[llvm] r204351 - Re-factor TableGen docs
Renato Golin
renato.golin at linaro.org
Thu Mar 20 09:08:34 PDT 2014
Author: rengolin
Date: Thu Mar 20 11:08:34 2014
New Revision: 204351
URL: http://llvm.org/viewvc/llvm-project?rev=204351&view=rev
Log:
Re-factor TableGen docs
This is mainly a movement of content around to give place to new content
allowing different people to add bits to it in the right place. There is some
new content, but mostly to fill the gaps left by text movement.
I'm dropping the old syntax documentation as it has the problem of being
quickly outdated by changes and largely unnecessary to people not involved
in creating the language, but using it, which is the whole point of the
documentation.
Added:
llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/BackEnds.rst
llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/Deficiencies.rst
llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/index.rst
Modified:
llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/LangRef.rst
llvm/trunk/docs/index.rst
Added: llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/BackEnds.rst
URL: http://llvm.org/viewvc/llvm-project/llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/BackEnds.rst?rev=204351&view=auto
==============================================================================
--- llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/BackEnds.rst (added)
+++ llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/BackEnds.rst Thu Mar 20 11:08:34 2014
@@ -0,0 +1,281 @@
+=================
+TableGen BackEnds
+=================
+
+.. contents::
+ :local:
+
+Introduction
+============
+
+TableGen backends are at the core of TableGen's functionality. The source files
+provide the semantics to a generated (in memory) structure, but it's up to the
+backend to print this out in a way that is meaningful to the user (normally a
+C program including a file or a textual list of warnings, options and error
+messages).
+
+TableGen is used by both LLVM and Clang with very different goals. LLVM uses it
+as a way to automate the generation of massive amounts of information regarding
+instructions, schedules, cores and architecture features. Some backends generate
+output that is consumed by more than one source file, so they need to be created
+in a way that is easy to use pre-processor tricks. Some backends can also print
+C code structures, so that they can be directly included as-is.
+
+Clang, on the other hand, uses it mainly for diagnostic messages (errors,
+warnings, tips) and attributes, so more on the textual end of the scale.
+
+LLVM BackEnds
+=============
+
+.. warning::
+ This document is raw. Each section below needs three sub-sections: description
+ of its purpose with a list of users, output generated from generic input, and
+ finally why it needed a new backend (in case there's something similar).
+
+Emitter
+-------
+
+Generate machine code emitter.
+
+RegisterInfo
+------------
+
+Generate registers and register classes info.
+
+InstrInfo
+---------
+
+Generate instruction descriptions.
+
+AsmWriter
+---------
+
+Generate calling convention descriptions.
+
+AsmMatcher
+----------
+
+Generate assembly writer.
+
+Disassembler
+------------
+
+Generate disassembler.
+
+PseudoLowering
+--------------
+
+Generate pseudo instruction lowering.
+
+CallingConv
+-----------
+
+Generate assembly instruction matcher.
+
+DAGISel
+-------
+
+Generate a DAG instruction selector.
+
+DFAPacketizer
+-------------
+
+Generate DFA Packetizer for VLIW targets.
+
+FastISel
+--------
+
+Generate a "fast" instruction selector.
+
+Subtarget
+---------
+
+Generate subtarget enumerations.
+
+Intrinsic
+---------
+
+Generate intrinsic information.
+
+TgtIntrinsic
+------------
+
+Generate target intrinsic information.
+
+OptParserDefs
+-------------
+
+Print enum values for a class.
+
+CTags
+-----
+
+Generate ctags-compatible index.
+
+
+Clang BackEnds
+==============
+
+ClangAttrClasses
+----------------
+
+Generate clang attribute clases.
+
+ClangAttrParserStringSwitches
+-----------------------------
+
+Generate all parser-related attribute string switches.
+
+ClangAttrImpl
+-------------
+
+Generate clang attribute implementations.
+
+ClangAttrList
+-------------
+
+Generate a clang attribute list.
+
+ClangAttrPCHRead
+----------------
+
+Generate clang PCH attribute reader.
+
+ClangAttrPCHWrite
+-----------------
+
+Generate clang PCH attribute writer.
+
+ClangAttrSpellingList
+---------------------
+
+Generate a clang attribute spelling list.
+
+ClangAttrSpellingListIndex
+--------------------------
+
+Generate a clang attribute spelling index.
+
+ClangAttrASTVisitor
+-------------------
+
+Generate a recursive AST visitor for clang attribute.
+
+ClangAttrTemplateInstantiate
+----------------------------
+
+Generate a clang template instantiate code.
+
+ClangAttrParsedAttrList
+-----------------------
+
+Generate a clang parsed attribute list.
+
+ClangAttrParsedAttrImpl
+-----------------------
+
+Generate the clang parsed attribute helpers.
