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Revision 1.51 by root, Thu Jul 19 18:08:58 2012 UTC vs.
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68platform (currently C<4> or C<8>) and can be used in preprocessor 68platform (currently C<4> or C<8>) and can be used in preprocessor
69expressions. 69expressions.
70 70
71For C<ptrdiff_t> and C<size_t> use C<stddef.h>. 71For C<ptrdiff_t> and C<size_t> use C<stddef.h>.
72 72
73=head2 LANGUAGE/COMPILER VERSIONS 73=head2 LANGUAGE/ENVIRONMENT/COMPILER VERSIONS
74 74
75All the following symbols expand to an expression that can be tested in 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 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). 77ensure it's either C<0> or C<1> if you need that).
78 78
79=over 4 79=over 4
80 80
81=item ECB_C 81=item ECB_C
82 82
83True if the implementation defines the C<__STDC__> macro to a true value, 83True if the implementation defines the C<__STDC__> macro to a true value,
84which is typically true for both C and C++ compilers. 84while not claiming to be C++.
85 85
86=item ECB_C99 86=item ECB_C99
87 87
88True if the implementation claims to be compliant to C99 (ISO/IEC 88True if the implementation claims to be compliant to C99 (ISO/IEC
899899:1999) or any later version. 899899:1999) or any later version, while not claiming to be C++.
90 90
91Note that later versions (ECB_C11) remove core features again (for 91Note that later versions (ECB_C11) remove core features again (for
92example, variable length arrays). 92example, variable length arrays).
93 93
94=item ECB_C11 94=item ECB_C11
95 95
96True if the implementation claims to be compliant to C11 (ISO/IEC 96True if the implementation claims to be compliant to C11 (ISO/IEC
979899:2011) or any later version. 979899:2011) or any later version, while not claiming to be C++.
98 98
99=item ECB_CPP 99=item ECB_CPP
100 100
101True if the implementation defines the C<__cplusplus__> macro to a true 101True if the implementation defines the C<__cplusplus__> macro to a true
102value, which is typically true for C++ compilers. 102value, which is typically true for C++ compilers.
104=item ECB_CPP11 104=item ECB_CPP11
105 105
106True if the implementation claims to be compliant to ISO/IEC 14882:2011 106True if the implementation claims to be compliant to ISO/IEC 14882:2011
107(C++11) or any later version. 107(C++11) or any later version.
108 108
109=item ECB_GCC_VERSION(major,minor) 109=item ECB_GCC_VERSION (major, minor)
110 110
111Expands to a true value (suitable for testing in by the preprocessor) 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 112if the compiler used is GNU C and the version is the given version, or
113higher. 113higher.
114 114
150 150
151This is true for basically all modern platforms, although F<ecb.h> might 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 152not be able to deduce this correctly everywhere and might err on the safe
153side. 153side.
154 154
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
155=back 166=back
156 167
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=item ECB_STRINGIFY_EXPR (expr)
193
194Like C<ECB_STRINGIFY>, but additionally evaluates C<expr> to make sure it
195is a valid expression. This is useful to catch typos or cases where the
196macro isn't available:
197
198 #include <errno.h>
199
200 ECB_STRINGIFY (EDOM); // "33" (on my system at least)
201 ECB_STRINGIFY_EXPR (EDOM); // "33"
202
203 // now imagine we had a typo:
204
205 ECB_STRINGIFY (EDAM); // "EDAM"
206 ECB_STRINGIFY_EXPR (EDAM); // error: EDAM undefined
207
208=back
209
157=head2 GCC ATTRIBUTES 210=head2 ATTRIBUTES
158 211
159A major part of libecb deals with GCC attributes. These are additional 212A major part of libecb deals with additional attributes that can be
160attributes that you can assign to functions, variables and sometimes even 213assigned to functions, variables and sometimes even types - much like
161types - much like C<const> or C<volatile> in C. 214C<const> or C<volatile> in C. They are implemented using either GCC
162 215attributes or other compiler/language specific features. Attributes
163While GCC allows declarations to show up in many surprising places,
164but not in many expected places, the safest way is to put attribute
165declarations before the whole declaration: 216declarations must be put before the whole declaration:
166 217
167 ecb_const int mysqrt (int a); 218 ecb_const int mysqrt (int a);
168 ecb_unused int i; 219 ecb_unused int i;
169 220
170For variables, it is often nicer to put the attribute after the name, and
171avoid multiple declarations using commas:
172
173 int i ecb_unused;
174
175=over 4 221=over 4
176
177=item ecb_attribute ((attrs...))
178
179A simple wrapper that expands to C<__attribute__((attrs))> on GCC, and to
180nothing on other compilers, so the effect is that only GCC sees these.
181
182Example: use the C<deprecated> attribute on a function.
183
184 ecb_attribute((__deprecated__)) void
185 do_not_use_me_anymore (void);
186 222
187=item ecb_unused 223=item ecb_unused
188 224
189Marks a function or a variable as "unused", which simply suppresses a 225Marks a function or a variable as "unused", which simply suppresses a
190warning by GCC when it detects it as unused. This is useful when you e.g. 226warning by GCC when it detects it as unused. This is useful when you e.g.
