Re: Argument passing conventions and optimization

nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk (Nick Maclaren)
11 Nov 2003 14:34:41 -0500

          From comp.compilers

Related articles
[3 earlier articles]
Re: Argument passing conventions and optimization marcov@stack.nl (Marco van de Voort) (2003-10-31)
Re: Argument passing conventions and optimization nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk (2003-11-01)
Re: Argument passing conventions and optimization ptumati@yahoo.com (pradeep tumati) (2003-11-02)
Re: Argument passing conventions and optimization nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk (2003-11-08)
Re: Argument passing conventions and optimization bobduff@shell01.TheWorld.com (Robert A Duff) (2003-11-08)
Re: Argument passing conventions and optimization robert.thorpe@antenova.com (Rob Thorpe) (2003-11-11)
Re: Argument passing conventions and optimization nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk (2003-11-11)
| List of all articles for this month |

From: nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk (Nick Maclaren)
Newsgroups: comp.compilers
Date: 11 Nov 2003 14:34:41 -0500
Organization: University of Cambridge, England
References: 03-10-116 03-10-153 03-11-018 03-11-035
Keywords: code, optimize
Posted-Date: 11 Nov 2003 14:34:41 EST

Robert A Duff <bobduff@shell01.TheWorld.com> wrote:
>pradeep tumati <ptumati@yahoo.com> writes:
>
>> Does this case even apply to parameter passing in the case of static
>> functions (in C)? Logically, we can perform optimization, but I am not
>> sure what kind of side effects this causes... The same can be the case
>> with functions calling other functions within the same C++ Namespace.
>
>One side effect might be that the debugger is utterly confused.
>Presuming one is trying to use a so-called "language-independent"
>debugger.


Right in one.


>It seems to me that a compiler for a particular language ought to be
>allowed to choose its own calling conventions in at least *some*
>circumstances. (Like, no debugging, the call is not inter-langage, the
>call is not calling a library routine).


They can, and always have done. It was near-universal under IBM
MVT and MVS, where the standard linkage was (a) very slow and
(b) poorly suited to many languages.


>> There could be a scenario where this kind of optimization can be
>> entrusted to the linker, but I guess its going to be a costly
>> stuff. Any thoughts...?
>
>Have we got to the point where link-time optimizations are worthwhile?


Many HPC vendors (system manufacturers and third-party) think so.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.


Post a followup to this message

Return to the comp.compilers page.
Search the comp.compilers archives again.