineException(t);
-        }
+        context.waitForFuture(future);
 
+        return context;
     }
 
     private void remove0(DefaultChannelHandlerContext ctx) {
@@ -480,43 +433,32 @@ public ChannelHandler removeFirst() {
 
     @Override
     public ChannelHandler removeLast() {
-        try {
-            Future<Throwable> future;
-            final DefaultChannelHandlerContext oldTail;
-            synchronized (this) {
-                if (head == tail) {
-                    throw new NoSuchElementException();
-                }
-                oldTail = tail;
-                if (!oldTail.channel().isRegistered() || oldTail.executor().inEventLoop()) {
-                    removeLast0(oldTail);
-                    return oldTail.handler();
-                } else {
-                    future = oldTail.executor().submit(new DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask(this) {
-                        @Override
-                        void doCall() {
-                            removeLast0(oldTail);
-                        }
-                    });
-                }
+        final DefaultChannelHandlerContext oldTail;
+
+        synchronized (this) {
+            if (head == tail) {
+                throw new NoSuchElementException();
             }
-            // Call Future.get() outside of synchronized block to prevent dead-lock
-            Throwable result = future.get();
-            if (result != null) {
-                // re-throw exception that was caught
-                throw result;
+            oldTail = tail;
+            if (!oldTail.channel().isRegistered() || oldTail.executor().inEventLoop()) {
+                removeLast0(oldTail);
+                return oldTail.handler();
             }
-
-            return oldTail.handler();
-        } catch (RuntimeException e) {
-            throw e;
-        } catch (Error e) {
-            throw e;
-        } catch (Throwable t) {
-            throw new ChannelPipelineException(t);
         }
 
+        // Run the following 'waiting' code outside of the above synchronized block
+        // in order to avoid deadlock
+
+        oldTail.executeOnEventLoop(new Runnable() {
+                @Override
+                public void run() {
+                    synchronized (DefaultChannelPipeline.this) {
+                        removeLast0(oldTail);
+                    }
+                }
+            });
 
+        return oldTail.handler();
     }
 
     private void removeLast0(DefaultChannelHandlerContext oldTail) {
@@ -550,78 +492,76 @@ public <T extends ChannelHandler> T replace(
     }
 
     private ChannelHandler replace(
-            final DefaultChannelHandlerContext ctx, final String newName, final ChannelHandler newHandler) {
-        try {
-            Future<Throwable> future;
-            synchronized (this) {
-                if (ctx == head) {
-                    throw new IllegalArgumentException();
-                } else if (ctx == tail) {
-                    if (head == tail) {
-                        throw new NoSuchElementException();
-                    }
-                    final DefaultChannelHandlerContext oldTail = tail;
-                    final DefaultChannelHandlerContext newTail =
-                            new DefaultChannelHandlerContext(this, null, oldTail, null, newName, newHandler);
+            final DefaultChannelHandlerContext ctx, final String newName, ChannelHandler newHandler) {
+        Future future;
+        DefaultChannelHandlerContext context;
 
-                    if (!oldTail.channel().isRegistered() || oldTail.executor().inEventLoop()) {
-                        removeLast0(oldTail);
-                        checkDuplicateName(newName);
-                        addLast0(newName, tail, newTail);
-                        return ctx.handler();
+        synchronized (this) {
+            if (ctx == head) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException();
+            } else if (ctx == tail) {
+                if (head == tail) {
+                    throw new NoSuchElementException();
+                }
+                final DefaultChannelHandlerContext oldTail = tail;
+                final DefaultChannelHandlerContext newTail =
+                        new DefaultChannelHandlerContext(this, null, oldTail, null, newName, newHandler);
+
+                if (!oldTail.channel().isRegistered() || oldTail.executor().inEventLoop()) {
+                    removeLast0(oldTail);
+                    checkDuplicateName(newName);
+                    addLast0(newName, tail, newTail);
+                    return ctx.handler();
 
