llvm dev - Mar 2020 - Questions on ifconversion and predication

Assume an architecture that has multiple condition code registers, e.g.,
powerpc.

Now assume that there are predicate instructions like thumb2, but can specify
which condition code register they refer to.

Now also assume that these predicate instructions themselves are predicatible,
if executed they change the current predication state.

Can LLVM handle multiple levels of predication?
When is IfConversion used and when is EarlyIfConversion used?
Is there any documentation on this?

thanks,
brian

Hi Bagel

As far as I know, the EarlyIfConversion pass is used before register
allocation. It works on SSA form and it does not use predication.
The IfConversion pass is used after register allocation and it uses
predication. Unfortunately, it does not support multiple predication.

I hope it helps you.

Cheers
JinGu Kang

2020년 3월 24일 (화) 오후 6:22, Bagel via llvm-dev <llvm-dev at
lists.llvm.org>님이 작성:
>
> Assume an architecture that has multiple condition code registers, e.g.,
powerpc.
>
> Now assume that there are predicate instructions like thumb2, but can
specify
> which condition code register they refer to.
>
> Now also assume that these predicate instructions themselves are
predicatible,
> if executed they change the current predication state.
>
> Can LLVM handle multiple levels of predication?
> When is IfConversion used and when is EarlyIfConversion used?
> Is there any documentation on this?
>
> thanks,
> brian
> _______________________________________________
> LLVM Developers mailing list
> llvm-dev at lists.llvm.org
> https://lists.llvm.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/llvm-dev

Thanks.

EarlyIfConversion is too early for my use.  It does appear that perhaps 
IfConversion can be used prior to register allocation.  There is a line
in IfConverter::runOnMachineFunction():
    PreRegAlloc = MRI->isSSA();
I don't think any in-tree architectures use IfConverter pre register 
allocation, but perhaps there are out-of-tree uses?

regards,
brian

On 4/7/20 3:17 PM, jingu kang wrote:
> Hi Bagel
> 
> As far as I know, the EarlyIfConversion pass is used before register
> allocation. It works on SSA form and it does not use predication.
> The IfConversion pass is used after register allocation and it uses
> predication. Unfortunately, it does not support multiple predication.
> 
> I hope it helps you.
> 
> Cheers
> JinGu Kang
> 
> 2020년 3월 24일 (화) 오후 6:22, Bagel via llvm-dev <llvm-dev at
lists.llvm.org>님이 작성:
>>
>> Assume an architecture that has multiple condition code registers,
e.g., powerpc.
>>
>> Now assume that there are predicate instructions like thumb2, but can
specify
>> which condition code register they refer to.
>>
>> Now also assume that these predicate instructions themselves are
predicatible,
>> if executed they change the current predication state.
>>
>> Can LLVM handle multiple levels of predication?
>> When is IfConversion used and when is EarlyIfConversion used?
>> Is there any documentation on this?
>>
>> thanks,
>> brian
>> _______________________________________________
>> LLVM Developers mailing list
>> llvm-dev at lists.llvm.org
>> https://lists.llvm.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/llvm-dev

I do not think it is possible to run the ifconversion pass before register
allocation.

As far as I know, ths pass does not handle 'PHI' because it assumes
input
after register allocation.

The pass uses 'BranchFolder', which assumes to run after register
allocation, to tidy up CFG because the ifconversion pass generates quite
dirty CFG.

It could be good try to run the pass before register allocation in order to
find the issues.

Cheers
JinGu Kang

On Fri, 10 Apr 2020, 18:00 Bagel, <bagel99 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks.
>
> EarlyIfConversion is too early for my use.  It does appear that perhaps
> IfConversion can be used prior to register allocation.  There is a line
> in IfConverter::runOnMachineFunction():
>     PreRegAlloc = MRI->isSSA();
> I don't think any in-tree architectures use IfConverter pre register
> allocation, but perhaps there are out-of-tree uses?
>
> regards,
> brian
>
> On 4/7/20 3:17 PM, jingu kang wrote:
> > Hi Bagel
> >
> > As far as I know, the EarlyIfConversion pass is used before register
> > allocation. It works on SSA form and it does not use predication.
> > The IfConversion pass is used after register allocation and it uses
> > predication. Unfortunately, it does not support multiple predication.
> >
> > I hope it helps you.
> >
> > Cheers
> > JinGu Kang
> >
> > 2020년 3월 24일 (화) 오후 6:22, Bagel via llvm-dev <llvm-dev at
lists.llvm.org>님이
> 작성:
> >>
> >> Assume an architecture that has multiple condition code registers,
> e.g., powerpc.
> >>
> >> Now assume that there are predicate instructions like thumb2, but
can
> specify
> >> which condition code register they refer to.
> >>
> >> Now also assume that these predicate instructions themselves are
> predicatible,
> >> if executed they change the current predication state.
> >>
> >> Can LLVM handle multiple levels of predication?
> >> When is IfConversion used and when is EarlyIfConversion used?
> >> Is there any documentation on this?
> >>
> >> thanks,
> >> brian
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> LLVM Developers mailing list
> >> llvm-dev at lists.llvm.org
> >> https://lists.llvm.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/llvm-dev
>
>
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