Re: optimizing compiler against average assembly programmer.

When comparing manual assembly code to compiled code, we are comparing
the production of machine instructions by:


a person knowledgeable about the machine architecture for a fairly
specialized task, and few restrictions (imposed by any requirements to
call OS services) on how the architecture may be used to accomplish
the task (get it right, avoid machine model dependencies and avoid
exceptions);


a fast and sophisticated program which limits the use of the machine
by the conventions assumed by the compiler writers, the interface to
the runtime library and the OS, and the requirement to generate code
that is correct in the general case, rather than just the task at
hand.


For minimal code size or speed of execution on a specialized task,
manual assembly code is the way to program. For speed of problem
solving or more handling more generalized input, higher level
languages are to be preferred. Personally, I like to use interpreted
languages (in the UNIX sense) where possible, compiled languages where
higher speed or otherwise unavailable functionality is required, and
assembly language where I have no other choice.


--
Take care.
Thanks,
Brian Inglis
Brian_Inglis@CompuServe.COM
--

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