--- gcc/gcc.info-10 2018/04/24 17:55:51 1.1.1.3 +++ gcc/gcc.info-10 2018/04/24 18:17:56 1.1.1.7 @@ -1,9 +1,13 @@ -This is Info file gcc.info, produced by Makeinfo-1.47 from the input +This is Info file gcc.info, produced by Makeinfo-1.55 from the input file gcc.texi. This file documents the use and the internals of the GNU compiler. - Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1992 Free Software Foundation, Inc. + Published by the Free Software Foundation 675 Massachusetts Avenue +Cambridge, MA 02139 USA + + Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994 Free Software Foundation, +Inc. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are @@ -11,867 +15,945 @@ preserved on all copies. Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also -that the sections entitled "GNU General Public License" and "Boycott" -are included exactly as in the original, and provided that the entire +that the sections entitled "GNU General Public License," "Funding for +Free Software," and "Protect Your Freedom--Fight `Look And Feel'" are +included exactly as in the original, and provided that the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a permission notice identical to this one. Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions, except that the sections entitled "GNU General Public -License" and "Boycott", and this permission notice, may be included in +License," "Funding for Free Software," and "Protect Your Freedom--Fight +`Look And Feel'", and this permission notice, may be included in translations approved by the Free Software Foundation instead of in the original English.  -File: gcc.info, Node: RTL Template, Next: Output Template, Prev: Example, Up: Machine Desc +File: gcc.info, Node: External Bugs, Next: Incompatibilities, Prev: Interoperation, Up: Trouble + +Problems Compiling Certain Programs +=================================== + + Certain programs have problems compiling. + + * Parse errors may occur compiling X11 on a Decstation running + Ultrix 4.2 because of problems in DEC's versions of the X11 header + files `X11/Xlib.h' and `X11/Xutil.h'. People recommend adding + `-I/usr/include/mit' to use the MIT versions of the header files, + using the `-traditional' switch to turn off ANSI C, or fixing the + header files by adding this: + + #ifdef __STDC__ + #define NeedFunctionPrototypes 0 + #endif + + * If you have trouble compiling Perl on a SunOS 4 system, it may be + because Perl specifies `-I/usr/ucbinclude'. This accesses the + unfixed header files. Perl specifies the options + + -traditional -Dvolatile=__volatile__ + -I/usr/include/sun -I/usr/ucbinclude + -fpcc-struct-return + + most of which are unnecessary with GCC 2.4.5 and newer versions. + You can make a properly working Perl by setting `ccflags' to + `-fwritable-strings' (implied by the `-traditional' in the + original options) and `cppflags' to empty in `config.sh', then + typing `./doSH; make depend; make'. + + * On various 386 Unix systems derived from System V, including SCO, + ISC, and ESIX, you may get error messages about running out of + virtual memory while compiling certain programs. + + You can prevent this problem by linking GNU CC with the GNU malloc + (which thus replaces the malloc that comes with the system). GNU + malloc is available as a separate package, and also in the file + `src/gmalloc.c' in the GNU Emacs 19 distribution. + + If you have installed GNU malloc as a separate library package, + use this option when you relink GNU CC: + + MALLOC=/usr/local/lib/libgmalloc.a + + Alternatively, if you have compiled `gmalloc.c' from Emacs 19, copy + the object file to `gmalloc.o' and use this option when you relink + GNU CC: + + MALLOC=gmalloc.o + + +File: gcc.info, Node: Incompatibilities, Next: Fixed Headers, Prev: External Bugs, Up: Trouble + +Incompatibilities of GNU CC +=========================== + + There are several noteworthy incompatibilities between GNU C and most +existing (non-ANSI) versions of C. The `-traditional' option +eliminates many of these incompatibilities, *but not all*, by telling +GNU C to behave like the other C compilers. + + * GNU CC normally makes string constants read-only. If several + identical-looking string constants are used, GNU CC stores only one + copy of the string. + + One consequence is that you cannot call `mktemp' with a string + constant argument. The function `mktemp' always alters the string + its argument points to. + + Another consequence is that `sscanf' does not work on some systems + when passed a string constant as its format control string or + input. This is because `sscanf' incorrectly tries to write into + the string constant. Likewise `fscanf' and `scanf'. + + The best solution to these problems is to change the program to use + `char'-array variables with initialization strings for these + purposes instead of string constants. But if this is not possible, + you can use the `-fwritable-strings' flag, which directs GNU CC to + handle string constants the same way most C compilers do. + `-traditional' also has this effect, among others. + + * `-2147483648' is positive. -RTL Template for Generating and Recognizing Insns -================================================= + This is because 2147483648 cannot fit in the type `int', so + (following the ANSI C rules) its data type is `unsigned long int'. + Negating this value yields 2147483648 again. - The RTL template is used to define which insns match the particular -pattern and how to find their operands. For named patterns, the RTL -template also says how to construct an insn from specified operands. - - Construction involves substituting specified operands into a copy of -the template. Matching involves determining the values that serve as -the operands in the insn being matched. Both of these activities are -controlled by special expression types that direct matching and -substitution of the operands. - -`(match_operand:M N PREDICATE CONSTRAINT)' - This expression is a placeholder for operand number N of the insn. - When constructing an insn, operand number N will be substituted - at this point. When matching an insn, whatever appears at this - position in the insn will be taken as operand number N; but it - must satisfy PREDICATE or this instruction pattern will not match - at all. - - Operand numbers must be chosen consecutively counting from zero in - each instruction pattern. There may be only one `match_operand' - expression in the pattern for each operand number. Usually - operands are numbered in the order of appearance in `match_operand' - expressions. - - PREDICATE is a string that is the name of a C function that - accepts two arguments, an expression and a machine mode. During - matching, the function will be called with the putative operand as - the expression and M as the mode argument (if M is not specified, - `VOIDmode' will be used, which normally causes PREDICATE to accept - any mode). If it returns zero, this instruction pattern fails to - match. PREDICATE may be an empty string; then it means no test is - to be done on the operand, so anything which occurs in this - position is valid. - - Most of the time, PREDICATE will reject modes other than M--but - not always. For example, the predicate `address_operand' uses M - as the mode of memory ref that the address should be valid for. - Many predicates accept `const_int' nodes even though their mode is - `VOIDmode'. - - CONSTRAINT controls reloading and the choice of the best register - class to use for a value, as explained later (*note - Constraints::.). - - People are often unclear on the difference between the constraint - and the predicate. The predicate helps decide whether a given - insn matches the pattern. The constraint plays no role in this - decision; instead, it controls various decisions in the case of an - insn which does match. - - On CISC machines, PREDICATE is most often `"general_operand"'. - This function checks that the putative operand is either a - constant, a register or a memory reference, and that it is valid - for mode M. - - For an operand that must be a register, PREDICATE should be - `"register_operand"'. It would be valid to use - `"general_operand"', since the reload pass would copy any - non-register operands through registers, but this would make GNU - CC do extra work, it would prevent invariant operands (such as - constant) from being removed from loops, and it would prevent the - register allocator from doing the best possible job. On RISC - machines, it is usually most efficient to allow PREDICATE to - accept only objects that the constraints allow. - - For an operand that must be a constant, either use - `"immediate_operand"' for PREDICATE, or make the instruction - pattern's extra condition require a constant, or both. You cannot - expect the constraints to do this work! If the constraints allow - only constants, but the predicate allows something else, the - compiler will crash when that case arises. - -`(match_scratch:M N CONSTRAINT)' - This expression is also a placeholder for operand number N and - indicates that operand must be a `scratch' or `reg' expression. - - When matching patterns, this is completely equivalent to - - (match_operand:M N "scratch_operand" PRED) - - but, when generating RTL, it produces a (`scratch':M) expression. - - If the last few expressions in a `parallel' are `clobber' - expressions whose operands are either a hard register or - `match_scratch', the combiner can add them when necessary. *Note - Side Effects::. - -`(match_dup N)' - This expression is also a placeholder for operand number N. It is - used when the operand needs to appear more than once in the insn. - - In construction, `match_dup' behaves exactly