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.
-- 
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Ron Voss                Motorola Microsystems Europe, Munich
mcvax!unido!mucmot!ron                         CIS 73647,752
my opinions are just that, and not necessarily my employer's
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