The compiler is to blame for everything

The compiler is to blame for everything

Developing C/C++ cross-compiled applications for Linux on Power systems

Developing C/C++ cross-compiled applications for Linux on Power systems

Solaris Studio 12.4 now available

Oracle Solaris Studio

Docs: What's new in Oracle Solaris Studio 12.4

Solaris Studio 12.4 beta - refreshed

Really interesting update to the Solaris Studio compiler suite.
It looks like it might have lots of new C++11 support & upgrades to the performance analyser, code analyser and OpenMP 4.0 support, and updated debugger and IDE.

What's New in the Oracle Solaris Studio 12.4 Beta

Update:

A refreshed beta was released, update 14th July release.

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/solarisstudio/overview/index.html

How the HP-UX C/C++ compiler can help with 64-bit porting

I'm going to write up some notes about various modern UNIX compilers, first up is the HP-UX compiler.

The HP-UX C/C++ compiler  is currently at version A.06.27, last updated in 2012. Since the creation of version 6, it seems to only have had a few tweaks made to it. For example, it lacks many new C++ features.

Nevertheless, it has some useful warning options that can help with migrating code to 64-bit goodness.

Compiler versions

$ cc -V

cc: HP C/aC++ B3910B A.06.27 [May 22 2012]

$ aCC -V

aCC: HP C/aC++ B3910B A.06.27 [May 22 2012]


A very simple example:

#include stdio.h
#include stdlib.h
#include string.h

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    int len;
    char str[] = "Hello world, is this string okay?";

    len = strlen(str);

    printf("strlen is %d\n", strlen(str));

    return 0;
}

Interesting options that could help us

+w64bit      - Enables warnings that help detection of potential problems in converting 32-bit applications to 64-bit

+wlint       - Enables several warnings in the compiler that provide lint like functionality

+wperfadvice - Enables performance advisory messages.

+wsecurity   - Enables compile-time diagnostics for potential security violations

+w           - Warns about all questionable constructs

Some of these options are lint-like, some are useful performance tips, others help with code porting issues.

A normal compile gives no warning in the above example, but if we add these warning flags we get extra output:

$ cc strlen_example.c -o strlen_example +w64bit

"strlen_example.c", line 11: warning #4229-D: 64 bit migration: conversion

         from "size_t" to "int" may truncate value

       len = strlen(str);

           ^

more:

$ cc strlen_example.c -o strlen_example +w        

"strlen_example.c", line 11: remark #4229-D: 64 bit migration: conversion from

         "size_t" to "int" may truncate value

       len = strlen(str);

           ^

"strlen_example.c", line 13: remark #2181-D: argument is incompatible with

         corresponding format string conversion

       printf("strlen is %d\n", strlen(str));

                                ^

"strlen_example.c", line 8: remark #2550-D: variable "len" was set but never

         used

       int len;

           ^

Larger example output from some code that deals with large files:

"MyLargeFile.c", line 231: warning #4298-D: addition result could be truncated before cast to bigger sized type

"MyLargeFile.c", line 321: warning #4229-D: 64 bit migration: conversion from "size_t" to "int" may truncate value

"MyLargeFile.c", line 723: warning #4298-D: multiply result could be truncated before cast to bigger sized type

"MyLargeFile.c", line 3263: warning #4229-D: 64 bit migration: conversion from "unsigned long" to "unsigned int" may truncate value

"MyLargeFile.c", line 2423: warning #4229-D: 64 bit migration: conversion from "size_t" to "int" may truncate value

"MyLargeFile.c", line 3478: warning #4229-D: 64 bit migration: conversion from "unsigned long" to "int" may truncate value

"MyLargeFile.c", line 5134: warning #4229-D: 64 bit migration: conversion from "long" to "int" may truncate value

"MyLargeFile.c", line 5692: warning #4231-D: 64 bit migration: conversion between types of different sizes has occurred (from "int" to "void *" )

As you can see, the compiler can spot quite a few issues with this code that you might want to consider carefully when making a real 64-bit pure aware application.

External links:

HP aC++/HP C Online Programmer's Guide

Command-Line Options

IBM developerWorks: Exploring the DWARF debug format information

Exploring the DWARF debug format information

Open64 compiler suite

x86 Open64 Compiler Suite v4.2.2 is now available.

It appears to be a complete & open compiler suite for x86 32-bit & 64-bit machines.
It looks very feature rich. The downloads are only for GNU/Linux.

Open64 compiler suite