like `match_operand': - the operand is substituted into the insn being constructed. But - in matching, `match_dup' behaves differently. It assumes that - operand number N has already been determined by a `match_operand' - appearing earlier in the recognition template, and it matches only - an identical-looking expression. - -`(match_operator:M N PREDICATE [OPERANDS...])' - This pattern is a kind of placeholder for a variable RTL expression - code. - - When constructing an insn, it stands for an RTL expression whose - expression code is taken from that of operand N, and whose - operands are constructed from the patterns OPERANDS. - - When matching an expression, it matches an expression if the - function PREDICATE returns nonzero on that expression *and* the - patterns OPERANDS match the operands of the expression. - - Suppose that the function `commutative_operator' is defined as - follows, to match any expression whose operator is one of the - commutative arithmetic operators of RTL and whose mode is MODE: - - int - commutative_operator (x, mode) - rtx x; - enum machine_mode mode; + * GNU CC does not substitute macro arguments when they appear inside + of string constants. For example, the following macro in GNU CC + + #define foo(a) "a" + + will produce output `"a"' regardless of what the argument A is. + + The `-traditional' option directs GNU CC to handle such cases + (among others) in the old-fashioned (non-ANSI) fashion. + + * When you use `setjmp' and `longjmp', the only automatic variables + guaranteed to remain valid are those declared `volatile'. This is + a consequence of automatic register allocation. Consider this + function: + + jmp_buf j; + + foo () { - enum rtx_code code = GET_CODE (x); - if (GET_MODE (x) != mode) - return 0; - return GET_RTX_CLASS (code) == 'c' || code == EQ || code == NE; + int a, b; + + a = fun1 (); + if (setjmp (j)) + return a; + + a = fun2 (); + /* `longjmp (j)' may occur in `fun3'. */ + return a + fun3 (); } - Then the following pattern will match any RTL expression consisting - of a commutative operator applied to two general operands: + Here `a' may or may not be restored to its first value when the + `longjmp' occurs. If `a' is allocated in a register, then its + first value is restored; otherwise, it keeps the last value stored + in it. + + If you use the `-W' option with the `-O' option, you will get a + warning when GNU CC thinks such a problem might be possible. + + The `-traditional' option directs GNU C to put variables in the + stack by default, rather than in registers, in functions that call + `setjmp'. This results in the behavior found in traditional C + compilers. + + * Programs that use preprocessor directives in the middle of macro + arguments do not work with GNU CC. For example, a program like + this will not work: + + foobar ( + #define luser + hack) + + ANSI C does not permit such a construct. It would make sense to + support it when `-traditional' is used, but it is too much work to + implement. + + * Declarations of external variables and functions within a block + apply only to the block containing the declaration. In other + words, they have the same scope as any other declaration in the + same place. + + In some other C compilers, a `extern' declaration affects all the + rest of the file even if it happens within a block. + + The `-traditional' option directs GNU C to treat all `extern' + declarations as global, like traditional compilers. + + * In traditional C, you can combine `long', etc., with a typedef + name, as shown here: + + typedef int foo; + typedef long foo bar; + + In ANSI C, this is not allowed: `long' and other type modifiers + require an explicit `int'. Because this criterion is expressed by + Bison grammar rules rather than C code, the `-traditional' flag + cannot alter it. + + * PCC allows typedef names to be used as function parameters. The + difficulty described immediately above applies here too. + + * PCC allows whitespace in the middle of compound assignment + operators such as `+='. GNU CC, following the ANSI standard, does + not allow this. The difficulty described immediately above + applies here too. + + * GNU CC complains about unterminated character constants inside of + preprocessor conditionals that fail. Some programs have English + comments enclosed in conditionals that are guaranteed to fail; if + these comments contain apostrophes, GNU CC will probably report an + error. For example, this code would produce an error: + + #if 0 + You can't expect this to work. + #endif + + The best solution to such a problem is to put the text into an + actual C comment delimited by `/*...*/'. However, `-traditional' + suppresses these error messages. + + * Many user programs contain the declaration `long time ();'. In the + past, the system header files on many systems did not actually + declare `time', so it did not matter what type your program + declared it to return. But in systems with ANSI C headers, `time' + is declared to return `time_t', and if that is not the same as + `long', then `long time ();' is erroneous. + + The solution is to change your program to use `time_t' as the + return type of `time'. + + * When compiling functions that return `float', PCC converts it to a + double. GNU CC actually returns a `float'. If you are concerned + with PCC compatibility, you should declare your functions to return + `double'; you might as well say what you mean. + + * When compiling functions that return structures or unions, GNU CC + output code normally uses a method different from that used on most + versions of Unix. As a result, code compiled with GNU CC cannot + call a structure-returning function compiled with PCC, and vice + versa. + + The method used by GNU CC is as follows: a structure or union + which is 1, 2, 4 or 8 bytes long is returned like a scalar. A + structure or union with any other size is stored into an address + supplied by the caller (usually in a special, fixed register, but + on some machines it is passed on the stack). The + machine-description macros `STRUCT_VALUE' and + `STRUCT_INCOMING_VALUE' tell GNU CC where to pass this address. + + By contrast, PCC on most target machines returns structures and + unions of any size by copying the data into an area of static + storage, and then returning the address of that storage as if it + were a pointer value. The caller must copy the data from that + memory area to the place where the value is wanted. GNU CC does + not use this method because it is slower and nonreentrant. + + On some newer machines, PCC uses a reentrant convention for all + structure and union returning. GNU CC on most of these machines + uses a compatible convention when returning structures and unions + in memory, but still returns small structures and unions in + registers. + + You can tell GNU CC to use a compatible convention for all + structure and union returning with the option + `-fpcc-struct-return'. + + * GNU C complains about program fragments such as `0x74ae-0x4000' + which appear to be two hexadecimal constants separated by the minus + operator. Actually, this string is a single "preprocessing token". + Each such token must correspond to one token in C. Since this + does not, GNU C prints an error message. Although it may appear + obvious that what is meant is an operator and two values, the ANSI + C standard specifically requires that this be treated as erroneous. + + A "preprocessing token" is a "preprocessing number" if it begins + with a digit and is followed by letters, underscores, digits, + periods and `e+', `e-', `E+', or `E-' character sequences. + + To make the above program fragment valid, place whitespace in + front of the minus sign. This whitespace will end the + preprocessing number. + + +File: gcc.info, Node: Fixed Headers, Next: Disappointments, Prev: Incompatibilities, Up: Trouble + +Fixed Header Files +================== + + GNU CC needs to install corrected versions of some system header +files. This is because most target systems have some header files that +won't work with GNU CC unless they are changed. Some have bugs, some +are incompatible with ANSI C, and some depend on special features of +other compilers. + + Installing GNU CC automatically creates and installs the fixed header +files, by running a program called `fixincludes' (or for certain +targets an alternative such as `fixinc.svr4'). Normally, you don't +need to pay attention to this. But there are cases where it doesn't do +the right thing automatically. + + * If you update the system's header files, such as by installing a + new system version, the fixed header files of GNU CC are not + automatically updated. The easiest way to update them is to + reinstall GNU CC. (If you want to be clever, look in the makefile + and you can find a shortcut.) + + * On some systems, in particular SunOS 4, header file directories + contain machine-specific symbolic links in certain places. This + makes it possible to share most of the header files among hosts + running the same version of SunOS 4 on different machine models. + + The programs that fix the header files do not understand this + special way of using symbolic links; therefore, the directory of + fixed header files is good only for the machine model used to + build it. + + In SunOS 4, only programs that look inside the kernel will notice + the difference between machine models. Therefore, for most + purposes, you need not be concerned about this. + + It is possible to make separate sets of fixed header files for the + different machine models, and arrange a structure of symbolic + links so as to use the proper set, but you'll have to do this by + hand. + + * On Lynxos, GNU CC by default does