191declare a variable but do not always use it: 227declare a variable but do not always use it:
192 228
193 { 229 {
194 int var ecb_unused; 230 ecb_unused int var;
195 231
196 #ifdef SOMECONDITION 232 #ifdef SOMECONDITION
197 var = ...; 233 var = ...;
198 return var; 234 return var;
199 #else 235 #else
200 return 0; 236 return 0;
201 #endif 237 #endif
202 } 238 }
203 239
240=item ecb_deprecated
241
242Similar to C<ecb_unused>, but marks a function, variable or type as
243deprecated. This makes some compilers warn when the type is used.
244
245=item ecb_deprecated_message (message)
246
247Same as C<ecb_deprecated>, but if possible, supply a diagnostic that is
248used instead of a generic depreciation message when the object is being
249used.
250
204=item ecb_inline 251=item ecb_inline
205 252
206This is not actually an attribute, but you use it like one. It expands
207either to C<static inline> or to just C<static>, if inline isn't 253Expands either to C<static inline> or to just C<static>, if inline
208supported. It should be used to declare functions that should be inlined, 254isn't supported. It should be used to declare functions that should be
209for code size or speed reasons. 255inlined, for code size or speed reasons.
210 256
211Example: inline this function, it surely will reduce codesize. 257Example: inline this function, it surely will reduce codesize.
212 258
213 ecb_inline int 259 ecb_inline int
214 negmul (int a, int b) 260 negmul (int a, int b)
236 } 282 }
237 283
238In this case, the compiler would probably be smart enough to deduce it on 284In this case, the compiler would probably be smart enough to deduce it on
239its own, so this is mainly useful for declarations. 285its own, so this is mainly useful for declarations.
240 286
287=item ecb_restrict
288
289Expands to the C<restrict> keyword or equivalent on compilers that support
290them, and to nothing on others. Must be specified on a pointer type or
291an array index to indicate that the memory doesn't alias with any other
292restricted pointer in the same scope.
293
294Example: multiply a vector, and allow the compiler to parallelise the
295loop, because it knows it doesn't overwrite input values.
296
297 void
298 multiply (ecb_restrict float *src,
299 ecb_restrict float *dst,
300 int len, float factor)
301 {
302 int i;
303
304 for (i = 0; i < len; ++i)
305 dst [i] = src [i] * factor;
306 }
307
241=item ecb_const 308=item ecb_const
242 309
243Declares that the function only depends on the values of its arguments, 310Declares that the function only depends on the values of its arguments,
244much like a mathematical function. It specifically does not read or write 311much like a mathematical function. It specifically does not read or write
245any memory any arguments might point to, global variables, or call any 312any memory any arguments might point to, global variables, or call any
305functions only called in exceptional or rare cases. 372functions only called in exceptional or rare cases.
306 373
307=item ecb_artificial 374=item ecb_artificial
308 375
309Declares the function as "artificial", in this case meaning that this 376Declares the function as "artificial", in this case meaning that this
310function is not really mean to be a function, but more like an accessor 377function is not really meant to be a function, but more like an accessor
311- many methods in C++ classes are mere accessor functions, and having a 378- many methods in C++ classes are mere accessor functions, and having a
312crash reported in such a method, or single-stepping through them, is not 379crash reported in such a method, or single-stepping through them, is not
313usually so helpful, especially when it's inlined to just a few instructions. 380usually so helpful, especially when it's inlined to just a few instructions.
314 381
315Marking them as artificial will instruct the debugger about just this, 382Marking them as artificial will instruct the debugger about just this,
335 402
336=head2 OPTIMISATION HINTS 403=head2 OPTIMISATION HINTS
337 404
338=over 4 405=over 4
339 406
340=item bool ecb_is_constant(expr) 407=item bool ecb_is_constant (expr)
341 408
342Returns true iff the expression can be deduced to be a compile-time 409Returns true iff the expression can be deduced to be a compile-time
343constant, and false otherwise. 410constant, and false otherwise.
344 411
345For example, when you have a C<rndm16> function that returns a 16 bit 412For example, when you have a C<rndm16> function that returns a 16 bit
363 return is_constant (n) && !(n & (n - 1)) 430 return is_constant (n) && !(n & (n - 1))
364 ? rndm16 () & (num - 1) 431 ? rndm16 () & (num - 1)
365 : (n * (uint32_t)rndm16 ()) >> 16; 432 : (n * (uint32_t)rndm16 ()) >> 16;
366 } 433 }
367 434
368=item bool ecb_expect (expr, value) 435=item ecb_expect (expr, value)
369 436
370Evaluates C<expr> and returns it. In addition, it tells the compiler that 437Evaluates C<expr> and returns it. In addition, it tells the compiler that
371the C<expr> evaluates to C<value> a lot, which can be used for static 438the C<expr> evaluates to C<value> a lot, which can be used for static
372branch optimisations. 439branch optimisations.
