llvm dev - Jul 2010 - [LLVMdev] Union type, is it really used or necessary?

In the LLVM type system, union type is similar to the one in C/C++. In the
implementation of llvm-gcc, a C union type is converted to a struct of one
field that can hold all possible values of the union type and type casts are
used to make the code manipulating the union type "well typed". This
approach seems work very well, is there really a need to keep union type in
LLVM? Is there a front-end emitting union type?

Thanks,
Neal
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> used to make the code manipulating the union type "well typed".
This
> approach seems work very well, is there really a need to keep union type in
> LLVM?
I think in its current state the unions should be removed from LLVM IR
in next release. It's pretty much unfinished and noone is willing to
work on them.
> Is there a front-end emitting union type?
Not that I'm aware of.

-- 
With best regards, Anton Korobeynikov
Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics, Saint Petersburg State University

On Jul 20, 2010, at 1:36 AM, Anton Korobeynikov wrote:
>> used to make the code manipulating the union type "well
typed". This
>> approach seems work very well, is there really a need to keep union
type in
>> LLVM?
> I think in its current state the unions should be removed from LLVM IR
> in next release. It's pretty much unfinished and noone is willing to
> work on them.
I agree.

-Chris