[clang] [Doc] Update documentation for no-transitive-change (PR #96453)
Chuanqi Xu via cfe-commits
cfe-commits at lists.llvm.org
Tue Jun 25 19:39:43 PDT 2024
https://github.com/ChuanqiXu9 updated https://github.com/llvm/llvm-project/pull/96453
>From a035ae25314f3168f73108988f2bb7671e7d9e7f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Chuanqi Xu <yedeng.yd at linux.alibaba.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:41:23 +0800
Subject: [PATCH 1/2] [Doc] Update documentation for no-transitive-change
---
clang/docs/ReleaseNotes.rst | 4 +
clang/docs/StandardCPlusPlusModules.rst | 128 ++++++++++++++++++++++++
2 files changed, 132 insertions(+)
diff --git a/clang/docs/ReleaseNotes.rst b/clang/docs/ReleaseNotes.rst
index 9c8f8c4a4fbaf..89e433870c9ff 100644
--- a/clang/docs/ReleaseNotes.rst
+++ b/clang/docs/ReleaseNotes.rst
@@ -229,6 +229,10 @@ C++20 Feature Support
will now work.
(#GH62925).
+- Clang refactored the BMI format to make it possible to support no transitive changes
+ mode for modules. See `StandardCPlusPlusModules <StandardCPlusPlusModules.html>`_ for
+ details.
+
C++23 Feature Support
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
diff --git a/clang/docs/StandardCPlusPlusModules.rst b/clang/docs/StandardCPlusPlusModules.rst
index 1c3c4d319c0e1..68854636e617d 100644
--- a/clang/docs/StandardCPlusPlusModules.rst
+++ b/clang/docs/StandardCPlusPlusModules.rst
@@ -652,6 +652,134 @@ in the future. The expected roadmap for Reduced BMIs as of Clang 19.x is:
comes, the term BMI will refer to the Reduced BMI and the Full BMI will only
be meaningful to build systems which elect to support two-phase compilation.
+Experimental No Transitive Change
+---------------------------------
+
+Starting with clang19.x, we introduced an experimental feature: the non-transitive
+change for modules, aimed at reducing unnecessary recompilations. For example,
+
+.. code-block:: c++
+
+ // m-partA.cppm
+ export module m:partA;
+
+ // m-partB.cppm
+ export module m:partB;
+ export int getB() { return 44; }
+
+ // m.cppm
+ export module m;
+ export import :partA;
+ export import :partB;
+
+ // useBOnly.cppm
+ export module useBOnly;
+ import m;
+ export int B() {
+ return getB();
+ }
+
+ // Use.cc
+ import useBOnly;
+ int get() {
+ return B();
+ }
+
+Now let's compile the project (For brevity, some commands are omitted.):
+
+.. code-block:: console
+
+ $ clang++ -std=c++20 m-partA.cppm --precompile -o m-partA.pcm
+ $ clang++ -std=c++20 m-partB.cppm --precompile -o m-partB.pcm
+ $ clang++ -std=c++20 m.cppm --precompile -o m.pcm -fprebuilt-module-path=.
+ $ clang++ -std=c++20 useBOnly.cppm --precompile -o useBOnly.pcm -fprebuilt-module-path=.
+ $ md5sum useBOnly.pcm
+ 07656bf4a6908626795729295f9608da useBOnly.pcm
+
+then let's change the interface of ``m-partA.cppm`` to:
+
+.. code-block:: c++
+
+ // m-partA.v1.cppm
+ export module m:partA;
+ export int getA() { return 43; }
+
+Let's compile the BMI for `useBOnly` again:
+
+.. code-block:: console
+
+ $ clang++ -std=c++20 m-partA.cppm --precompile -o m-partA.pcm
+ $ clang++ -std=c++20 m-partB.cppm --precompile -o m-partB.pcm
+ $ clang++ -std=c++20 m.cppm --precompile -o m.pcm -fprebuilt-module-path=.
+ $ clang++ -std=c++20 useBOnly.cppm --precompile -o useBOnly.pcm -fprebuilt-module-path=.
+ $ md5sum useBOnly.pcm
+ 07656bf4a6908626795729295f9608da useBOnly.pcm
+
+We observed that the contents of useBOnly.pcm remain unchanged.
+Consequently, if the build system bases recompilation decisions on directly imported modules only,
+it becomes possible to skip the recompilation of Use.cc.
+It should be fine because the altered interfaces do not affect Use.cc in any way.