+
+ClangAttrParsedAttrKinds
+------------------------
+
+Generate a clang parsed attribute kinds.
+
+ClangAttrDump
+-------------
+
+Generate clang attribute dumper.
+
+ClangDiagsDefs
+--------------
+
+Generate Clang diagnostics definitions.
+
+ClangDiagGroups
+---------------
+
+Generate Clang diagnostic groups.
+
+ClangDiagsIndexName
+-------------------
+
+Generate Clang diagnostic name index.
+
+ClangCommentNodes
+-----------------
+
+Generate Clang AST comment nodes.
+
+ClangDeclNodes
+--------------
+
+Generate Clang AST declaration nodes.
+
+ClangStmtNodes
+--------------
+
+Generate Clang AST statement nodes.
+
+ClangSACheckers
+---------------
+
+Generate Clang Static Analyzer checkers.
+
+ClangCommentHTMLTags
+--------------------
+
+Generate efficient matchers for HTML tag names that are used in documentation comments.
+
+ClangCommentHTMLTagsProperties
+------------------------------
+
+Generate efficient matchers for HTML tag properties.
+
+ClangCommentHTMLNamedCharacterReferences
+----------------------------------------
+
+Generate function to translate named character references to UTF-8 sequences.
+
+ClangCommentCommandInfo
+-----------------------
+
+Generate command properties for commands that are used in documentation comments.
+
+ClangCommentCommandList
+-----------------------
+
+Generate list of commands that are used in documentation comments.
+
+ArmNeon
+-------
+
+Generate arm_neon.h for clang.
+
+ArmNeonSema
+-----------
+
+Generate ARM NEON sema support for clang.
+
+ArmNeonTest
+-----------
+
+Generate ARM NEON tests for clang.
+
+AttrDocs
+--------
+
+Generate attribute documentation.
+
+How to write a back-end
+=======================
+
+TODO.
+
+Until we get a step-by-step HowTo for writing TableGen backends, you can at
+least grab the boilerplate (build system, new files, etc.) from Clang's
+r173931.
+
+TODO: How they work, how to write one. This section should not contain details
+about any particular backend, except maybe ``-print-enums`` as an example. This
+should highlight the APIs in ``TableGen/Record.h``.
+
Added: llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/Deficiencies.rst
URL: http://llvm.org/viewvc/llvm-project/llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/Deficiencies.rst?rev=204351&view=auto
==============================================================================
--- llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/Deficiencies.rst (added)
+++ llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/Deficiencies.rst Thu Mar 20 11:08:34 2014
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+=====================
+TableGen Deficiencies
+=====================
+
+.. contents::
+ :local:
+
+Introduction
+============
+
+Despite being very generic, TableGen has some deficiencies that have been
+pointed out numerous times. The common theme is that, while TableGen allows
+you to build Domain-Specific-Languages, the final languages that you create
+lack the power of other DSLs, which in turn increase considerably the size
+and complexity of TableGen files.
+
+At the same time, TableGen allows you to create virtually any meaning of
+the basic concepts via custom-made back-ends, which can pervert the original
+design and make it very hard for newcomers to understand it.
+
+There are some in favour of extending the semantics even more, but making sure
+back-ends adhere to strict rules. Others suggesting we should move to more
+powerful DSLs designed with specific purposes, or even re-using existing
+DSLs.
+
+Known Problems
+==============
+
+TODO: Add here frequently asked questions about why TableGen doesn't do
+what you want, how it might, and how we could extend/restrict it to
+be more use friendly.
Modified: llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/LangRef.rst
URL: http://llvm.org/viewvc/llvm-project/llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/LangRef.rst?rev=204351&r1=204350&r2=204351&view=diff
==============================================================================
--- llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/LangRef.rst (original)
+++ llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/LangRef.rst Thu Mar 20 11:08:34 2014
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
TableGen Language Reference
===========================
-.. sectionauthor:: Sean Silva <silvas at purdue.edu>
-
.. contents::
:local:
@@ -18,369 +16,587 @@ This document is meant to be a normative
in and of itself (i.e. how to understand a given construct in terms of how
it affects the final set of records represented by the TableGen file). If
you are unsure if this document is really what you are looking for, please
-read :doc:`/TableGenFundamentals` first.
-
-Notation
-========
-
-The lexical and syntax notation used here is intended to imitate
-`Python's`_. In particular, for lexical definitions, the productions
-operate at the character level and there is no implied whitespace between
-elements. The syntax definitions operate at the token level, so there is
-implied whitespace between tokens.
-
-.. _`Python's`: http://docs.python.org/py3k/reference/introduction.html#notation
-
-Lexical Analysis
-================
-
-TableGen supports BCPL (``// ...``) and nestable C-style (``/* ... */``)
-comments.
