Access the full text.
Sign up today, get DeepDyve free for 14 days.
Loading next page...
/lp/wiley/compiler-support-for-floating-point-computation-JG5f1zuNSa
References (9)
-
W. Kahan, J. T. Coonen (1982)
The Relationship Between Numerical Computation And Programming LnaguagesSIGPLAN
-
Inmos Limited (1988)
OCCAM 2 reference manual -
Jerome Coonen (1984)
Contributions to a proposed standard for binary floating-point arithmetic (computer arithmetic) -
W. Kahan, Jerome Coonen (1982)
The Near Orthogonality of Syntax, Semantics, and Diagnostics in Numerical Programming Environments, -
(1985)
754-1985 for Bina y Floating-point Arithmetic, IEEE, 1985 -
R. Corbett (1982)
Enhanced arithmetic for FortranACM SIGPLAN Notices, 17
-
C. Hoare (1981)
The emperor's old clothesCommun. ACM, 24
-
A mathematical symbol with the same name as a programming variable denotes the mathematical value represented by the current bit-pattern of the programming value -
W. Cody, Jerome Coonen, D. Gay, Kenton Hanson, David Hough, W. Kahan, Richard Karpinski, J. Palmer, F. Ris, D. Stevenson (1984)
A Proposed Radix- and Word-length-independent Standard for Floating-point ArithmeticIEEE Micro, 4
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Copyright
- Copyright © 1988 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
- ISSN
- 0038-0644
- eISSN
- 1097-024X
- DOI
- 10.1002/spe.4380180709
- Publisher site
- See Article on Publisher Site
Abstract
Predictability is a basic requirement for compilers of floating‐point code—it must be possible to determine the exact floating‐point operations that will be executed for a particular source‐level construction. Experience shows that many compilers fail to provide predictability, either because of an inadequate understanding of its importance or from an attempt to produce locally better code. Predictability can be attained through careful attention to code generation and a knowledge of the common pitfalls. Most language standards do not completely define the precision of floating‐point operations, and so a good compiler must also make a good choice in assigning precisions of subexpression computation. Choosing the widest precision that will be used in the expression usually gives the best trade‐off between efficiency and accuracy. Finally, certain optimizations are particularly useful for floating‐point and should be included in a compiler aimed at scientific computation. But predictability is more important than efficiency; obtaining incorrect answers fast helps no one.
Journal
Software: Practice and Experience – Wiley
Published: Jul 1, 1988
Keywords: ; ;