Finite-state code generation

  • Authors:
  • Christopher W. Fraser;Todd A. Proebsting

  • Affiliations:
  • Microsoft Research, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA;Microsoft Research, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the ACM SIGPLAN 1999 conference on Programming language design and implementation
  • Year:
  • 1999

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Abstract

This paper describes GBURG, which generates tiny, fast code generators based on finite-state machine pattern matching. The code generators translate postfix intermediate code into machine instructions in one pass (except, of course, for backpatching addresses). A stack-based virtual machine---known as the Lean Virtual Machine (LVM)---tuned for fast code generation is also described. GBURG translates the two-page LVM-to-x86 specification into a code generator that fits entirely in an 8 KB I-cache and that emits x86 code at 3.6 MB/set on a 266-MHz P6. Our just-in-time code generator translates and executes small benchmarks at speeds within a factor of two of executables derived from the conventional compile-time code generator on which it is based.