Using de-optimization to re-optimize code

The nature of embedded systems development places a great deal of importance on meeting strict requirements in areas such as static code size, power consumption, and execution time. In order to meet these requirements, embedded developers frequently generate and tune assembly code for applications by hand, despite the disadvantages of coding at a low level. The phase ordering problem is a well-known problem affecting the design of optimizing compilers. Hand-tuned code is susceptible to an analogous problem to phase ordering due to the process of iterative refinement, but there has been little research in mitigating its effect on the quality of the generated code. This paper presents an extension of the VISTA framework for investigating the effect and potential benefit of performing de-optimization before re-optimizing assembly code. The design and implementation of algorithms for de-optimization of both loop-invariant code motion and register allocation, along with results of exp...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2005
• Where: EMSOFT
• Authors: Stephen Hines, Prasad Kulkarni, David B. Whalley, Jack W. Davidson
• Keywords: Assembly Code, Embedded Systems, EMSOFT 2005, Static Code Size