Re: Backend port: Minimizing register usage in favor of memory accesses

[xyzzy at hotpop dot com]

On Tuesday 30 March 2004 22:31, Jim Wilson wrote:
> xyzzy@hotpop.com wrote:
> > I understand that one of the goals of any optimizing compiler is to
> > maximize use of registers since this is the fastest and least space
> > consuming type of instruction on most processors.
>
> The goal of an optimizing compiler is to produce the fastest code for
> the target.  If the target wants registers to be used, then we use
> registers.  If the target doesn't want registers to be used, then we
> don't use registers.
>
> > Is there any way to force the GCC backend to do this, if at all?
>
> We have been doing this since the beginning for an i386 target.

Jim, thanks for the reply... Also, thanks to Joem.

Can you point me in the right place to look in the i386 target so I don't mess 
this up?  Is what Joem said about "lowering MEMORY_MOVE_COST" the only thing 
to do? Is there other black magic involved?

Thanks again.