not fix the header files. This + is because bugs in the shell cause the `fixincludes' script to + fail. + + This means you will encounter problems due to bugs in the system + header files. It may be no comfort that they aren't GNU CC's + fault, but it does mean that there's nothing for us to do about + them. + + +File: gcc.info, Node: Disappointments, Next: C++ Misunderstandings, Prev: Fixed Headers, Up: Trouble + +Disappointments and Misunderstandings +===================================== + + These problems are perhaps regrettable, but we don't know any +practical way around them. + + * Certain local variables aren't recognized by debuggers when you + compile with optimization. + + This occurs because sometimes GNU CC optimizes the variable out of + existence. There is no way to tell the debugger how to compute the + value such a variable "would have had", and it is not clear that + would be desirable anyway. So GNU CC simply does not mention the + eliminated variable when it writes debugging information. + + You have to expect a certain amount of disagreement between the + executable and your source code, when you use optimization. + + * Users often think it is a bug when GNU CC reports an error for code + like this: + + int foo (struct mumble *); + + struct mumble { ... }; + + int foo (struct mumble *x) + { ... } + + This code really is erroneous, because the scope of `struct + mumble' in the prototype is limited to the argument list + containing it. It does not refer to the `struct mumble' defined + with file scope immediately below--they are two unrelated types + with similar names in different scopes. + + But in the definition of `foo', the file-scope type is used + because that is available to be inherited. Thus, the definition + and the prototype do not match, and you get an error. + + This behavior may seem silly, but it's what the ANSI standard + specifies. It is easy enough for you to make your code work by + moving the definition of `struct mumble' above the prototype. + It's not worth being incompatible with ANSI C just to avoid an + error for the example shown above. + + * Accesses to bitfields even in volatile objects works by accessing + larger objects, such as a byte or a word. You cannot rely on what + size of object is accessed in order to read or write the bitfield; + it may even vary for a given bitfield according to the precise + usage. + + If you care about controlling the amount of memory that is + accessed, use volatile but do not use bitfields. + + * GNU CC comes with shell scripts to fix certain known problems in + system header files. They install corrected copies of various + header files in a special directory where only GNU CC will + normally look for them. The scripts adapt to various systems by + searching all the system header files for the problem cases that + we know about. + + If new system header files are installed, nothing automatically + arranges to update the corrected header files. You will have to + reinstall GNU CC to fix the new header files. More specifically, + go to the build directory and delete the files `stmp-fixinc' and + `stmp-headers', and the subdirectory `include'; then do `make + install' again. + + * On 68000 systems, you can get paradoxical results if you test the + precise values of floating point numbers. For example, you can + find that a floating point value which is not a NaN is not equal + to itself. This results from the fact that the the floating point + registers hold a few more bits of precision than fit in a `double' + in memory. Compiled code moves values between memory and floating + point registers at its convenience, and moving them into memory + truncates them. + + You can partially avoid this problem by using the `-ffloat-store' + option (*note Optimize Options::.). + + * On the MIPS, variable argument functions using `varargs.h' cannot + have a floating point value for the first argument. The reason + for this is that in the absence of a prototype in scope, if the + first argument is a floating point, it is passed in a floating + point register, rather than an integer register. + + If the code is rewritten to use the ANSI standard `stdarg.h' + method of variable arguments, and the prototype is in scope at the + time of the call, everything will work fine. + + +File: gcc.info, Node: C++ Misunderstandings, Next: Protoize Caveats, Prev: Disappointments, Up: Trouble + +Common Misunderstandings with GNU C++ +===================================== - (match_operator:SI 3 "commutative_operator" - [(match_operand:SI 1 "general_operand" "g") - (match_operand:SI 2 "general_operand" "g")]) - - Here the vector `[OPERANDS...]' contains two patterns because the - expressions to be matched all contain two operands. - - When this pattern does match, the two operands of the commutative - operator are recorded as operands 1 and 2 of the insn. (This is - done by the two instances of `match_operand'.) Operand 3 of the - insn will be the entire commutative expression: use `GET_CODE - (operands[3])' to see which commutative operator was used. - - The machine mode M of `match_operator' works like that of - `match_operand': it is passed as the second argument to the - predicate function, and that function is solely responsible for - deciding whether the expression to be matched "has" that mode. - - When constructing an insn, argument 3 of the gen-function will - specify the operation (i.e. the expression code) for the - expression to be made. It should be an RTL expression, whose - expression code is copied into a new expression whose operands are - arguments 1 and 2 of the gen-function. The subexpressions of - argument 3 are not used; only its expression code matters. - - When `match_operator' is used in a pattern for matching an insn, - it usually best if the operand number of the `match_operator' is - higher than that of the actual operands of the insn. This improves - register allocation because the register allocator often looks at - operands 1 and 2 of insns to see if it can do register tying. - - There is no way to specify constraints in `match_operator'. The - operand of the insn which corresponds to the `match_operator' - never has any constraints because it is never reloaded as a whole. - However, if parts of its OPERANDS are matched by `match_operand' - patterns, those parts may have constraints of their own. - -`(match_parallel N PREDICATE [SUBPAT...])' - This pattern is a placeholder for an insn that consists of a - `parallel' expression with a variable number of elements. This - expression should only appear at the top level of an insn pattern. - - When constructing an insn, operand number N will be substituted at - this point. When matching an insn, it matches if the body of the - insn is a `parallel' expression with at least as many elements as - the vector of SUBPAT expressions in the `match_parallel', if each - SUBPAT matches the corresponding element of the `parallel', *and* - the function PREDICATE returns nonzero on the `parallel' that is - the body of the insn. It is the responsibility of the predicate - to validate elements of the `parallel' beyond those listed in the - `match_parallel'. - - A typical use of `match_parallel' is to match load and store - multiple expressions, which can contains a variable number of - elements in a `parallel'. For example, - - (define_insn "" - [(match_parallel 0 "load_multiple_operation" - [(set (match_operand:SI 1 "gen_reg_operand" "=r") - (match_operand:SI 2 "memory_operand" "m")) - (use (reg:SI 179)) - (clobber (reg:SI 179))])] - "" - "loadm 0,0,%1,%2") - - This example comes from `a29k.md'. The function - `load_multiple_operations' is defined in `a29k.c' and checks that - subsequent elements in the `parallel' are the same as the `set' in - the pattern, except that they are referencing subsequent registers - and memory locations. - - An insn that matches this pattern might look like: - - (parallel [(set (reg:SI 20) (mem:SI (reg:SI 100))) - (use (reg:SI 179)) - (clobber (reg:SI 179)) - (set (reg:SI 21) (mem:SI (plus:SI (reg:SI 100) (const_int 4)))) - (set (reg:SI 22) (mem:SI (plus:SI (reg:SI 100) (const_int 8))))]) - -`(address (match_operand:M N "address_operand" ""))' - This complex of expressions is a placeholder for an operand number - N in a "load address" instruction: an operand which specifies a - memory location in the usual way, but for which the actual operand - value used is the address of the location, not the contents of the - location. - - `address' expressions never appear in RTL code, only in machine - descriptions. And they are used only in machine descriptions that - do not use the operand constraint feature. When operand - constraints are in use, the letter `p' in the constraint serves - this purpose. - - M is the machine mode of the *memory location being addressed*, - not the machine mode of the address itself. That mode is always - the same on a given target machine (it is `Pmode', which normally - is `SImode'), so there is no point in mentioning it; thus, no - machine mode is written in the `address' expression. If some day - support is added for machines in which addresses of different - kinds of objects appear differently or are used differently (such - as the PDP-10), different formats would perhaps need different - machine modes and these modes might be written in the `address' - expression. - - -File: gcc.info, Node: Output Template, Next: Output Statement, Prev: RTL Template, Up: Machine Desc - -Output Templates and Operand Substitution -========================================= - - The "output template" is a string which specifies how to output the -assembler code for an instruction pattern. Most of the template is