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Revision 1.40 by root, Mon May 28 08:28:26 2012 UTC vs.
Revision 1.62 by root, Wed Feb 18 20:29:27 2015 UTC

58 58
59=head2 TYPES / TYPE SUPPORT 59=head2 TYPES / TYPE SUPPORT
60 60
61ecb.h makes sure that the following types are defined (in the expected way): 61ecb.h makes sure that the following types are defined (in the expected way):
62 62
63 int8_t uint8_t int16_t uint16_t 63 int8_t uint8_t int16_t uint16_t
64 int32_t uint32_t int64_t uint64_t 64 int32_t uint32_t int64_t uint64_t
65 intptr_t uintptr_t 65 intptr_t uintptr_t
66 66
67The macro C<ECB_PTRSIZE> is defined to the size of a pointer on this 67The macro C<ECB_PTRSIZE> is defined to the size of a pointer on this
68platform (currently C<4> or C<8>). 68platform (currently C<4> or C<8>) and can be used in preprocessor
69expressions.
69 70
71For C<ptrdiff_t> and C<size_t> use C<stddef.h>.
72
73=head2 LANGUAGE/ENVIRONMENT/COMPILER VERSIONS
74
75All the following symbols expand to an expression that can be tested in
76preprocessor instructions as well as treated as a boolean (use C<!!> to
77ensure it's either C<0> or C<1> if you need that).
78
79=over 4
80
81=item ECB_C
82
83True if the implementation defines the C<__STDC__> macro to a true value,
84while not claiming to be C++.
85
86=item ECB_C99
87
88True if the implementation claims to be compliant to C99 (ISO/IEC
899899:1999) or any later version, while not claiming to be C++.
90
91Note that later versions (ECB_C11) remove core features again (for
92example, variable length arrays).
93
94=item ECB_C11
95
96True if the implementation claims to be compliant to C11 (ISO/IEC
979899:2011) or any later version, while not claiming to be C++.
98
99=item ECB_CPP
100
101True if the implementation defines the C<__cplusplus__> macro to a true
102value, which is typically true for C++ compilers.
103
104=item ECB_CPP11
105
106True if the implementation claims to be compliant to ISO/IEC 14882:2011
107(C++11) or any later version.
108
109=item ECB_GCC_VERSION (major, minor)
110
111Expands to a true value (suitable for testing in by the preprocessor)
112if the compiler used is GNU C and the version is the given version, or
113higher.
114
115This macro tries to return false on compilers that claim to be GCC
116compatible but aren't.
117
118=item ECB_EXTERN_C
119
120Expands to C<extern "C"> in C++, and a simple C<extern> in C.
121
122This can be used to declare a single external C function:
123
124 ECB_EXTERN_C int printf (const char *format, ...);
125
126=item ECB_EXTERN_C_BEG / ECB_EXTERN_C_END
127
128These two macros can be used to wrap multiple C<extern "C"> definitions -
129they expand to nothing in C.
130
131They are most useful in header files:
132
133 ECB_EXTERN_C_BEG
134
135 int mycfun1 (int x);
136 int mycfun2 (int x);
137
138 ECB_EXTERN_C_END
139
140=item ECB_STDFP
141
142If this evaluates to a true value (suitable for testing in by the
143preprocessor), then C<float> and C<double> use IEEE 754 single/binary32
144and double/binary64 representations internally I<and> the endianness of
145both types match the endianness of C<uint32_t> and C<uint64_t>.
146
147This means you can just copy the bits of a C<float> (or C<double>) to an
148C<uint32_t> (or C<uint64_t>) and get the raw IEEE 754 bit representation
149without having to think about format or endianness.
150
151This is true for basically all modern platforms, although F<ecb.h> might
152not be able to deduce this correctly everywhere and might err on the safe
153side.
154
155=item ECB_AMD64, ECB_AMD64_X32
156
157These two macros are defined to C<1> on the x86_64/amd64 ABI and the X32
158ABI, respectively, and undefined elsewhere.
159
160The designers of the new X32 ABI for some inexplicable reason decided to
161make it look exactly like amd64, even though it's completely incompatible
162to that ABI, breaking about every piece of software that assumed that
163C<__x86_64> stands for, well, the x86-64 ABI, making these macros
164necessary.
