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Re: how cast works?

From Bart <bc@freeuk.com>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: how cast works?
Date 2024-08-08 18:29 +0100
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <v92va5$4msg$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References <v8vlo9$2oc1v$1@dont-email.me> <slrnvb7kis.28a.dan@djph.net> <v929ah$3u7l7$1@dont-email.me> <v92gt1$e1l$1@dont-email.me> <20240808193203.00006287@yahoo.com>

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On 08/08/2024 17:32, Michael S wrote:
 > On Thu, 8 Aug 2024 14:23:44 +0100
 > Bart <bc@freeuk.com> wrote:
 >> Try godbolt.org. Type in a fragment of code that does different kinds
 >> of casts (it needs to be well-formed, so inside a function), and see
 >> what code is produced with different C compilers.
 >>
 >> Use -O0 so that the code isn't optimised out of existence, and so
 >> that you can more easily match it to the C ource.
 >>
 >>
 >
 >
 > I'd recommend an opposite - use -O2 so the cast that does nothing
 > optimized away.
 >
 > int foo_i2i(int x) { return (int)x; }
 > int foo_u2i(unsigned x) { return (int)x; }
 > int foo_b2i(_Bool x) { return (int)x; }
 > int foo_d2i(double x) { return (int)x; }
The OP is curious as to what's involved when a conversion is done. 
Hiding or eliminating code isn't helpful in that case; the results can 
also be misleading:

Take this example:

   void fred(void) {
    _Bool b;
      int i;
      i=b;
   }

Unoptimised, it generates this code:

         push    rbp
         mov     rbp, rsp

         mov     al, byte ptr [rbp - 1]
         and     al, 1
         movzx   eax, al
         mov     dword ptr [rbp - 8], eax

         pop     rbp
         ret

You can see from this that a Bool occupies one byte; it is masked to 0/1 
(so it doesn't trust it to contain only 0/1), then it is widened to an 
int size.

With optimisation turned on, even at -O1, it produces this:

         ret

That strikes me as rather less enlightening!

Meanwhile your foo_b2i function contains this optimised code:

         mov     eax, edi
         ret

The masking and widening is not present. Presumably, it is taking 
advantage of the fact that a _Bool argument will be converted and 
widened to `int` at the callsite even though the parameter type is also 
_Bool. So the conversion has already been done.

You will see this if writing also a call to foo_b2i() and looking at the 
/non-elided/ code.

The unoptimised code for foo_b2i is pretty awful (like masking twice, 
with a pointless write to memory between them). But sometimes with gcc 
there is no sensible middle ground between terrible code, and having 
most of it eliminated.

The unoptimised code from my C compiler for foo_b2i, excluding 
entry/exit code, is:

     movsx   eax, byte [rbp + foo_b2i.x]

My compiler assumes that a _Bool type already contains 0 or 1.