a -fixed string which is output literally. The character `%' is used to -specify where to substitute an operand; it can also be used to identify -places where different variants of the assembler require different -syntax. - - In the simplest case, a `%' followed by a digit N says to output -operand N at that point in the string. - - `%' followed by a letter and a digit says to output an operand in an -alternate fashion. Four letters have standard, built-in meanings -described below. The machine description macro `PRINT_OPERAND' can -define additional letters with nonstandard meanings. - - `%cDIGIT' can be used to substitute an operand that is a constant -value without the syntax that normally indicates an immediate operand. - - `%nDIGIT' is like `%cDIGIT' except that the value of the constant is -negated before printing. - - `%aDIGIT' can be used to substitute an operand as if it were a -memory reference, with the actual operand treated as the address. This -may be useful when outputting a "load address" instruction, because -often the assembler syntax for such an instruction requires you to -write the operand as if it were a memory reference. - - `%lDIGIT' is used to substitute a `label_ref' into a jump -instruction. - - `%' followed by a punctuation character specifies a substitution that -does not use an operand. Only one case is standard: `%%' outputs a `%' -into the assembler code. Other nonstandard cases can be defined in the -`PRINT_OPERAND' macro. You must also define which punctuation -characters are valid with the `PRINT_OPERAND_PUNCT_VALID_P' macro. - - The template may generate multiple assembler instructions. Write -the text for the instructions, with `\;' between them. - - When the RTL contains two operands which are required by constraint -to match each other, the output template must refer only to the -lower-numbered operand. Matching operands are not always identical, and -the rest of the compiler arranges to put the proper RTL expression for -printing into the lower-numbered operand. - - One use of nonstandard letters or punctuation following `%' is to -distinguish between different assembler languages for the same machine; -for example, Motorola syntax versus MIT syntax for the 68000. Motorola -syntax requires periods in most opcode names, while MIT syntax does -not. For example, the opcode `movel' in MIT syntax is `move.l' in -Motorola syntax. The same file of patterns is used for both kinds of -output syntax, but the character sequence `%.' is used in each place -where Motorola syntax wants a period. The `PRINT_OPERAND' macro for -Motorola syntax defines the sequence to output a period; the macro for -MIT syntax defines it to do nothing. - - -File: gcc.info, Node: Output Statement, Next: Constraints, Prev: Output Template, Up: Machine Desc - -C Statements for Generating Assembler Output -============================================ - - Often a single fixed template string cannot produce correct and -efficient assembler code for all the cases that are recognized by a -single instruction pattern. For example, the opcodes may depend on the -kinds of operands; or some unfortunate combinations of operands may -require extra machine instructions. - - If the output control string starts with a `@', then it is actually -a series of templates, each on a separate line. (Blank lines and -leading spaces and tabs are ignored.) The templates correspond to the -pattern's constraint alternatives (*note Multi-Alternative::.). For -example, if a target machine has a two-address add instruction `addr' -to add into a register and another `addm' to add a register to memory, -you might write this pattern: - - (define_insn "addsi3" - [(set (match_operand:SI 0 "general_operand" "=r,m") - (plus:SI (match_operand:SI 1 "general_operand" "0,0") - (match_operand:SI 2 "general_operand" "g,r")))] - "" - "@ - addr %1,%0 - addm %1,%0") - - If the output control string starts with a `*', then it is not an -output template but rather a piece of C program that should compute a -template. It should execute a `return' statement to return the -template-string you want. Most such templates use C string literals, -which require doublequote characters to delimit them. To include these -doublequote characters in the string, prefix each one with `\'. - - The operands may be found in the array `operands', whose C data type -is `rtx []'. - - It is very common to select different ways of generating assembler -code based on whether an immediate operand is within a certain range. -Be careful when doing this, because the result of `INTVAL' is an -integer on the host machine. If the host machine has more bits in an -`int' than the target machine has in the mode in which the constant -will be used, then some of the bits you get from `INTVAL' will be -superfluous. For proper results, you must carefully disregard the -values of those bits. - - It is possible to output an assembler instruction and then go on to -output or compute more of them, using the subroutine `output_asm_insn'. - This receives two arguments: a template-string and a vector of -operands. The vector may be `operands', or it may be another array of -`rtx' that you declare locally and initialize yourself. - - When an insn pattern has multiple alternatives in its constraints, -often the appearance of the assembler code is determined mostly by -which alternative was matched. When this is so, the C code can test -the variable `which_alternative', which is the ordinal number of the -alternative that was actually satisfied (0 for the first, 1 for the -second alternative, etc.). - - For example, suppose there are two opcodes for storing zero, `clrreg' -for registers and `clrmem' for memory locations. Here is how a pattern -could use `which_alternative' to choose between them: - - (define_insn "" - [(set (match_operand:SI 0 "general_operand" "=r,m") - (const_int 0))] - "" - "* - return (which_alternative == 0 - ? \"clrreg %0\" : \"clrmem %0\"); - ") - - The example above, where the assembler code to generate was *solely* -determined by the alternative, could also have been specified as -follows, having the output control string start with a `@': - - (define_insn "" - [(set (match_operand:SI 0 "general_operand" "=r,m") - (const_int 0))] - "" - "@ - clrreg %0 - clrmem %0") - - -File: gcc.info, Node: Constraints, Next: Standard Names, Prev: Output Statement, Up: Machine Desc - -Operand Constraints -=================== - - Each `match_operand' in an instruction pattern can specify a -constraint for the type of operands allowed. Constraints can say -whether an operand may be in a register, and which kinds of register; -whether the operand can be a memory reference, and which kinds of -address; whether the operand may be an immediate constant, and which -possible values it may have. Constraints can also require two operands -to match. + C++ is a complex language and an evolving one, and its standard +definition (the ANSI C++ draft standard) is also evolving. As a result, +your C++ compiler may occasionally surprise you, even when its behavior +is correct. This section discusses some areas that frequently give +rise to questions of this sort. * Menu: -* Simple Constraints:: Basic use of constraints. -* Multi-Alternative:: When an insn has two alternative constraint-patterns. -* Class Preferences:: Constraints guide which hard register to put things in. -* Modifiers:: More precise control over effects of constraints. -* No Constraints:: Describing a clean machine without constraints. - - -File: gcc.info, Node: Simple Constraints, Next: Multi-Alternative, Prev: Constraints, Up: Constraints - -Simple Constraints ------------------- - - The simplest kind of constraint is a string full of letters, each of -which describes one kind of operand that is permitted. Here are the -letters that are allowed: - -`m' - A memory operand is allowed, with any kind of address that the - machine supports in general. - -`o' - A memory operand is allowed, but only if the address is - "offsettable". This means that adding a small integer (actually, - the width in bytes of the operand, as determined by its machine - mode) may be added to the address and the result is also a valid - memory address. - - For example, an address which is constant is offsettable; so is an - address that is the sum of a register and a constant (as long as a - slightly larger constant is also within the range of - address-offsets supported by the machine); but an autoincrement or - autodecrement address is not offsettable. More complicated - indirect/indexed addresses may or may not be offsettable depending - on the other addressing modes that the machine supports. - - Note that in an output operand which can be matched by another - operand, the constraint letter `o' is valid only when accompanied - by both `<' (if the target machine has predecrement addressing) - and `>' (if the target machine has preincrement addressing). - -`V' - A memory operand that is not offsettable. In other words, - anything that would fit the `m' constraint but not the `o' - constraint. - -`<' - A memory operand with autodecrement addressing (either - predecrement or postdecrement) is allowed. - -`>' - A memory operand with autoincrement addressing (either - preincrement or postincrement) is allowed. - -`r' - A register operand is allowed provided that it is in a general - register. - -`d', `a', `f', ... - Other letters can be defined in machine-dependent fashion to stand - for particular classes of registers. `d', `a' and `f' are defined - on the 68000/68020 to stand for data, address and floating point - registers. +* Static Definitions:: Static member declarations are not definitions +* Temporaries:: Temporaries