generic vectors: how should they work?

[Janis Johnson]

On Wed, Sep 01, 2004 at 10:49:21AM -0400, David Edelsohn wrote:
> >>>>> Paolo Bonzini writes:
> 
> >> I think part of the problem is that the term "generic vector" is
> >> being used for both arbitrary size vectors and synthetic (portable?) SIMD
> >> modes.
> 
> Paolo> There are *no* synthetic SIMD modes.  SIMD modes are not used unless 
> Paolo> supported by the hardware, and that's the change that prompted my famous
> Paolo> patch.
> 
> 	Either we are not using the term "synthetic SIMD mode" for the
> same purpose or that comment is incorrect.

What's the right term for each of these?

  1) a vector type that is directly supported by the hardware (vector
     size and base type)

  2) a vector type that can be composed of multiple hardware-supported
     vectors (larger than hardware vector size, base type is supported)

  3) any other vector type (too small or else base type is not
     supported by hardware vectors)

  4) a type with attribute vector_size as described in the GCC Manual,
     which might be any of the above depending on how it is compiled

Janis