165
166=back
167
168=head2 MACRO TRICKERY
169
170=over 4
171
172=item ECB_CONCAT (a, b)
173
174Expands any macros in C<a> and C<b>, then concatenates the result to form
175a single token. This is mainly useful to form identifiers from components,
176e.g.:
177
178 #define S1 str
179 #define S2 cpy
180
181 ECB_CONCAT (S1, S2)(dst, src); // == strcpy (dst, src);
182
183=item ECB_STRINGIFY (arg)
184
185Expands any macros in C<arg> and returns the stringified version of
186it. This is mainly useful to get the contents of a macro in string form,
187e.g.:
188
189 #define SQL_LIMIT 100
190 sql_exec ("select * from table limit " ECB_STRINGIFY (SQL_LIMIT));
191
192=back
193
70=head2 GCC ATTRIBUTES 194=head2 ATTRIBUTES
71 195
72A major part of libecb deals with GCC attributes. These are additional 196A major part of libecb deals with additional attributes that can be
73attributes that you can assign to functions, variables and sometimes even 197assigned to functions, variables and sometimes even types - much like
74types - much like C<const> or C<volatile> in C. 198C<const> or C<volatile> in C. They are implemented using either GCC
75 199attributes or other compiler/language specific features. Attributes
76While GCC allows declarations to show up in many surprising places,
77but not in many expected places, the safest way is to put attribute
78declarations before the whole declaration: 200declarations must be put before the whole declaration:
79 201
80 ecb_const int mysqrt (int a); 202 ecb_const int mysqrt (int a);
81 ecb_unused int i; 203 ecb_unused int i;
82 204
83For variables, it is often nicer to put the attribute after the name, and
84avoid multiple declarations using commas:
85
86 int i ecb_unused;
87
88=over 4 205=over 4
89
90=item ecb_attribute ((attrs...))
91
92A simple wrapper that expands to C<__attribute__((attrs))> on GCC, and to
93nothing on other compilers, so the effect is that only GCC sees these.
94
95Example: use the C<deprecated> attribute on a function.
96
97 ecb_attribute((__deprecated__)) void
98 do_not_use_me_anymore (void);
99 206
100=item ecb_unused 207=item ecb_unused
101 208
102Marks a function or a variable as "unused", which simply suppresses a 209Marks a function or a variable as "unused", which simply suppresses a
103warning by GCC when it detects it as unused. This is useful when you e.g. 210warning by GCC when it detects it as unused. This is useful when you e.g.
104declare a variable but do not always use it: 211declare a variable but do not always use it:
105 212
106 { 213 {
107 int var ecb_unused; 214 ecb_unused int var;
108 215
109 #ifdef SOMECONDITION 216 #ifdef SOMECONDITION
110 var = ...; 217 var = ...;
111 return var; 218 return var;
112 #else 219 #else
113 return 0; 220 return 0;
114 #endif 221 #endif
115 } 222 }
116 223
224=item ecb_deprecated
225
226Similar to C<ecb_unused>, but marks a function, variable or type as
227deprecated. This makes some compilers warn when the type is used.
228
229=item ecb_deprecated_message (message)
230
231Same as C<ecb_deprecated>, but if possible, supply a diagnostic that is
232used instead of a generic depreciation message when the object is being
233used.
234
117=item ecb_inline 235=item ecb_inline
118 236
119This is not actually an attribute, but you use it like one. It expands
120either to C<static inline> or to just C<static>, if inline isn't 237Expands either to C<static inline> or to just C<static>, if inline
121supported. It should be used to declare functions that should be inlined, 238isn't supported. It should be used to declare functions that should be
122for code size or speed reasons. 239inlined, for code size or speed reasons.
123 240
124Example: inline this function, it surely will reduce codesize. 241Example: inline this function, it surely will reduce codesize.
125 242
126 ecb_inline int 243 ecb_inline int
127 negmul (int a, int b) 244 negmul (int a, int b)
149 } 266 }
150 267
151In this case, the compiler would probably be smart enough to deduce it on 268In this case, the compiler would probably be smart enough to deduce it on
152its own, so this is mainly useful for declarations. 269its own, so this is mainly useful for declarations.
153 270
271=item ecb_restrict
272
273Expands to the C<restrict> keyword or equivalent on compilers that support
274them, and to nothing on others. Must be specified on a pointer type or
275an array index to indicate that the memory doesn't alias with any other
276restricted pointer in the same scope.
277
278Example: multiply a vector, and allow the compiler to parallelise the
279loop, because it knows it doesn't overwrite input values.
280
281 void
282 multiply (ecb_restrict float *src,
283 ecb_restrict float *dst,
284 int len, float factor)
285 {
286 int i;
287
288 for (i = 0; i < len; ++i)
289 dst [i] = src [i] * factor;
290 }
291
154=item ecb_const 292=item ecb_const
155 293
156Declares that the function only depends on the values of its arguments, 294Declares that the function only depends on the values of its arguments,
157much like a mathematical function. It specifically does not read or write 295much like a mathematical function. It specifically does not read or write
158any memory any arguments might point to, global variables, or call any 296any memory any arguments might point to, global variables, or call any
218functions only called in exceptional or rare cases. 356functions only called in exceptional or rare cases.