+This concept is called as no transitive changes.
+
+When clang generates a BMI, it records the hash values of all potentially contributory BMIs
+into the currently written BMI. This ensures that build systems are not required to consider
+transitively imported modules when deciding on recompilations.
+
+The definition for potential contributory BMIs is implementation defined. We don't intend to
+display detailed rules for users. The contract is:
+
+1. It is a severe bug if a BMI remains unchanged erroneously following an observable change
+ that affects its users.
+2. It is an potential improvement opportunity if a BMI changes after an unobservable change
+ happens.
+
+We suggest build systems to support this feature as a configurable option for a long time.
+So that users can go back to the transitive change mode safely at any time.
+
+Interactions with Reduced BMI
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+With reduced BMI, the no transitive change feature can be more powerful if the change
+can be reduced. For example,
+
+.. code-block:: c++
+
+ // A.cppm
+ export module A;
+ export int a() { return 44; }
+
+ // B.cppm
+ export module B;
+ import A;
+ export int b() { return a(); }
+
+.. code-block:: console
+
+ $ clang++ -std=c++20 A.cppm -c -fmodule-output=A.pcm -fexperimental-modules-reduced-bmi -o A.o
+ $ clang++ -std=c++20 B.cppm -c -fmodule-output=B.pcm -fexperimental-modules-reduced-bmi -o B.o -fmodule-file=A=A.pcm
+ $md5sum B.pcm
+ 6c2bd452ca32ab418bf35cd141b060b9 B.pcm
+
+And let's change the implementation for ``A.cppm`` into:
+
+.. code-block:: c++
+
+ export module A;
+ int a_impl() { return 99; }
+ export int a() { return a_impl(); }
+
+and recompile the example:
+
+.. code-block:: console
+
+ $ clang++ -std=c++20 A.cppm -c -fmodule-output=A.pcm -fexperimental-modules-reduced-bmi -o A.o
+ $ clang++ -std=c++20 B.cppm -c -fmodule-output=B.pcm -fexperimental-modules-reduced-bmi -o B.o -fmodule-file=A=A.pcm
+ $md5sum B.pcm
+ 6c2bd452ca32ab418bf35cd141b060b9 B.pcm
+
+We should find the contents of ``B.pcm`` keeps the same. In such case, the build system is
+allowed to skip recompilations of TUs which solely and directly dependent on module B.
+
Performance Tips
----------------
>From 1856722bb5ce0e2f6f17efd135ff86277c346a5b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Chuanqi Xu <yedeng.yd at linux.alibaba.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2024 10:39:14 +0800
Subject: [PATCH 2/2] Update
---
clang/docs/ReleaseNotes.rst | 11 +++--
clang/docs/StandardCPlusPlusModules.rst | 53 ++++++++++++++-----------
2 files changed, 37 insertions(+), 27 deletions(-)
diff --git a/clang/docs/ReleaseNotes.rst b/clang/docs/ReleaseNotes.rst
index 89e433870c9ff..0fbdd807640b4 100644
--- a/clang/docs/ReleaseNotes.rst
+++ b/clang/docs/ReleaseNotes.rst
@@ -157,6 +157,13 @@ here. Generic improvements to Clang as a whole or to its underlying
infrastructure are described first, followed by language-specific
sections with improvements to Clang's support for those languages.
+- Clang implemented improvements to BMI of C++20 Modules that can reduce
+ the number of rebuilds during incremental recompilation. We are seeking
+ feedback from Build System authors and other interested users, especially
+ when you feel Clang changes the BMI and missses an opportunity to avoid
+ recompilations or causes correctness issues. See StandardCPlusPlusModules
+ `StandardCPlusPlusModules <StandardCPlusPlusModules.html>`_ for more details.
+
- The ``\par`` documentation comment command now supports an optional
argument, which denotes the header of the paragraph started by
an instance of the ``\par`` command comment. The implementation
@@ -229,10 +236,6 @@ C++20 Feature Support
will now work.
(#GH62925).
-- Clang refactored the BMI format to make it possible to support no transitive changes
- mode for modules. See `StandardCPlusPlusModules <StandardCPlusPlusModules.html>`_ for
- details.
