POC for GCC ARM back end?

[Nick Clifton]

Hi Randall,

> 	We're using GCC (2.95.3, I believe) to compile C++ for the ARM
> 	processor.  We're finding that the quality of the code
> 	optimization for this processor is fairly low, and would like
> 	to talk to someone who is familiar with the history of the ARM
> 	back end for GCC, primarily with an eye to seeing whether
> 	optimizer improvements have been made since our release and/or
> 	are likely to be made in the near future.

In general work on optimisations for GCC has tended to be in the
generic part of the compiler, where they will benefit lots of ports,
not just the ARM port.  There are some ARM specific optimisations as
well, but these are not a focal point for development work.

It would definitely be worth your while downloading the latest release
of the GCC sources (3.2.1) and comparing the code it produces with the
code you are currently obtaining from your 2.95.3 compiler.  Beware
however, that the 3.x series of GCC compilers use a different, and
incompatible C++ ABI.  So you would have to rebuild and and all C++
programs and libraries if you wanted them to work with the new
compiler.


> 	Would it be possible for you to give us the name of someone
> 	who can answer these kinds of questions for us (and generally
> 	put us in the picture on GCC's ARM support)?  I'm not sure how
> 	GCC's contributing support network operates, or what the
> 	protocol is for these kinds of requests. 

The best people to ask are the maintainers for the GCC ARM port.  You
can find a list of these people in the MAINTAINERS file which ships as
part of the GCC sources.  Currently the maintainers are myself and
Richard Earnshaw (rearnsha@arm.com).

I would recommend visiting the GCC web site:

  http://www.gnu.org/software/gcc/gcc.html

For information on how contributing and supporting GCC works.  It is
also worth noting that there are companies who will sell you support
and/or development contracts for GCC, should you be interested.

Cheers
        Nick