may vanish before you expect -`i' - An immediate integer operand (one with constant value) is allowed. - This includes symbolic constants whose values will be known only at - assembly time. - -`n' - An immediate integer operand with a known numeric value is allowed. - Many systems cannot support assembly-time constants for operands - less than a word wide. Constraints for these operands should use - `n' rather than `i'. - -`I', `J', `K', ... `P' - Other letters in the range `I' through `P' may be defined in a - machine-dependent fashion to permit immediate integer operands with - explicit integer values in specified ranges. For example, on the - 68000, `I' is defined to stand for the range of values 1 to 8. - This is the range permitted as a shift count in the shift - instructions. - -`E' - An immediate floating operand (expression code `const_double') is - allowed, but only if the target floating point format is the same - as that of the host machine (on which the compiler is running). - -`F' - An immediate floating operand (expression code `const_double') is - allowed. - -`G', `H' - `G' and `H' may be defined in a machine-dependent fashion to - permit immediate floating operands in particular ranges of values. - -`s' - An immediate integer operand whose value is not an explicit - integer is allowed. - - This might appear strange; if an insn allows a constant operand - with a value not known at compile time, it certainly must allow - any known value. So why use `s' instead of `i'? Sometimes it - allows better code to be generated. - - For example, on the 68000 in a fullword instruction it is possible - to use an immediate operand; but if the immediate value is between - -128 and 127, better code results from loading the value into a - register and using the register. This is because the load into - the register can be done with a `moveq' instruction. We arrange - for this to happen by defining the letter `K' to mean "any integer - outside the range -128 to 127", and then specifying `Ks' in the - operand constraints. - -`g' - Any register, memory or immediate integer operand is allowed, - except for registers that are not general registers. - -`X' - Any operand whatsoever is allowed, even if it does not satisfy - `general_operand'. This is normally used in the constraint of a - `match_scratch' when certain alternatives will not actually - require a scratch register. - -`0', `1', `2', ... `9' - An operand that matches the specified operand number is allowed. - If a digit is used together with letters within the same - alternative, the digit should come last. - - This is called a "matching constraint" and what it really means is - that the assembler has only a single operand that fills two roles - considered separate in the RTL insn. For example, an add insn has - two input operands and one output operand in the RTL, but on most - CISC machines an add instruction really has only two operands, one - of them an input-output operand: - - addl #35,r12 - - Matching constraints are used in these circumstances. More - precisely, the two operands that match must include one input-only - operand and one output-only operand. Moreover, the digit must be a - smaller number than the number of the operand that uses it in the - constraint. - - For operands to match in a particular case usually means that they - are identical-looking RTL expressions. But in a few special cases - specific kinds of dissimilarity are allowed. For example, `*x' as - an input operand will match `*x++' as an output operand. For - proper results in such cases, the output template should always - use the output-operand's number when printing the operand. - -`p' - An operand that is a valid memory address is allowed. This is for - "load address" and "push address" instructions. - - `p' in the constraint must be accompanied by `address_operand' as - the predicate in the `match_operand'. This predicate interprets - the mode specified in the `match_operand' as the mode of the memory - reference for which the address would be valid. - -`Q', `R', `S', ... `U' - Letters in the range `Q' through `U' may be defined in a - machine-dependent fashion to stand for arbitrary operand types. - The machine description macro `EXTRA_CONSTRAINT' is passed the - operand as its first argument and the constraint letter as its - second operand. - - A typical use for this would be to distinguish certain types of - memory references that affect other insn operands. - - Do not define these constraint letters to accept register - references (`reg'); the reload pass does not expect this and would - not handle it properly. - - In order to have valid assembler code, each operand must satisfy its -constraint. But a failure to do so does not prevent the pattern from -applying to an insn. Instead, it directs the compiler to modify the -code so that the constraint will be satisfied. Usually this is done by -copying an operand into a register. - - Contrast, therefore, the two instruction patterns that follow: - - (define_insn "" - [(set (match_operand:SI 0 "general_operand" "=r") - (plus:SI (match_dup 0) - (match_operand:SI 1 "general_operand" "r")))] - "" - "...") - -which has two operands, one of which must appear in two places, and - - (define_insn "" - [(set (match_operand:SI 0 "general_operand" "=r") - (plus:SI (match_operand:SI 1 "general_operand" "0") - (match_operand:SI 2 "general_operand" "r")))] - "" - "...") - -which has three operands, two of which are required by a constraint to -be identical. If we are considering an insn of the form - - (insn N PREV NEXT - (set (reg:SI 3) - (plus:SI (reg:SI 6) (reg:SI 109))) - ...) - -the first pattern would not apply at all, because this insn does not -contain two identical subexpressions in the right place. The pattern -would say, "That does not look like an add instruction; try other -patterns." The second pattern would say, "Yes, that's an add -instruction, but there is something wrong with it." It would direct -the reload pass of the compiler to generate additional insns to make -the constraint true. The results might look like this: - - (insn N2 PREV N - (set (reg:SI 3) (reg:SI 6)) - ...) - - (insn N N2 NEXT - (set (reg:SI 3) - (plus:SI (reg:SI 3) (reg:SI 109))) - ...) - - It is up to you to make sure that each operand, in each pattern, has -constraints that can handle any RTL expression that could be present for -that operand. (When multiple alternatives are in use, each pattern -must, for each possible combination of operand expressions, have at -least one alternative which can handle that combination of operands.) -The constraints don't need to *allow* any possible operand--when this is -the case, they do not constrain--but they must at least point the way to -reloading any possible operand so that it will fit. - - * If the constraint accepts whatever operands the predicate permits, - there is no problem: reloading is never necessary for this operand. - - For example, an operand whose constraints permit everything except - registers is safe provided its predicate rejects registers. - - An operand whose predicate accepts only constant values is safe - provided its constraints include the letter `i'. If any possible - constant value is accepted, then nothing less than `i' will do; if - the predicate is more selective, then the constraints may also be - more selective. - - * Any operand expression can be reloaded by copying it into a - register. So if an operand's constraints allow some kind of - register, it is certain to be safe. It need not permit all - classes of registers; the compiler knows how to copy a register - into another register of the proper class in order to make an - instruction valid. - - * A nonoffsettable memory reference can be reloaded by copying the - address into a register. So if the constraint uses the letter - `o', all memory references are taken care of. - - * A constant operand can be reloaded by allocating space in memory to - hold it as preinitialized data. Then the memory reference can be - used in place of the constant. So if the constraint uses the - letters `o' or `m', constant operands are not a problem. - - * If the constraint permits a constant and a pseudo register used in - an insn was not allocated to a hard register and is equivalent to - a constant, the register will be replaced with the constant. If - the predicate does not permit a constant and the insn is - re-recognized for some reason, the compiler will crash. Thus the - predicate must always recognize any objects allowed by the - constraint. - - If the operand's predicate can recognize registers, but the -constraint does not permit them, it can make the compiler crash. When -this operand happens to be a register, the reload pass will be stymied, -because it does not know how to copy a register temporarily into memory. - - -File: gcc.info, Node: Multi-Alternative, Next: Class Preferences, Prev: Simple Constraints, Up: Constraints - -Multiple Alternative Constraints --------------------------------- - - Sometimes a single instruction has multiple alternative sets of -possible operands. For example, on the 68000, a logical-or instruction -can combine register or an immediate value into memory, or it can -combine any kind of operand into a register; but it cannot combine one -memory location into another. - - These constraints are represented as multiple alternatives. An -alternative can be described by a series of letters for each operand. -The overall constraint for an operand is made from the letters for this -operand from the first alternative, a comma, the letters for this -operand from the second alternative, a comma, and so on until the last -alternative. Here is how