compileritinerary

A compiler itinerary is a data structure used by optimizing compilers to represent the sequence of optimization passes that will be applied to source code. It defines the order in which various transformations, such as dead code elimination, loop unrolling, or function inlining, will be performed. The itinerary plays a crucial role in determining the effectiveness and efficiency of the compilation process. Different itineraries can lead to significantly different performance characteristics in the generated machine code.

The design of a compiler itinerary is a complex task, balancing the desire for aggressive optimizations with the need to avoid introducing new optimization opportunities that might necessitate re-running previous passes. This can lead to iterative optimization strategies where the code is processed multiple times. The order of passes can also impact compilation time. Some optimizations might be computationally expensive and are therefore placed strategically, perhaps only applied at higher optimization levels.

Compiler developers often experiment with different itinerary configurations to find optimal trade-offs for specific target architectures and application domains. The concept of an itinerary is fundamental to understanding how modern compilers achieve high levels of performance from source code. It allows for a structured and controllable approach to the complex process of code optimization.