219 357
220=item ecb_artificial 358=item ecb_artificial
221 359
222Declares the function as "artificial", in this case meaning that this 360Declares the function as "artificial", in this case meaning that this
223function is not really mean to be a function, but more like an accessor 361function is not really meant to be a function, but more like an accessor
224- many methods in C++ classes are mere accessor functions, and having a 362- many methods in C++ classes are mere accessor functions, and having a
225crash reported in such a method, or single-stepping through them, is not 363crash reported in such a method, or single-stepping through them, is not
226usually so helpful, especially when it's inlined to just a few instructions. 364usually so helpful, especially when it's inlined to just a few instructions.
227 365
228Marking them as artificial will instruct the debugger about just this, 366Marking them as artificial will instruct the debugger about just this,
248 386
249=head2 OPTIMISATION HINTS 387=head2 OPTIMISATION HINTS
250 388
251=over 4 389=over 4
252 390
253=item bool ecb_is_constant(expr) 391=item bool ecb_is_constant (expr)
254 392
255Returns true iff the expression can be deduced to be a compile-time 393Returns true iff the expression can be deduced to be a compile-time
256constant, and false otherwise. 394constant, and false otherwise.
257 395
258For example, when you have a C<rndm16> function that returns a 16 bit 396For example, when you have a C<rndm16> function that returns a 16 bit
276 return is_constant (n) && !(n & (n - 1)) 414 return is_constant (n) && !(n & (n - 1))
277 ? rndm16 () & (num - 1) 415 ? rndm16 () & (num - 1)
278 : (n * (uint32_t)rndm16 ()) >> 16; 416 : (n * (uint32_t)rndm16 ()) >> 16;
279 } 417 }
280 418
281=item bool ecb_expect (expr, value) 419=item ecb_expect (expr, value)
282 420
283Evaluates C<expr> and returns it. In addition, it tells the compiler that 421Evaluates C<expr> and returns it. In addition, it tells the compiler that
284the C<expr> evaluates to C<value> a lot, which can be used for static 422the C<expr> evaluates to C<value> a lot, which can be used for static
285branch optimisations. 423branch optimisations.
286 424
333 { 471 {
334 if (ecb_expect_false (current + size > end)) 472 if (ecb_expect_false (current + size > end))
335 real_reserve_method (size); /* presumably noinline */ 473 real_reserve_method (size); /* presumably noinline */
336 } 474 }
337 475
338=item bool ecb_assume (cond) 476=item ecb_assume (cond)
339 477
340Try to tell the compiler that some condition is true, even if it's not 478Try to tell the compiler that some condition is true, even if it's not
341obvious. 479obvious.
342 480
343This can be used to teach the compiler about invariants or other 481This can be used to teach the compiler about invariants or other
363 501
364Then the compiler I<might> be able to optimise out the second call 502Then the compiler I<might> be able to optimise out the second call
365completely, as it knows that C<< current + 1 > end >> is false and the 503completely, as it knows that C<< current + 1 > end >> is false and the
366call will never be executed. 504call will never be executed.
367 505
368=item bool ecb_unreachable () 506=item ecb_unreachable ()
369 507
370This function does nothing itself, except tell the compiler that it will 508This function does nothing itself, except tell the compiler that it will
371never be executed. Apart from suppressing a warning in some cases, this 509never be executed. Apart from suppressing a warning in some cases, this
372function can be used to implement C<ecb_assume> or similar functions. 510function can be used to implement C<ecb_assume> or similar functions.
373 511
374=item bool ecb_prefetch (addr, rw, locality) 512=item ecb_prefetch (addr, rw, locality)
375 513
376Tells the compiler to try to prefetch memory at the given C<addr>ess 514Tells the compiler to try to prefetch memory at the given C<addr>ess
377for either reading (C<rw> = 0) or writing (C<rw> = 1). A C<locality> of 515for either reading (C<rw> = 0) or writing (C<rw> = 1). A C<locality> of
378C<0> means that there will only be one access later, C<3> means that 516C<0> means that there will only be one access later, C<3> means that
379the data will likely be accessed very often, and values in between mean 517the data will likely be accessed very often, and values in between mean
436For example: 574For example:
437 575
438 ecb_ctz32 (3) = 0 576 ecb_ctz32 (3) = 0
439 ecb_ctz32 (6) = 1 577 ecb_ctz32 (6) = 1
440 578
579=item bool ecb_is_pot32 (uint32_t x)
580
581=item bool ecb_is_pot64 (uint32_t x)
582
583Return true iff C<x> is a power of two or C<x == 0>.
584
585For smaller types then C<uint32_t> you can safely use C<ecb_is_pot32>.