-
-The following is a listing of the basic punctuation tokens::
-
- - + [ ] { } ( ) < > : ; . = ? #
-
-Numeric literals take one of the following forms:
-
-.. TableGen actually will lex some pretty strange sequences an interpret
- them as numbers. What is shown here is an attempt to approximate what it
- "should" accept.
-
-.. productionlist::
- TokInteger: `DecimalInteger` | `HexInteger` | `BinInteger`
- DecimalInteger: ["+" | "-"] ("0"..."9")+
- HexInteger: "0x" ("0"..."9" | "a"..."f" | "A"..."F")+
- BinInteger: "0b" ("0" | "1")+
-
-One aspect to note is that the :token:`DecimalInteger` token *includes* the
-``+`` or ``-``, as opposed to having ``+`` and ``-`` be unary operators as
-most languages do.
-
-TableGen has identifier-like tokens:
-
-.. productionlist::
- ualpha: "a"..."z" | "A"..."Z" | "_"
- TokIdentifier: ("0"..."9")* `ualpha` (`ualpha` | "0"..."9")*
- TokVarName: "$" `ualpha` (`ualpha` | "0"..."9")*
-
-Note that unlike most languages, TableGen allows :token:`TokIdentifier` to
-begin with a number. In case of ambiguity, a token will be interpreted as a
-numeric literal rather than an identifier.
-
-TableGen also has two string-like literals:
-
-.. productionlist::
- TokString: '"' <non-'"' characters and C-like escapes> '"'
- TokCodeFragment: "[{" <shortest text not containing "}]"> "}]"
-
-:token:`TokCodeFragment` is essentially a multiline string literal
-delimited by ``[{`` and ``}]``.
-
-.. note::
- The current implementation accepts the following C-like escapes::
-
- \\ \' \" \t \n
-
-TableGen also has the following keywords::
-
- bit bits class code dag
- def foreach defm field in
- int let list multiclass string
-
-TableGen also has "bang operators" which have a
-wide variety of meanings:
-
-.. productionlist::
- BangOperator: one of
- :!eq !if !head !tail !con
- :!add !shl !sra !srl
- :!cast !empty !subst !foreach !strconcat
-
-Syntax
-======
-
-TableGen has an ``include`` mechanism. It does not play a role in the
-syntax per se, since it is lexically replaced with the contents of the
-included file.
-
-.. productionlist::
- IncludeDirective: "include" `TokString`
-
-TableGen's top-level production consists of "objects".
-
-.. productionlist::
- TableGenFile: `Object`*
- Object: `Class` | `Def` | `Defm` | `Let` | `MultiClass` | `Foreach`
-
-``class``\es
-------------
-
-.. productionlist::
- Class: "class" `TokIdentifier` [`TemplateArgList`] `ObjectBody`
-
-A ``class`` declaration creates a record which other records can inherit
-from. A class can be parametrized by a list of "template arguments", whose
-values can be used in the class body.
-
-A given class can only be defined once. A ``class`` declaration is
-considered to define the class if any of the following is true:
-
-.. break ObjectBody into its consituents so that they are present here?
-
-#. The :token:`TemplateArgList` is present.
-#. The :token:`Body` in the :token:`ObjectBody` is present and is not empty.
-#. The :token:`BaseClassList` in the :token:`ObjectBody` is present.
-
-You can declare an empty class by giving and empty :token:`TemplateArgList`
-and an empty :token:`ObjectBody`. This can serve as a restricted form of
-forward declaration: note that records deriving from the forward-declared
-class will inherit no fields from it since the record expansion is done
-when the record is parsed.
-
-.. productionlist::
- TemplateArgList: "<" `Declaration` ("," `Declaration`)* ">"
-
-Declarations
-------------
-
-.. Omitting mention of arcane "field" prefix to discourage its use.
-
-The declaration syntax is pretty much what you would expect as a C++
-programmer.
-
-.. productionlist::
- Declaration: `Type` `TokIdentifier` ["=" `Value`]
-
-It assigns the value to the identifer.
-
-Types
------
-
-.. productionlist::
- Type: "string" | "code" | "bit" | "int" | "dag"
- :| "bits" "<" `TokInteger` ">"
- :| "list" "<" `Type` ">"
- :| `ClassID`
- ClassID: `TokIdentifier`
-
-Both ``string`` and ``code`` correspond to the string type; the difference
-is purely to indicate programmer intention.
-
-The :token:`ClassID` must identify a class that has been previously
-declared or defined.
