[Bug tree-optimization/64946] New: For Aarch64, vectorization with "abs" instruction is not hapenning with vector elements of char/short type.

["vekumar at gcc dot gnu.org" <gcc-bugzilla at gcc dot gnu dot org>]

https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=64946

            Bug ID: 64946
           Summary: For Aarch64,  vectorization with "abs" instruction is
                    not hapenning with vector elements of char/short type.
           Product: gcc
           Version: 5.0
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P3
         Component: tree-optimization
          Assignee: unassigned at gcc dot gnu.org
          Reporter: vekumar at gcc dot gnu.org

For the below test case.

signed char a[100],b[100];
void absolute_s8 (void)
{
         int i;
         for (i=0; i<16; i++)
         a[i] = (b[i] > 0 ? b[i] : -b[i]);
};

gcc version 5.0.0 20150203 (experimental) (GCC) with  -O3 -S on
aarch64-none-linux-gnu generates the following assembly 

absolute_s8:
        adrp    x1, b
        adrp    x0, a
        add     x1, x1, :lo12:b
        add     x0, x0, :lo12:a
        ldr     q0, [x1]          <== loads vector of 16 char elements
        sshll   v1.8h, v0.8b, 0   <== 
        sshll2  v0.8h, v0.16b, 0  <==
        sshll   v3.4s, v1.4h, 0   <==
        sshll   v2.4s, v0.4h, 0   <==
        sshll2  v1.4s, v1.8h, 0   <==
        sshll2  v0.4s, v0.8h, 0   <== promotes every element to "int"
        abs     v3.4s, v3.4s      <== Performs abs as vector of ints. 
        abs     v2.4s, v2.4s
        abs     v1.4s, v1.4s
        abs     v0.4s, v0.4s
        xtn     v4.4h, v3.4s
        xtn2    v4.8h, v1.4s
        xtn     v1.4h, v2.4s
        xtn2    v1.8h, v0.4s
        xtn     v0.8b, v4.8h
        xtn2    v0.16b, v1.8h
        str     q0, [x0]
        ret

Vectorization is done in INT or SI mode although Aarch64 supports abs v0.16b
v0.16b.

Expected code 

absolute_s8:
        adrp    x1, b
        adrp    x0, a
        add     x1, x1, :lo12:b
        add     x0, x0, :lo12:a
        ldr     q0, [x1]          <== loads vector of 16 char elements
        abs     v0.16b, v0.16b    <== abs in vector of chars
        str     q0, [x0]
        ret