586
441=item int ecb_ld32 (uint32_t x) 587=item int ecb_ld32 (uint32_t x)
442 588
443=item int ecb_ld64 (uint64_t x) 589=item int ecb_ld64 (uint64_t x)
444 590
445Returns the index of the most significant bit set in C<x>, or the number 591Returns the index of the most significant bit set in C<x>, or the number
513(C<ecb_rotl>). 659(C<ecb_rotl>).
514 660
515Current GCC versions understand these functions and usually compile them 661Current GCC versions understand these functions and usually compile them
516to "optimal" code (e.g. a single C<rol> or a combination of C<shld> on 662to "optimal" code (e.g. a single C<rol> or a combination of C<shld> on
517x86). 663x86).
664
665=back
666
667=head2 FLOATING POINT FIDDLING
668
669=over 4
670
671=item ECB_INFINITY
672
673Evaluates to positive infinity if supported by the platform, otherwise to
674a truly huge number.
675
676=item ECB_NON
677
678Evaluates to a quiet NAN if supported by the platform, otherwise to
679C<ECB_INFINITY>.
680
681=item float ecb_ldexpf (float x, int exp)
682
683Same as C<ldexpf>, but always available.
684
685=item uint32_t ecb_float_to_binary32 (float x) [-UECB_NO_LIBM]
686
687=item uint64_t ecb_double_to_binary64 (double x) [-UECB_NO_LIBM]
688
689These functions each take an argument in the native C<float> or C<double>
690type and return the IEEE 754 bit representation of it.
691
692The bit representation is just as IEEE 754 defines it, i.e. the sign bit
693will be the most significant bit, followed by exponent and mantissa.
694
695This function should work even when the native floating point format isn't
696IEEE compliant, of course at a speed and code size penalty, and of course
697also within reasonable limits (it tries to convert NaNs, infinities and
698denormals, but will likely convert negative zero to positive zero).
699
700On all modern platforms (where C<ECB_STDFP> is true), the compiler should
701be able to optimise away this function completely.
702
703These functions can be helpful when serialising floats to the network - you
704can serialise the return value like a normal uint32_t/uint64_t.
705
706Another use for these functions is to manipulate floating point values
707directly.
708
709Silly example: toggle the sign bit of a float.
710
711 /* On gcc-4.7 on amd64, */
712 /* this results in a single add instruction to toggle the bit, and 4 extra */
713 /* instructions to move the float value to an integer register and back. */
714
715 x = ecb_binary32_to_float (ecb_float_to_binary32 (x) ^ 0x80000000U)
716
717=item float ecb_binary16_to_float (uint16_t x) [-UECB_NO_LIBM]
718
719=item float ecb_binary32_to_float (uint32_t x) [-UECB_NO_LIBM]
720
721=item double ecb_binary32_to_double (uint64_t x) [-UECB_NO_LIBM]
722
723The reverse operation of the previous function - takes the bit
724representation of an IEEE binary16, binary32 or binary64 number and
725converts it to the native C<float> or C<double> format.
726
727This function should work even when the native floating point format isn't
728IEEE compliant, of course at a speed and code size penalty, and of course
729also within reasonable limits (it tries to convert normals and denormals,
730and might be lucky for infinities, and with extraordinary luck, also for
731negative zero).
732
733On all modern platforms (where C<ECB_STDFP> is true), the compiler should
734be able to optimise away this function completely.
518 735
519=back 736=back
520 737
521=head2 ARITHMETIC 738=head2 ARITHMETIC
522 739
573 for (i = 0; i < ecb_array_length (primes); i++) 790 for (i = 0; i < ecb_array_length (primes); i++)
574 sum += primes [i]; 791 sum += primes [i];
575 792
576=back 793=back
577 794
795=head2 SYMBOLS GOVERNING COMPILATION OF ECB.H ITSELF
578 796
797These symbols need to be defined before including F<ecb.h> the first time.
798
799=over 4
800
801=item ECB_NO_THREADS
802
803If F<ecb.h> is never used from multiple threads, then this symbol can
804be defined, in which case memory fences (and similar constructs) are
805completely removed, leading to more efficient code and fewer dependencies.
806
807Setting this symbol to a true value implies C<ECB_NO_SMP>.
808
809=item ECB_NO_SMP
810
811The weaker version of C<ECB_NO_THREADS> - if F<ecb.h> is used from
812multiple threads, but never concurrently (e.g. if the system the program
813runs on has only a single CPU with a single core, no hyperthreading and so
814on), then this symbol can be defined, leading to more efficient code and
815fewer dependencies.
816
817=item ECB_NO_LIBM
818
819When defined to C<1>, do not export any functions that might introduce
820dependencies on the math library (usually called F<-lm>) - these are
821marked with [-UECB_NO_LIBM].
822
823=back
824
825

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