it is done for fullword logical-or on the -68000: - - (define_insn "iorsi3" - [(set (match_operand:SI 0 "general_operand" "=m,d") - (ior:SI (match_operand:SI 1 "general_operand" "%0,0") - (match_operand:SI 2 "general_operand" "dKs,dmKs")))] - ...) - - The first alternative has `m' (memory) for operand 0, `0' for -operand 1 (meaning it must match operand 0), and `dKs' for operand 2. -The second alternative has `d' (data register) for operand 0, `0' for -operand 1, and `dmKs' for operand 2. The `=' and `%' in the -constraints apply to all the alternatives; their meaning is explained -in the next section (*note Class Preferences::.). - - If all the operands fit any one alternative, the instruction is -valid. Otherwise, for each alternative, the compiler counts how many -instructions must be added to copy the operands so that that -alternative applies. The alternative requiring the least copying is -chosen. If two alternatives need the same amount of copying, the one -that comes first is chosen. These choices can be altered with the `?' -and `!' characters: - -`?' - Disparage slightly the alternative that the `?' appears in, as a - choice when no alternative applies exactly. The compiler regards - this alternative as one unit more costly for each `?' that appears - in it. + +File: gcc.info, Node: Static Definitions, Next: Temporaries, Up: C++ Misunderstandings + +Declare *and* Define Static Members +----------------------------------- + + When a class has static data members, it is not enough to *declare* +the static member; you must also *define* it. For example: + + class Foo + { + ... + void method(); + static int bar; + }; + + This declaration only establishes that the class `Foo' has an `int' +named `Foo::bar', and a member function named `Foo::method'. But you +still need to define *both* `method' and `bar' elsewhere. According to +the draft ANSI standard, you must supply an initializer in one (and +only one) source file, such as: + + int Foo::bar = 0; + + Other C++ compilers may not correctly implement the standard +behavior. As a result, when you switch to `g++' from one of these +compilers, you may discover that a program that appeared to work +correctly in fact does not conform to the standard: `g++' reports as +undefined symbols any static data members that lack definitions. + + +File: gcc.info, Node: Temporaries, Prev: Static Definitions, Up: C++ Misunderstandings + +Temporaries May Vanish Before You Expect +---------------------------------------- + + It is dangerous to use pointers or references to *portions* of a +temporary object. The compiler may very well delete the object before +you expect it to, leaving a pointer to garbage. The most common place +where this problem crops up is in classes like the libg++ `String' +class, that define a conversion function to type `char *' or `const +char *'. However, any class that returns a pointer to some internal +structure is potentially subject to this problem. + + For example, a program may use a function `strfunc' that returns +`String' objects, and another function `charfunc' that operates on +pointers to `char': + + String strfunc (); + void charfunc (const char *); + +In this situation, it may seem natural to write +`charfunc (strfunc ());' based on the knowledge that class `String' has +an explicit conversion to `char' pointers. However, what really +happens is akin to `charfunc (strfunc ().convert ());', where the +`convert' method is a function to do the same data conversion normally +performed by a cast. Since the last use of the temporary `String' +object is the call to the conversion function, the compiler may delete +that object before actually calling `charfunc'. The compiler has no +way of knowing that deleting the `String' object will invalidate the +pointer. The pointer then points to garbage, so that by the time +`charfunc' is called, it gets an invalid argument. + + Code like this may run successfully under some other compilers, +especially those that delete temporaries relatively late. However, the +GNU C++ behavior is also standard-conformant, so if your program depends +on late destruction of temporaries it is not portable. + + If you think this is surprising, you should be aware that the ANSI +C++ committee continues to debate the lifetime-of-temporaries problem. + + For now, at least, the safe way to write such code is to give the +temporary a name, which forces it to remain until the end of the scope +of the name. For example: + + String& tmp = strfunc (); + charfunc (tmp); + + +File: gcc.info, Node: Protoize Caveats, Next: Non-bugs, Prev: C++ Misunderstandings, Up: Trouble + +Caveats of using `protoize' +=========================== + + The conversion programs `protoize' and `unprotoize' can sometimes +change a source file in a way that won't work unless you rearrange it. + + * `protoize' can insert references to a type name or type tag before + the definition, or in a file where they are not defined. + + If this happens, compiler error messages should show you where the + new references are, so fixing the file by hand is straightforward. + + * There are some C constructs which `protoize' cannot figure out. + For example, it can't determine argument types for declaring a + pointer-to-function variable; this you must do by hand. `protoize' + inserts a comment containing `???' each time it finds such a + variable; so you can find all such variables by searching for this + string. ANSI C does not require declaring the argument types of + pointer-to-function types. + + * Using `unprotoize' can easily introduce bugs. If the program + relied on prototypes to bring about conversion of arguments, these + conversions will not take place in the program without prototypes. + One case in which you can be sure `unprotoize' is safe is when you + are removing prototypes that were made with `protoize'; if the + program worked before without any prototypes, it will work again + without them. + + You can find all the places where this problem might occur by + compiling the program with the `-Wconversion' option. It prints a + warning whenever an argument is converted. + + * Both conversion programs can be confused if there are macro calls + in and around the text to be converted. In other words, the + standard syntax for a declaration or definition must not result + from expanding a macro. This problem is inherent in the design of + C and cannot be fixed. If only a few functions have confusing + macro calls, you can easily convert them manually. + + * `protoize' cannot get the argument types for a function whose + definition was not actually compiled due to preprocessor + conditionals. When this happens, `protoize' changes nothing in + regard to such a function. `protoize' tries to detect such + instances and warn about them. + + You can generally work around this problem by using `protoize' step + by step, each time specifying a different set of `-D' options for + compilation, until all of the functions have been converted. + There is no automatic way to verify that you have got them all, + however. + + * Confusion may result if there is an occasion to convert a function + declaration or definition in a region of source code where there + is more than one formal parameter list present. Thus, attempts to + convert code containing multiple (conditionally compiled) versions + of a single function header (in the same vicinity) may not produce + the desired (or expected) results. + + If you plan on converting source files which contain such code, it + is recommended that you first make sure that each conditionally + compiled region of source code which contains an alternative + function header also contains at least one additional follower + token (past the final right parenthesis of the function header). + This should circumvent the problem. + + * `unprotoize' can become confused when trying to convert a function + definition or declaration which contains a declaration for a + pointer-to-function formal argument which has the same name as the + function being defined or declared. We recommand you avoid such + choices of formal parameter names. + + * You might also want to correct some of the indentation by hand and + break long lines. (The conversion programs don't write lines + longer than eighty characters in any case.) + + +File: gcc.info, Node: Non-bugs, Next: Warnings and Errors, Prev: Protoize Caveats, Up: Trouble + +Certain Changes We Don't Want to Make +===================================== + + This section lists changes that people frequently request, but which +we do not make because we think GNU CC is better without them. + + * Checking the number and type of arguments to a function which has + an old-fashioned definition and no prototype. + + Such a feature would work only occasionally--only for calls that + appear in the same file as the called function, following the + definition. The only way to check all calls reliably is to add a + prototype for the function. But adding a prototype eliminates the + motivation for this feature. So the feature is not worthwhile. + + * Warning about using an expression whose type is signed as a shift + count. + + Shift count operands are probably signed more often than unsigned. + Warning about this would cause far more annoyance than good. + + * Warning about assigning a signed value to an unsigned variable. + + Such assignments must be very common; warning about them would + cause more annoyance than good. + + * Warning about unreachable code. + + It's very common to have unreachable code in machine-generated + programs. For example, this happens normally in some files of GNU + C itself. + + * Warning when a non-void function value is ignored. + + Coming