-
C++23 Feature Support
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
diff --git a/clang/docs/StandardCPlusPlusModules.rst b/clang/docs/StandardCPlusPlusModules.rst
index 68854636e617d..e509cc303f5ed 100644
--- a/clang/docs/StandardCPlusPlusModules.rst
+++ b/clang/docs/StandardCPlusPlusModules.rst
@@ -655,8 +655,16 @@ in the future. The expected roadmap for Reduced BMIs as of Clang 19.x is:
Experimental No Transitive Change
---------------------------------
-Starting with clang19.x, we introduced an experimental feature: the non-transitive
-change for modules, aimed at reducing unnecessary recompilations. For example,
+This section is primarily for build system vendors. For end compiler users,
+if you don't want to read it all, this is helpful to reduce recompilations
+We encourage build system vendors and end users try this out and bring feedbacks
+
+Before Clang 19, a change in BMI of any (transitive) dependency would case the
+outputs of the BMI to change. Starting with Clang 19, changes to non-direct
+dependencies should not directly affect the output BMI, unless they affect the
+results of the compilations. We expect that there are many more opportunities
+for this optimization than we currently have realized and would appreaciate
+feedback about missed optimization opportunities. For example,
.. code-block:: c++
@@ -685,7 +693,7 @@ change for modules, aimed at reducing unnecessary recompilations. For example,
return B();
}
-Now let's compile the project (For brevity, some commands are omitted.):
+To compile the project (for brevity, some commands are omitted.):
.. code-block:: console
@@ -696,7 +704,7 @@ Now let's compile the project (For brevity, some commands are omitted.):
$ md5sum useBOnly.pcm
07656bf4a6908626795729295f9608da useBOnly.pcm
-then let's change the interface of ``m-partA.cppm`` to:
+If the interface of ``m-partA.cppm`` is changed to:
.. code-block:: c++
@@ -704,7 +712,7 @@ then let's change the interface of ``m-partA.cppm`` to:
export module m:partA;
export int getA() { return 43; }
-Let's compile the BMI for `useBOnly` again:
+and the BMI for ``useBOnly`` is recompiled as in:
.. code-block:: console
@@ -715,32 +723,27 @@ Let's compile the BMI for `useBOnly` again:
$ md5sum useBOnly.pcm
07656bf4a6908626795729295f9608da useBOnly.pcm
-We observed that the contents of useBOnly.pcm remain unchanged.
-Consequently, if the build system bases recompilation decisions on directly imported modules only,
-it becomes possible to skip the recompilation of Use.cc.
-It should be fine because the altered interfaces do not affect Use.cc in any way.
-This concept is called as no transitive changes.
+then the contents of ``useBOnly.pcm`` remain unchanged.
+Consequently, if the build system only bases recompilation decisions on directly imported modules,
+it becomes possible to skip the recompilation of ``Use.cc``.
+It should be fine because the altered interfaces do not affect ``Use.cc`` in any way;
+there are no transitive changes.
When clang generates a BMI, it records the hash values of all potentially contributory BMIs
-into the currently written BMI. This ensures that build systems are not required to consider
-transitively imported modules when deciding on recompilations.
-
-The definition for potential contributory BMIs is implementation defined. We don't intend to
-display detailed rules for users. The contract is:
+for the BMI being produced. This ensures that build systems are not required to consider
+transitively imported modules when deciding whether to recompile.
-1. It is a severe bug if a BMI remains unchanged erroneously following an observable change
- that affects its users.
-2. It is an potential improvement opportunity if a BMI changes after an unobservable change
- happens.
+What is considered to be a potential contributory BMIs is currently unspecified.
+However, it is a severe bug for a BMI to remain unchanged following an observable change
+that affects its consumers.
-We suggest build systems to support this feature as a configurable option for a long time.
-So that users can go back to the transitive change mode safely at any time.
+We recommend that build systems support this feature as a configurable option so that users
+can go back to the transitive change mode safely at any time.
Interactions with Reduced BMI
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-With reduced BMI, the no transitive change feature can be more powerful if the change
-can be reduced. For example,
+With reduced BMI, the no transitive change feature can be more powerful. For example,
.. code-block:: c++
@@ -780,6 +783,10 @@ and recompile the example:
We should find the contents of ``B.pcm`` keeps the same. In such case, the build system is
allowed to skip recompilations of TUs which solely and directly dependent on module B.
+This only happens with reduced BMI. Since with reduced BMI, we won't record the function body
+of ``int b()`` in the BMI for ``B`` so that the module A doesn't contribute to the BMI of ``B``
+and we have less dependencies.
+
Performance Tips
----------------
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