Resource allocation in an experimental LISP compiler

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Publication Type technical report
School or College College of Engineering
Department Computing, School of
Creator Knell, Jeffrey Kent
Title Resource allocation in an experimental LISP compiler
Date 1986-08
Description This thesis describes the design and implementation of a register allocation system for EPIC, an experimental LISP compiler. EPIC follows the Portable Standard LISP (PSL) philosophy of retargetability and parameter-passing through registers. Like many register allocators, this system accepts linear code containing virtual registers and maps these "vregs" into machine registers, memory and stack. Unlike other allocators, this allocator works within a highly constrained environment, in which most vegs are restricted to one or more physical Iocations by the way they are used. The allocator is concerned primarily with resolving conflicting location constraints. Location constraints include: protocol--parameters must be in specific registers, volatility--five values must be saved in memory during function calls; and instructional--reflecting addressing-modes of the target machine. Resolution of conflicting constraints is done through instruction-graph partitioning and subsequent introduction of new vregs. This technique has proven to be inefficient, and the reasons are discussed. A cursory description of a better algorithm, which has been implemented, is included. Two linear-code transformations are also discussed: the first involing removal of "spill" type code; the second, a three-to-two address format transformation.
Type Text
Subject compiling (electronic computers); LISP; EPIC; Experimental LISP compiler
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation Knell, J. K. (1986). Resource allocation in an experimental LISP compiler.
Series University of Utah Computer Science Technical Report
Relation is Part of ARPANET
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 35,010,346 bytes
File Name Knell-Resource_Allocation.pdf
Conversion Specifications Original scanned with Kirtas 2400 and saved as 400 ppi uncompressed TIFF. PDF generated by Adobe Acrobat Pro X for CONTENTdm display
ARK ark:/87278/s61857r7
Setname ir_computersa
ID 101327
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s61857r7
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