-                    } else {
-                        future = oldTail.executor().submit(new DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask(this) {
+                } else {
+                    future = oldTail.executor().submit(new Runnable() {
                             @Override
-                            void doCall() {
-                                removeLast0(oldTail);
-                                checkDuplicateName(newName);
-                                addLast0(newName, tail, newTail);
+                            public void run() {
+                                synchronized (DefaultChannelPipeline.this) {
+                                    removeLast0(oldTail);
+                                    checkDuplicateName(newName);
+                                    addLast0(newName, tail, newTail);
+                                }
                             }
                         });
-                    }
+                    context = oldTail;
+                }
 
-                } else {
-                    boolean sameName = ctx.name().equals(newName);
-                    if (!sameName) {
-                        checkDuplicateName(newName);
-                    }
+            } else {
+                boolean sameName = ctx.name().equals(newName);
+                if (!sameName) {
+                    checkDuplicateName(newName);
+                }
 
-                    DefaultChannelHandlerContext prev = ctx.prev;
-                    DefaultChannelHandlerContext next = ctx.next;
+                DefaultChannelHandlerContext prev = ctx.prev;
+                DefaultChannelHandlerContext next = ctx.next;
 
-                    final DefaultChannelHandlerContext newCtx =
-                            new DefaultChannelHandlerContext(this, ctx.executor, prev, next, newName, newHandler);
+                final DefaultChannelHandlerContext newCtx =
+                        new DefaultChannelHandlerContext(this, ctx.executor, prev, next, newName, newHandler);
 
-                    if (!newCtx.channel().isRegistered() || newCtx.executor().inEventLoop()) {
-                        replace0(ctx, newName, newCtx);
-                        return ctx.handler();
-                    } else {
-                        future = newCtx.executor().submit(new DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask(this) {
+                if (!newCtx.channel().isRegistered() || newCtx.executor().inEventLoop()) {
+                    replace0(ctx, newName, newCtx);
+                    return ctx.handler();
+                } else {
+                    future = newCtx.executor().submit(new Runnable() {
                             @Override
-                            void doCall() {
-                                replace0(ctx, newName, newCtx);
+                            public void run() {
+                                synchronized (DefaultChannelPipeline.this) {
+                                    replace0(ctx, newName, newCtx);
+                                }
                             }
                         });
-                    }
+                    context = newCtx;
                 }
             }
-            // Call Future.get() outside of synchronized block to prevent dead-lock
-            Throwable result = future.get();
-            if (result != null) {
-                // re-throw exception that was caught
-                throw result;
-            }
+        }
 
-            return ctx.handler();
+        // Run the following 'waiting' code outside of the above synchronized block
+        // in order to avoid deadlock
 
-        } catch (RuntimeException e) {
-            throw e;
-        } catch (Error e) {
-            throw e;
-        } catch (Throwable t) {
-            throw new ChannelPipelineException(t);
-        }
+        context.waitForFuture(future);
+
+        return ctx.handler();
     }
 
     private void replace0(DefaultChannelHandlerContext ctx, String newName, DefaultChannelHandlerContext newCtx) {
diff --git a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask.java b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 7b6ce7d847e..00000000000
--- a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,57 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2012 The Netty Project
- *
- * The Netty Project licenses this file to you 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 io.netty.channel;
-
-import java.util.concurrent.Callable;
-import java.util.concurrent.Future;
-
-/**
- * Custom {@link Callable} implementation which will catch all {@link Throwable} which happens
- * during execution of {@link DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask#doCall()} and return them in the
- * {@link Future}. This allows to re-throw them later.
- *
- * It also handles the right synchronization of the {@link DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask#doCall()}
- * method.
- *
- * It was originally an inner class of {@link DefaultChannelPipeline}, but moved to a top level
- * type to work around a compiler bug.
- */
-abstract class DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask implements Callable<Throwable> {
-
-    private final ChannelPipeline lock;
-
-    DefaultChannelPipelineModificationTask(ChannelPipeline lock) {
-        this.lock = lock;
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public Throwable call() {
-        try {
-            synchronized (lock) {
-                doCall();
-            }
-        } catch (Throwable t) {
-            return t;
-        }
-        return null;
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Execute the modification
-     */
-    abstract void doCall();
-
-}