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how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-07 08:28 -0300
  Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-07 08:33 -0300
    Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-07 13:13 -0700
    Re: how cast works? Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-08-11 17:43 -0700
      Re: how cast works? Vir Campestris <vir.campestris@invalid.invalid> - 2024-08-12 11:51 +0100
        Challenge/exercise problem - signum() function Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-08-12 08:17 -0700
          Re: Challenge/exercise problem - signum() function Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2024-08-12 16:07 +0000
            Re: Challenge/exercise problem - signum() function Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-08-12 09:57 -0700
  Re: how cast works? Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2024-08-07 20:00 +0000
    Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-07 13:26 -0700
    Re: how cast works? Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-08-07 23:00 +0000
    Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-08 08:14 -0300
      Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-08 14:23 +0100
        Re: how cast works? Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2024-08-08 19:32 +0300
          Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-08 14:11 -0300
          Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-08 18:29 +0100
            Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-08 14:50 -0300
              Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-08 14:57 -0300
              Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-08 19:01 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-08 15:13 -0300
              Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-08 12:29 -0700
            Re: how cast works? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-08-08 19:58 +0200
              Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-08 20:09 +0100
                Re: how cast works? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-08-09 00:32 +0200
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-08 16:14 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-08-09 02:47 +0000
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-08 22:55 -0700
                Re: how cast works? James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2024-08-09 02:08 -0400
                Re: how cast works? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-08-09 18:16 +0200
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 12:18 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-08-11 17:07 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-11 20:14 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-09 01:56 +0100
                Re: how cast works? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-08-09 19:08 +0200
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-10 11:03 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-08-09 02:45 +0000
      Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-08 12:42 -0700
        Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-08 17:34 -0300
          Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-08 22:41 +0100
            Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-08 16:17 -0700
              Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-09 11:04 +0100
                Re: how cast works? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-08-09 19:12 +0200
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-12 15:36 +0100
                Re: how cast works? James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2024-08-09 13:57 -0400
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-09 21:59 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 14:47 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-10 00:32 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 17:12 -0700
                Re: how cast works? James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2024-08-09 18:29 -0400
                Re: how cast works? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-08-13 11:18 +0200
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-13 11:34 +0100
                Re: how cast works? James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2024-08-13 07:51 -0400
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-13 14:01 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-13 12:46 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-13 21:51 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-08-13 16:46 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-14 00:56 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-08-18 03:37 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 14:29 -0700
                Re: how cast works? James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2024-08-09 18:35 -0400
                Re: how cast works? Kaz Kylheku <643-408-1753@kylheku.com> - 2024-08-09 21:30 +0000
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 14:57 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Kaz Kylheku <643-408-1753@kylheku.com> - 2024-08-09 23:14 +0000
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 16:58 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Kaz Kylheku <643-408-1753@kylheku.com> - 2024-08-10 00:06 +0000
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 17:27 -0700
                Re: how cast works? James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2024-08-09 20:31 -0400
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-10 01:11 +0100
                Re: how cast works? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-08-13 11:23 +0200
                Re: how cast works? Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-08-11 17:32 -0700
                Re: how cast works? James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2024-08-09 18:35 -0400
                Re: how cast works? Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-08-11 17:27 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 12:23 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-09 21:31 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 13:49 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-09 22:01 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-08-12 00:33 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-12 12:21 +0100
              Re: how cast works? Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-08-11 17:46 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-12 02:00 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-11 20:23 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-08-11 20:37 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-11 21:33 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Ben Bacarisse <ben@bsb.me.uk> - 2024-08-12 16:57 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-08-12 10:04 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-12 13:35 -0700
            Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 07:57 -0300
              Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-09 16:25 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 12:06 -0700
              Re: how cast works? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-08-09 19:20 +0200
                Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 15:54 -0300
                Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 16:05 -0300
                Re: how cast works? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-08-09 21:43 +0200
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 13:28 -0700
                Re: how cast works? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-08-09 22:01 +0200
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-10 11:17 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-10 10:15 -0300
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-10 17:14 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-10 20:01 -0300
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-10 17:10 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-11 09:23 -0300
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-11 13:30 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-11 14:16 -0300
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-11 13:38 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-08-12 12:24 +0100
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 13:26 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 18:01 -0300
                Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 14:53 -0700
              Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 12:03 -0700
                Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-09 16:22 -0300
          Re: how cast works? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-08-09 00:36 +0200
    Re: how cast works? Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2024-08-08 14:08 +0000
    Re: how cast works? Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-08-09 02:42 +0000
  Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-07 13:08 -0700
    Re: how cast works? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2024-08-08 08:35 -0300
      Re: how cast works? Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-08-08 12:39 -0700
      Re: how cast works? James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2024-08-08 18:40 -0400
        Re: how cast works? Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-08-11 17:15 -0700
    Is there an audio book version (Was: how cast works?) gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2024-08-08 16:19 +0000
  Re: how cast works? Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-08-07 23:03 +0000

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