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Groups > comp.lang.c++ > #68836

Re: alloca()-support

From David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c++, comp.lang.c
Subject Re: alloca()-support
Date 2019-10-01 09:38 +0200
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <qmuvps$5eu$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References <qmsqs0$472$1@news.albasani.net> <qmtbkq$pmp$1@dont-email.me> <1bd0fhvgys.fsf@pfeifferfamily.net> <qmtfha$gno$2@dont-email.me> <1b8sq5v88v.fsf@pfeifferfamily.net>

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

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On 30/09/2019 22:28, Joe Pfeiffer wrote:
> Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> writes:
> 
>> On 30/09/2019 19:20, Joe Pfeiffer wrote:
>>> Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> writes:
>>>
>>>> On 30/09/2019 14:02, Bonita Montero wrote:
>>>>> I know alloca() neither is an official part of the C nor C++
>>>>> program-
>>>>> ming-language. But I use it for performance-reasons. Can anyone name
>>>>> compilers that don't support alloca()?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> sorry, mine is not an answer but a related question
>>>>
>>>> Since when (if at any time) was variable size automatic array
>>>> supported ?
>>>>
>>>> I mean a temporary array local to a function whose size becomes known
>>>> only at runtime (seems to me a generalization of variadic functions,
>>>> which, too, does not know at compile time how much stack space will
>>>> consume).
>>>>
>>>> If implemented, It seems equivalent to alloca () ... is it there some
>>>> limitation then in ORDER of automatic variable creations ?
>>>
>>> There is no such limitation on your C program.  The VLA can be first,
>>> last, or in the middle.  And you can have more than one of them.
>>>
>>> Where in the activation record a compiler chooses to put it is, AFAIK,
>>> not specified.
>>
>> ah ! So you are suggestion sort of internal reordering on the stack
>> (like : all known types before, then the var-sized) ?
> 
> I'm saying there is nothing (I know of) prohibiting a compiler from
> doing that; without thinking too deeply about it, I suspect that if I
> were writing the compiler that would be my first approach (since, as you
> suggest, that would permit the other variables to be accessed through
> constant offsets).
> 

Exactly.  It is a likely that the allocation would be handled something
like that.  But the compiler can arrange the details in any way it deems
best.

Alternatives include allocating some fixed frame variables first, then
copying the stack pointer to a frame pointer (call it "fp").  Then the
alloca() or VLA adds to the stack, then there is some more stack data
(maybe another VLA or alloca() ).  The first data can be accessed as "fp
+ offset", later data as "sp + offset".  Intermediary anchor points can
be saved as necessary.

Mixing multiple VLA's and alloca's in the same function is likely to
give you inefficient code and wasted stack space (alloca data lives
until the end of the function, VLA's live until the end of the block).
But the compiler's prime job is to give you correct object code, and it
should handle that okay.