as I do from a Lisp background, I balk at the idea that + there is something dangerous about discarding a value. There are + functions that return values which some callers may find useful; + it makes no sense to clutter the program with a cast to `void' + whenever the value isn't useful. + + * Assuming (for optimization) that the address of an external symbol + is never zero. + + This assumption is false on certain systems when `#pragma weak' is + used. + + * Making `-fshort-enums' the default. + + This would cause storage layout to be incompatible with most other + C compilers. And it doesn't seem very important, given that you + can get the same result in other ways. The case where it matters + most is when the enumeration-valued object is inside a structure, + and in that case you can specify a field width explicitly. + + * Making bitfields unsigned by default on particular machines where + "the ABI standard" says to do so. + + The ANSI C standard leaves it up to the implementation whether a + bitfield declared plain `int' is signed or not. This in effect + creates two alternative dialects of C. + + The GNU C compiler supports both dialects; you can specify the + signed dialect with `-fsigned-bitfields' and the unsigned dialect + with `-funsigned-bitfields'. However, this leaves open the + question of which dialect to use by default. + + Currently, the preferred dialect makes plain bitfields signed, + because this is simplest. Since `int' is the same as `signed int' + in every other context, it is cleanest for them to be the same in + bitfields as well. + + Some computer manufacturers have published Application Binary + Interface standards which specify that plain bitfields should be + unsigned. It is a mistake, however, to say anything about this + issue in an ABI. This is because the handling of plain bitfields + distinguishes two dialects of C. Both dialects are meaningful on + every type of machine. Whether a particular object file was + compiled using signed bitfields or unsigned is of no concern to + other object files, even if they access the same bitfields in the + same data structures. + + A given program is written in one or the other of these two + dialects. The program stands a chance to work on most any machine + if it is compiled with the proper dialect. It is unlikely to work + at all if compiled with the wrong dialect. + + Many users appreciate the GNU C compiler because it provides an + environment that is uniform across machines. These users would be + inconvenienced if the compiler treated plain bitfields differently + on certain machines. + + Occasionally users write programs intended only for a particular + machine type. On these occasions, the users would benefit if the + GNU C compiler were to support by default the same dialect as the + other compilers on that machine. But such applications are rare. + And users writing a program to run on more than one type of + machine cannot possibly benefit from this kind of compatibility. + + This is why GNU CC does and will treat plain bitfields in the same + fashion on all types of machines (by default). + + There are some arguments for making bitfields unsigned by default + on all machines. If, for example, this becomes a universal de + facto standard, it would make sense for GNU CC to go along with + it. This is something to be considered in the future. + + (Of course, users strongly concerned about portability should + indicate explicitly in each bitfield whether it is signed or not. + In this way, they write programs which have the same meaning in + both C dialects.) + + * Undefining `__STDC__' when `-ansi' is not used. + + Currently, GNU CC defines `__STDC__' as long as you don't use + `-traditional'. This provides good results in practice. + + Programmers normally use conditionals on `__STDC__' to ask whether + it is safe to use certain features of ANSI C, such as function + prototypes or ANSI token concatenation. Since plain `gcc' supports + all the features of ANSI C, the correct answer to these questions + is "yes". + + Some users try to use `__STDC__' to check for the availability of + certain library facilities. This is actually incorrect usage in + an ANSI C program, because the ANSI C standard says that a + conforming freestanding implementation should define `__STDC__' + even though it does not have the library facilities. `gcc -ansi + -pedantic' is a conforming freestanding implementation, and it is + therefore required to define `__STDC__', even though it does not + come with an ANSI C library. + + Sometimes people say that defining `__STDC__' in a compiler that + does not completely conform to the ANSI C standard somehow + violates the standard. This is illogical. The standard is a + standard for compilers that claim to support ANSI C, such as `gcc + -ansi'--not for other compilers such as plain `gcc'. Whatever the + ANSI C standard says is relevant to the design of plain `gcc' + without `-ansi' only for pragmatic reasons, not as a requirement. + + * Undefining `__STDC__' in C++. + + Programs written to compile with C++-to-C translators get the + value of `__STDC__' that goes with the C compiler that is + subsequently used. These programs must test `__STDC__' to + determine what kind of C preprocessor that compiler uses: whether + they should concatenate tokens in the ANSI C fashion or in the + traditional fashion. + + These programs work properly with GNU C++ if `__STDC__' is defined. + They would not work otherwise. + + In addition, many header files are written to provide prototypes + in ANSI C but not in traditional C. Many of these header files + can work without change in C++ provided `__STDC__' is defined. If + `__STDC__' is not defined, they will all fail, and will all need + to be changed to test explicitly for C++ as well. + + * Deleting "empty" loops. + + GNU CC does not delete "empty" loops because the most likely reason + you would put one in a program is to have a delay. Deleting them + will not make real programs run any faster, so it would be + pointless. + + It would be different if optimization of a nonempty loop could + produce an empty one. But this generally can't happen. + + * Making side effects happen in the same order as in some other + compiler. + + It is never safe to depend on the order of evaluation of side + effects. For example, a function call like this may very well + behave differently from one compiler to another: + + void func (int, int); + + int i = 2; + func (i++, i++); + + There is no guarantee (in either the C or the C++ standard language + definitions) that the increments will be evaluated in any + particular order. Either increment might happen first. `func' + might get the arguments `3, 4', or it might get `4, 3', or even + `3, 3'. + + * Not allowing structures with volatile fields in registers. + + Strictly speaking, there is no prohibition in the ANSI C standard + against allowing structures with volatile fields in registers, but + it does not seem to make any sense and is probably not what you + wanted to do. So the compiler will give an error message in this + case. + + +File: gcc.info, Node: Warnings and Errors, Prev: Non-bugs, Up: Trouble + +Warning Messages and Error Messages +=================================== + + The GNU compiler can produce two kinds of diagnostics: errors and +warnings. Each kind has a different purpose: + + *Errors* report problems that make it impossible to compile your + program. GNU CC reports errors with the source file name and line + number where the problem is apparent. + + *Warnings* report other unusual conditions in your code that *may* + indicate a problem, although compilation can (and does) proceed. + Warning messages also report the source file name and line number, + but include the text `warning:' to distinguish them from error + messages. + + Warnings may indicate danger points where you should check to make +sure that your program really does what you intend; or the use of +obsolete features; or the use of nonstandard features of GNU C or C++. +Many warnings are issued only if you ask for them, with one of the `-W' +options (for instance, `-Wall' requests a variety of useful warnings). + + GNU CC always tries to compile your program if possible; it never +gratuituously rejects a program whose meaning is clear merely because +(for instance) it fails to conform to a standard. In some cases, +however, the C and C++ standards specify that certain extensions are +forbidden, and a diagnostic *must* be issued by a conforming compiler. +The `-pedantic' option tells GNU CC to issue warnings in such cases; +`-pedantic-errors' says to make them errors instead. This does not +mean that *all* non-ANSI constructs get warnings or errors. + + *Note Options to Request or Suppress Warnings: Warning Options, for +more detail on these and related command-line options. + + +File: gcc.info, Node: Bugs, Next: Service, Prev: Trouble, Up: Top + +Reporting Bugs +************** + + Your bug reports play an essential role in making GNU CC reliable. + + When you encounter a problem, the first thing to do is to see if it +is already known. *Note Trouble::. If it isn't known, then you should +report the problem. + + Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, +or it may not. (If it does not, look in the service directory; see +*Note Service::.) In any case, the principal function of a bug report +is to help the entire community by making the next version of GNU CC +work better. Bug reports are your contribution to the maintenance of +GNU CC. + + Since the maintainers are very overloaded, we cannot respond to every +bug report. However, if the bug has not been fixed, we are likely to +send you