Re: [9fans] caveat... optimizer? the `zero and forget' thread on HN

[erik quanstrom <quanstro@quanstro.net>]

On Mon Oct 29 05:47:10 EDT 2012, dexen.devries@gmail.com wrote:
> http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4711346
>
> 9fans says, ``no room in the compiler world for amateurs''. what's your take
> on the above fubar?

any sort of "advanced" code-moving optimization is confusing.  but the
way c/c++ are used in linux, bsd & osx, there is a noticable benefit to
optimizing calls away.  it takes smarts to optimize away those recursive
wrapper macros.  so they're in a bit of a pickle.

i just wonder if this isn't a race to the bottom.  tricks like this require
programmers to think harder about non-problems, and probablly write
defensive inlines, etc.  the compiler writers won't accept this slowdown
and will try to outwit the defensive inlines on the theory that programmers
aren't that keen.

LWN carries story on these sorts of self-inflicted wounds every so often.
the last one was on __access_once or something like that.

it goes without saying, i think a compiler that largely does what you
ask it to optimizes the scarce resource: developer time.

i'm sure you'll find smarter opinions from smarter people, though.  :-)

- erik