GCC Frontend: Integrating Architecture-Specific Inline Assembly

Frontend and Backend Development
1

Developing a GCC frontend for my custom language: how can I embed architecture-specific inline assembly instructions? For example, on x86:

#if ARCH_X86
invoke_asm("imul %rax, %rcx");
#endif

Expected inline assembly output:

mov %rax, %rcx  // I/O operation
2

im using gcc’s extnded asm blocks with proper constraints on registers, works nice on x86. try to start small and then integrate your inline asm. also, check docm’s for arch-specific quirks.

3

When integrating architecture-specific inline assembly in a GCC frontend, determining the correct method of embedding instructions is crucial. One approach that has worked for me involves using inline functions to encapsulate assembly instructions and defining these as architecture-specific macros. This method simplifies managing different code paths for varied architectures and makes debugging easier. By isolating inline assembly code into clearly demarcated regions, you also help the compiler better manage register allocation and constraints, resulting in more reliable and maintainable integration.

4

hey, have you tried using intrinsics instead of raw asm? i’ve noticed sometimes constraints get easier to manage. im curious if you encountered any odd behavrs with regiser dependencies. what about trying different code setups to dodge optimization quirks? would love to hear your thoughts.