a patch and ask you to tell us whether it works. + + In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the +information that makes for fixing the bug. + +* Menu: + +* Criteria: Bug Criteria. Have you really found a bug? +* Where: Bug Lists. Where to send your bug report. +* Reporting: Bug Reporting. How to report a bug effectively. +* Patches: Sending Patches. How to send a patch for GNU CC. +* Known: Trouble. Known problems. +* Help: Service. Where to ask for help. + + +File: gcc.info, Node: Bug Criteria, Next: Bug Lists, Up: Bugs + +Have You Found a Bug? +===================== + + If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some +guidelines: + + * If the compiler gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that + is a compiler bug. Reliable compilers never crash. + + * If the compiler produces invalid assembly code, for any input + whatever (except an `asm' statement), that is a compiler bug, + unless the compiler reports errors (not just warnings) which would + ordinarily prevent the assembler from being run. + + * If the compiler produces valid assembly code that does not + correctly execute the input source code, that is a compiler bug. + + However, you must double-check to make sure, because you may have + run into an incompatibility between GNU C and traditional C (*note + Incompatibilities::.). These incompatibilities might be considered + bugs, but they are inescapable consequences of valuable features. + + Or you may have a program whose behavior is undefined, which + happened by chance to give the desired results with another C or + C++ compiler. + + For example, in many nonoptimizing compilers, you can write `x;' + at the end of a function instead of `return x;', with the same + results. But the value of the function is undefined if `return' + is omitted; it is not a bug when GNU CC produces different results. + + Problems often result from expressions with two increment + operators, as in `f (*p++, *p++)'. Your previous compiler might + have interpreted that expression the way you intended; GNU CC might + interpret it another way. Neither compiler is wrong. The bug is + in your code. + + After you have localized the error to a single source line, it + should be easy to check for these things. If your program is + correct and well defined, you have found a compiler bug. + + * If the compiler produces an error message for valid input, that is + a compiler bug. + + * If the compiler does not produce an error message for invalid + input, that is a compiler bug. However, you should note that your + idea of "invalid input" might be my idea of "an extension" or + "support for traditional practice". + + * If you are an experienced user of C or C++ compilers, your + suggestions for improvement of GNU CC or GNU C++ are welcome in + any case. + + +File: gcc.info, Node: Bug Lists, Next: Bug Reporting, Prev: Bug Criteria, Up: Bugs + +Where to Report Bugs +==================== + + Send bug reports for GNU C to `bug-gcc@prep.ai.mit.edu'. -`!' - Disparage severely the alternative that the `!' appears in. This - alternative can still be used if it fits without reloading, but if - reloading is needed, some other alternative will be used. - - When an insn pattern has multiple alternatives in its constraints, -often the appearance of the assembler code is determined mostly by which -alternative was matched. When this is so, the C code for writing the -assembler code can use the variable `which_alternative', which is the -ordinal number of the alternative that was actually satisfied (0 for -the first, 1 for the second alternative, etc.). *Note Output -Statement::. - - -File: gcc.info, Node: Class Preferences, Next: Modifiers, Prev: Multi-Alternative, Up: Constraints - -Register Class Preferences --------------------------- - - The operand constraints have another function: they enable the -compiler to decide which kind of hardware register a pseudo register is -best allocated to. The compiler examines the constraints that apply to -the insns that use the pseudo register, looking for the -machine-dependent letters such as `d' and `a' that specify classes of -registers. The pseudo register is put in whichever class gets the most -"votes". The constraint letters `g' and `r' also vote: they vote in -favor of a general register. The machine description says which -registers are considered general. - - Of course, on some machines all registers are equivalent, and no -register classes are defined. Then none of this complexity is relevant. - - -File: gcc.info, Node: Modifiers, Next: No Constraints, Prev: Class Preferences, Up: Constraints - -Constraint Modifier Characters ------------------------------- - -`=' - Means that this operand is write-only for this instruction: the - previous value is discarded and replaced by output data. - -`+' - Means that this operand is both read and written by the - instruction. - - When the compiler fixes up the operands to satisfy the constraints, - it needs to know which operands are inputs to the instruction and - which are outputs from it. `=' identifies an output; `+' - identifies an operand that is both input and output; all other - operands are assumed to be input only. - -`&' - Means (in a particular alternative) that this operand is written - before the instruction is finished using the input operands. - Therefore, this operand may not lie in a register that is used as - an input operand or as part of any memory address. - - `&' applies only to the alternative in which it is written. In - constraints with multiple alternatives, sometimes one alternative - requires `&' while others do not. See, for example, the `movdf' - insn of the 68000. - - `&' does not obviate the need to write `='. - -`%' - Declares the instruction to be commutative for this operand and the - following operand. This means that the compiler may interchange - the two operands if that is the cheapest way to make all operands - fit the constraints. This is often used in patterns for addition - instructions that really have only two operands: the result must - go in one of the arguments. Here for example, is how the 68000 - halfword-add instruction is defined: - - (define_insn "addhi3" - [(set (match_operand:HI 0 "general_operand" "=m,r") - (plus:HI (match_operand:HI 1 "general_operand" "%0,0") - (match_operand:HI 2 "general_operand" "di,g")))] - ...) - -`#' - Says that all following characters, up to the next comma, are to be - ignored as a constraint. They are significant only for choosing - register preferences. - -`*' - Says that the following character should be ignored when choosing - register preferences. `*' has no effect on the meaning of the - constraint as a constraint, and no effect on reloading. - - Here is an example: the 68000 has an instruction to sign-extend a - halfword in a data register, and can also sign-extend a value by - copying it into an address register. While either kind of - register is acceptable, the constraints on an address-register - destination are less strict, so it is best if register allocation - makes an address register its goal. Therefore, `*' is used so - that the `d' constraint letter (for data register) is ignored when - computing register preferences. - - (define_insn "extendhisi2" - [(set (match_operand:SI 0 "general_operand" "=*d,a") - (sign_extend:SI - (match_operand:HI 1 "general_operand" "0,g")))] - ...) - - -File: gcc.info, Node: No Constraints, Prev: Modifiers, Up: Constraints - -Not Using Constraints ---------------------- - - Some machines are so clean that operand constraints are not -required. For example, on the Vax, an operand valid in one context is -valid in any other context. On such a machine, every operand -constraint would be `g', excepting only operands of "load address" -instructions which are written as if they referred to a memory -location's contents but actual refer to its address. They would have -constraint `p'. - - For such machines, instead of writing `g' and `p' for all the -constraints, you can choose to write a description with empty -constraints. Then you write `""' for the constraint in every -`match_operand'. Address operands are identified by writing an -`address' expression around the `match_operand', not by their -constraints. - - When the machine description has just empty constraints, certain -parts of compilation are skipped, making the compiler faster. However, -few machines actually do not need constraints; all machine descriptions -now in existence use constraints. + Send bug reports for GNU C++ to `bug-g++@prep.ai.mit.edu'. If your +bug involves the C++ class library libg++, send mail to +`bug-lib-g++@prep.ai.mit.edu'. If you're not sure, you can send the +bug report to both lists. + + *Do not send bug reports to `help-gcc@prep.ai.mit.edu' or to the +newsgroup `gnu.gcc.help'.* Most users of GNU CC do not want to receive +bug reports. Those that do, have asked to be on `bug-gcc' and/or +`bug-g++'. + + The mailing lists `bug-gcc' and `bug-g++' both have newsgroups which +serve as repeaters: `gnu.gcc.bug' and `gnu.g++.bug'. Each mailing list +and its newsgroup carry exactly the same messages. + + Often people think of posting bug reports to the newsgroup instead of +mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one problem which can be +crucial: a newsgroup posting does not contain a mail path back to the +sender. Thus, if maintainers need more information, they may be unable +to reach you. For this reason, you should always send bug reports by +mail to the proper mailing list. + + As a last resort, send bug reports on paper to: + + GNU Compiler Bugs + Free Software Foundation + 675 Mass Ave + Cambridge, MA 02139 - \ No newline at end of file