Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mcvax!unido!mucmot!ron From: ron@mucmot.UUCP (Ron Voss) Newsgroups: comp.arch Subject: Re: RISC machines and scoreboarding Summary: Optimizers not buggy? Message-ID: <318@mucmot.UUCP> Date: 28 Jun 88 09:08:20 GMT References: <1082@nud.UUCP> <2438@winchester.mips.COM> <1098@nud.UUCP> <2465@winchester.mips.COM> Organization: Motorola GmbH Microsystems Munich Lines: 20 In article <2465@winchester.mips.COM>, mash@mips.COM (John Mashey) writes: > c) Figuring that a RISC compiler should do optimization, but worrying > that this feature might be buggy, is like worrying about the safety > of flying in a 747 and bringing your own seat-belt because you > don't really trust Boeing to remember to include them :-) I have observed a few cases where hours were wasted searching for a programming bug, only to find that the CISC (68020) compiler's optimizer is buggy (so one turns on the optimizer only for a release, since it slows compilations anyway, thoughouly test again after turning on, etc.). Are there really *good* reasons to put more trust in RISC optimizers? Methinks the metaphor a bit overdone. -- ------------------------------------------------------------ Ron Voss Motorola Microsystems Europe, Munich mcvax!unido!mucmot!ron CIS 73647,752 my opinions are just that, and not necessarily my employer's ------------------------------------------------------------