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Thread

alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-09-30 14:02 +0200
  Re: alloca()-support Frederick Gotham <cauldwell.thomas@gmail.com> - 2019-09-30 07:02 -0700
    Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-09-30 16:09 +0200
      Re: alloca()-support Bo Persson <bo@bo-persson.se> - 2019-09-30 17:29 +0200
        Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-09-30 17:33 +0200
    Re: alloca()-support gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2019-09-30 16:26 +0000
  Re: alloca()-support Anton Shepelev <anton.txt@g{oogle}mail.com> - 2019-09-30 17:12 +0300
    Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-09-30 16:16 +0200
      Re: alloca()-support Anton Shepelev <anton.txt@g{oogle}mail.com> - 2019-09-30 17:30 +0300
        Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-09-30 16:44 +0200
          Re: alloca()-support Anton Shepelev <anton.txt@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 00:36 +0300
            Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 06:28 +0200
              Re: alloca()-support Anton Shepelev <anton.txt@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 16:08 +0300
                Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 15:42 +0200
    Re: alloca()-support scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2019-09-30 14:30 +0000
      Re: alloca()-support Anton Shepelev <anton.txt@g{oogle}mail.com> - 2019-09-30 17:33 +0300
        Re: alloca()-support David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-09-30 16:56 +0200
    Re: alloca()-support Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2019-09-30 15:29 +0000
      Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-09-30 17:31 +0200
        Re: alloca()-support Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2019-10-01 07:03 +0000
          Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-01 10:57 +0200
            Re: alloca()-support Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2019-10-01 18:49 +0000
              Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-01 21:20 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2019-10-01 20:39 +0000
                Re: alloca()-support Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2019-10-02 04:15 +0000
                Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 06:28 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2019-10-02 04:29 +0000
    Re: alloca()-support Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2019-09-30 11:14 -0700
  Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-09-30 18:04 +0200
    Re: alloca()-support William Ahern <william@25thandClement.com> - 2019-09-30 11:01 -0700
      Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-01 07:19 +0200
    Re: alloca()-support Paavo Helde <myfirstname@osa.pri.ee> - 2019-09-30 22:26 +0300
      Re: alloca()-support scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2019-09-30 19:46 +0000
    Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-01 07:32 +0200
      Re: alloca()-support Paavo Helde <myfirstname@osa.pri.ee> - 2019-10-01 09:08 +0300
        Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-01 08:35 +0200
  Re: alloca()-support Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-09-30 18:48 +0200
    Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-09-30 18:51 +0200
      Re: alloca()-support Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-09-30 18:55 +0200
        Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-09-30 18:58 +0200
          Re: alloca()-support Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-09-30 19:53 +0200
            Re: alloca()-support Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2019-09-30 11:13 -0700
            Re: alloca()-support scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2019-09-30 19:38 +0000
              Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-01 07:41 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2019-10-01 15:19 +0000
                Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-01 17:31 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2019-10-01 18:58 +0000
                Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-01 21:24 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2019-10-02 04:28 +0000
                Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 06:30 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2019-10-02 04:36 +0000
                Re: alloca()-support David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-10-02 10:01 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2019-10-02 04:42 +0000
                Re: alloca()-support David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-10-02 10:10 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Mel <mel@zzzzz.com> - 2019-10-02 15:13 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-10-01 21:10 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-01 21:25 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2019-10-01 20:44 +0000
                Re: alloca()-support David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-10-01 23:26 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2019-10-01 21:08 -0600
                Re: alloca()-support David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-10-02 10:19 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 06:39 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-10-02 10:34 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Mel <mel@zzzzz.com> - 2019-10-02 15:14 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Mel <mel@zzzzz.com> - 2019-10-02 15:18 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 15:21 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2019-10-03 04:09 +0000
                Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-03 07:48 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2019-10-03 05:49 +0000
                Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-03 07:52 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2019-10-03 06:46 +0000
                Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-03 10:59 +0200
              Re: alloca()-support Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-10-03 13:39 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2019-10-03 13:23 +0000
                Re: alloca()-support David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-10-03 15:38 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2019-10-03 14:51 +0000
                Re: alloca()-support David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-10-04 09:49 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-10-03 21:47 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-10-04 09:53 +0200
                Re: alloca()-support Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-10-03 21:52 +0200
            Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-01 07:39 +0200
        Re: alloca()-support James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2019-09-30 21:36 -0400
      Re: alloca()-support Philipp Klaus Krause <pkk@spth.de> - 2019-09-30 19:14 +0200
        Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-09-30 19:16 +0200
          Re: alloca()-support Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2019-10-01 00:18 -0500
            Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-01 07:43 +0200
            Re: alloca()-support Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2019-10-01 02:42 -0700
              Re: alloca()-support James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2019-10-01 08:11 -0400
              Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-10-01 14:53 +0200
      Re: alloca()-support scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2019-09-30 17:52 +0000
    Re: alloca()-support Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2019-09-30 11:20 -0600
      Re: alloca()-support Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2019-09-30 19:42 +0200
        Re: alloca()-support Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-09-30 20:02 +0200
      Re: alloca()-support Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-09-30 19:54 +0200
        Re: alloca()-support Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2019-09-30 14:28 -0600
          Re: alloca()-support David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-10-01 09:38 +0200
      Re: alloca()-support Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-09-30 20:01 +0200
        Re: alloca()-support Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2019-10-01 17:45 +0200
  Re: alloca()-support Frederick Gotham <cauldwell.thomas@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 00:03 -0700
    Re: alloca()-support Paavo Helde <myfirstname@osa.pri.ee> - 2019-10-02 11:30 +0300
    Re: alloca()-support Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2019-10-02 21:34 +1300
      Re: alloca()-support Frederick Gotham <cauldwell.thomas@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 01:36 -0700
        Re: alloca()-support Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2019-10-02 21:41 +1300
          Re: alloca()-support Frederick Gotham <cauldwell.thomas@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 02:28 -0700
  Re: alloca()-support "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 02:35 -0700
    Re: alloca()-support Frederick Gotham <cauldwell.thomas@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 02:43 -0700
    Re: alloca()-support Anton Shepelev <anton.txt@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 16:26 +0300
      Re: alloca()-support "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2019-10-02 12:33 -0700
        Re: alloca()-support Anton Shepelev <anton.txt@gmail.com> - 2019-10-03 01:47 +0300
          Re: alloca()-support "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2019-10-05 14:08 -0700

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