373 440
420 { 487 {
421 if (ecb_expect_false (current + size > end)) 488 if (ecb_expect_false (current + size > end))
422 real_reserve_method (size); /* presumably noinline */ 489 real_reserve_method (size); /* presumably noinline */
423 } 490 }
424 491
425=item bool ecb_assume (cond) 492=item ecb_assume (cond)
426 493
427Try to tell the compiler that some condition is true, even if it's not 494Try to tell the compiler that some condition is true, even if it's not
428obvious. 495obvious.
429 496
430This can be used to teach the compiler about invariants or other 497This can be used to teach the compiler about invariants or other
450 517
451Then the compiler I<might> be able to optimise out the second call 518Then the compiler I<might> be able to optimise out the second call
452completely, as it knows that C<< current + 1 > end >> is false and the 519completely, as it knows that C<< current + 1 > end >> is false and the
453call will never be executed. 520call will never be executed.
454 521
455=item bool ecb_unreachable () 522=item ecb_unreachable ()
456 523
457This function does nothing itself, except tell the compiler that it will 524This function does nothing itself, except tell the compiler that it will
458never be executed. Apart from suppressing a warning in some cases, this 525never be executed. Apart from suppressing a warning in some cases, this
459function can be used to implement C<ecb_assume> or similar functions. 526function can be used to implement C<ecb_assume> or similar functions.
460 527
461=item bool ecb_prefetch (addr, rw, locality) 528=item ecb_prefetch (addr, rw, locality)
462 529
463Tells the compiler to try to prefetch memory at the given C<addr>ess 530Tells the compiler to try to prefetch memory at the given C<addr>ess
464for either reading (C<rw> = 0) or writing (C<rw> = 1). A C<locality> of 531for either reading (C<rw> = 0) or writing (C<rw> = 1). A C<locality> of
465C<0> means that there will only be one access later, C<3> means that 532C<0> means that there will only be one access later, C<3> means that
466the data will likely be accessed very often, and values in between mean 533the data will likely be accessed very often, and values in between mean
615 682
616=head2 FLOATING POINT FIDDLING 683=head2 FLOATING POINT FIDDLING
617 684
618=over 4 685=over 4
619 686
687=item ECB_INFINITY
688
689Evaluates to positive infinity if supported by the platform, otherwise to
690a truly huge number.
691
692=item ECB_NAN
693
694Evaluates to a quiet NAN if supported by the platform, otherwise to
695C<ECB_INFINITY>.
696
697=item float ecb_ldexpf (float x, int exp)
698
699Same as C<ldexpf>, but always available.
700
620=item uint32_t ecb_float_to_binary32 (float x) [-UECB_NO_LIBM] 701=item uint32_t ecb_float_to_binary32 (float x) [-UECB_NO_LIBM]
621 702
622=item uint64_t ecb_double_to_binary64 (double x) [-UECB_NO_LIBM] 703=item uint64_t ecb_double_to_binary64 (double x) [-UECB_NO_LIBM]
623 704
624These functions each take an argument in the native C<float> or C<double> 705These functions each take an argument in the native C<float> or C<double>
647 /* this results in a single add instruction to toggle the bit, and 4 extra */ 728 /* this results in a single add instruction to toggle the bit, and 4 extra */
648 /* instructions to move the float value to an integer register and back. */ 729 /* instructions to move the float value to an integer register and back. */
649 730
650 x = ecb_binary32_to_float (ecb_float_to_binary32 (x) ^ 0x80000000U) 731 x = ecb_binary32_to_float (ecb_float_to_binary32 (x) ^ 0x80000000U)
651 732
733=item float ecb_binary16_to_float (uint16_t x) [-UECB_NO_LIBM]
734
652=item float ecb_binary32_to_float (uint32_t x) [-UECB_NO_LIBM] 735=item float ecb_binary32_to_float (uint32_t x) [-UECB_NO_LIBM]
653 736
654=item double ecb_binary32_to_double (uint64_t x) [-UECB_NO_LIBM] 737=item double ecb_binary32_to_double (uint64_t x) [-UECB_NO_LIBM]
655 738
656The reverse operation of the previos function - takes the bit representation 739The reverse operation of the previous function - takes the bit
657of an IEEE binary32 or binary64 number and converts it to the native C<float> 740representation of an IEEE binary16, binary32 or binary64 number and
658or C<double> format. 741converts it to the native C<float> or C<double> format.
659 742
660This function should work even when the native floating point format isn't 743This function should work even when the native floating point format isn't
661IEEE compliant, of course at a speed and code size penalty, and of course 744IEEE compliant, of course at a speed and code size penalty, and of course
662also within reasonable limits (it tries to convert normals and denormals, 745also within reasonable limits (it tries to convert normals and denormals,
663and might be lucky for infinities, and with extraordinary luck, also for 746and might be lucky for infinities, and with extraordinary luck, also for

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