Some optimization thoughts (and thanks!)

[Tom Leete]

Jan Hubicka wrote:
> 
> > * When branches are expensive, it might be reasonable to translate if
> >  statements with multiple conditions into merged condition and a single
> >  branch rather than multiple branches.  E.g., "if ((A==N) && (B==M))"
> >  might be translated into "XOR Temp1 A N; XOR Temp2 B M; OR Temp1 Temp2
> >  Temp1; BNEZ Temp1 L3; #branch over conditional code" rather than "XOR
> >  Temp1 A N; BNEZ Temp1 L3; #branch over second condition test and
> >  conditional code\\ XOR Temp1 B M; BNEZ Temp1 L3;"  Removing a branch
> >  might increase modality of the branch and decrease branch history
> >  table aliasing, improving branch prediction.  Such prediction
> >  improvement might compensate for the overhead of performing both tests
> >  in all cases.  (This is what happened in a test case using a pair of
> >  comparisons of a random number and a constant, at least performance
> >  improved on an x86-based system.)
> I've implemented this last month so I will try to contribute that
> once I find time to polish thinks and test the code.
> 
> Honza

Operator && is a sequence point, and it short-circuits. If (A==N) evaluates
false, (B==M) must not be evaluated and none of its side-effects occur. IMO
that includes clobbering the processor flags.

Other constructions can give the effect you want.

Cheers
Tom
-- 
The Daemons lurk and are dumb. -- Emerson