More progress with #AArch64 #dlang dmd code generator. The function prolog/epilog is working at a basic level now, and so is the address resolution for stack symbols and register allocation is also working: uint add(uint x, uint y) { return x + y; } becomes: 0000: D1 00 43 FF sub sp,sp,#0x10 0004: B9 00 0B E0 str w0,[sp,#8] 0008: 2A 01 03 E2 mov w2,w1 000c: B9 40 0B E3 ldr w3,[sp,#8] 0010: 0B 23 40 40 add w0,w2,w3,uxtw 0014: 91 00 43 FF add sp,sp,#0x10 0018: D6 5F 03 C0 ret 0000: allocate space for locals 0004: save register parameter x as local 0008: save register parameter y as w2 000c: load local x into w3 0010: w0 = w2 + w3 0014: deallocate space for locals 0018: return from function I know this looks treeevial, but an awful lot has to work to get this far. #compilers #programming #programminglanguages

Working last night and today on implementing the function all ABI for the #AArch64 dmd #dlang code generator.

Today's #dlang dmd #Aarch64 accomplishment: long foo(long x, long y) { return 5; } becomes: _D4test3fooFllZl: 0000: D2 80 00 A0 mov x0,#5 0004: D6 5F 03 C0 ret I feel like Herr Doktor Frankenstein applying the lightning! (I know it looks trivial, but there's an awful lot of code in a compiler to get to that point. Note that the compiler has a builtin disassembler I wrote that dumps the generated binary, rather than trying to assemble text.) Many thanks to godbolt.org to show me what needs to happen. #compilers #programminglanguages #programming

I'm fairly pleased with this refactoring of a function that makes it dramatically easier to read, and is significantly reduced in size, although its behavior is identical. github.com/dlang/dmd/pull/16… #dlang #programming

Ever wonder why the code you wrote more than 5 years ago is a fetid swamp of awfulness? For many ideas on how to fix this, my talk on Comprehensible Programming is now available. slides: nwcpp.org/talks/2024/underst… video: youtu.be/_Y3sK19Uhgg #dlang #programming #compilers #programminglanguages

#importc now successfully converts function-like C macros to #dlang function templates: #define ADD(a, b) a + b is converted to a D function template: auto ADD(T1, T2)(T1 a, T2 b) { return a + b; } which opens up a lot more automatic support for C macro use. github.com/dlang/dmd/pull/16… #programming #compilers #programminglanguages

The next #dlang meeting will be Fri Feb 23 7pm at the Overlake Red Robin. We'll be determining who the Ring Bearer will be, so if you don't want to be selected, you'll need to attend.

I'm always amazed at how #dustmite can reduce a test case of terrifying complexity down to a few lines of code: github.com/dlang/dmd/pull/16… github.com/CyberShadow/DustM… #dlang #programming

Posted on the #dlang forums Jan 18: "Seriously, the reason I use D is precisely because it meets that perfect peak intersection on the graph between powerful and genuinely fun/enjoyable to work with. When I'm not doing commercial work in D, I have folder upon folder of little snippets and experiments I've done just to explore new ideas or try something entertaining or creative, because it's just that easy, and appealing, to jump right in and do it in D. Other languages haven't inspired me to that degree, and I'm one that rode the perl wagon for long after it should have turned around and headed back to civilization."