-
-Values
-------
-
-.. productionlist::
- Value: `SimpleValue` `ValueSuffix`*
- ValueSuffix: "{" `RangeList` "}"
- :| "[" `RangeList` "]"
- :| "." `TokIdentifier`
- RangeList: `RangePiece` ("," `RangePiece`)*
- RangePiece: `TokInteger`
- :| `TokInteger` "-" `TokInteger`
- :| `TokInteger` `TokInteger`
-
-The peculiar last form of :token:`RangePiece` is due to the fact that the
-"``-``" is included in the :token:`TokInteger`, hence ``1-5`` gets lexed as
-two consecutive :token:`TokInteger`'s, with values ``1`` and ``-5``,
-instead of "1", "-", and "5".
-The :token:`RangeList` can be thought of as specifying "list slice" in some
-contexts.
-
+read :doc:`the introduction <index>` first.
-:token:`SimpleValue` has a number of forms:
+TableGen syntax
+===============
+TableGen doesn't care about the meaning of data (that is up to the backend to
+define), but it does care about syntax, and it enforces a simple type system.
+This section describes the syntax and the constructs allowed in a TableGen file.
+
+TableGen primitives
+-------------------
+
+TableGen comments
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+TableGen supports C++ style "``//``" comments, which run to the end of the
+line, and it also supports **nestable** "``/* */``" comments.
+
+.. _TableGen type:
+
+The TableGen type system
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+TableGen files are strongly typed, in a simple (but complete) type-system.
+These types are used to perform automatic conversions, check for errors, and to
+help interface designers constrain the input that they allow. Every `value
+definition`_ is required to have an associated type.
+
+TableGen supports a mixture of very low-level types (such as ``bit``) and very
+high-level types (such as ``dag``). This flexibility is what allows it to
+describe a wide range of information conveniently and compactly. The TableGen
+types are:
+
+``bit``
+ A 'bit' is a boolean value that can hold either 0 or 1.
+
+``int``
+ The 'int' type represents a simple 32-bit integer value, such as 5.
+
+``string``
+ The 'string' type represents an ordered sequence of characters of arbitrary
+ length.
+
+``bits<n>``
+ A 'bits' type is an arbitrary, but fixed, size integer that is broken up
+ into individual bits. This type is useful because it can handle some bits
+ being defined while others are undefined.
+
+``list<ty>``
+ This type represents a list whose elements are some other type. The
+ contained type is arbitrary: it can even be another list type.
+
+Class type
+ Specifying a class name in a type context means that the defined value must
+ be a subclass of the specified class. This is useful in conjunction with
+ the ``list`` type, for example, to constrain the elements of the list to a
+ common base class (e.g., a ``list<Register>`` can only contain definitions
+ derived from the "``Register``" class).
+
+``dag``
+ This type represents a nestable directed graph of elements.
+
+To date, these types have been sufficient for describing things that TableGen
+has been used for, but it is straight-forward to extend this list if needed.
+
+.. _TableGen expressions:
+
+TableGen values and expressions
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+TableGen allows for a pretty reasonable number of different expression forms
+when building up values. These forms allow the TableGen file to be written in a
+natural syntax and flavor for the application. The current expression forms
+supported include:
+
+``?``
+ uninitialized field
+
+``0b1001011``
+ binary integer value
+
+``07654321``
+ octal integer value (indicated by a leading 0)
+
+``7``
+ decimal integer value
+
+``0x7F``
+ hexadecimal integer value
+
+``"foo"``
+ string value
+
+``[{ ... }]``
+ usually called a "code fragment", but is just a multiline string literal
+
+``[ X, Y, Z ]<type>``
+ list value. <type> is the type of the list element and is usually optional.
+ In rare cases, TableGen is unable to deduce the element type in which case
+ the user must specify it explicitly.
+
+``{ a, b, c }``
+ initializer for a "bits<3>" value
+
+``value``
+ value reference
+
+``value{17}``
+ access to one bit of a value
+
+``value{15-17}``
+ access to multiple bits of a value
+
+``DEF``
+ reference to a record definition
+
+``CLASS<val list>``
+ reference to a new anonymous definition of CLASS with the specified template
+ arguments.
+
+``X.Y``
+ reference to the subfield of a value
+
+``list[4-7,17,2-3]``
+ A slice of the 'list' list, including elements 4,5,6,7,17,2, and 3 from it.
+ Elements may be included multiple times.
+
+``foreach <var> = [ <list> ] in { <body> }``
+
+``foreach <var> = [ <list> ] in <def>``
+ Replicate <body> or <def>, replacing instances of <var> with each value
+ in <list>. <var> is scoped at the level of the ``foreach`` loop and must
+ not conflict with any other object introduced in <body> or <def>. Currently
+ only ``def``\s are expanded within <body>.
+
+``foreach <var> = 0-15 in ...``
+
+``foreach <var> = {0-15,32-47} in ...``
+ Loop over ranges of integers. The braces are required for multiple ranges.
+
+``(DEF a, b)``
+ a dag value. The first element is required to be a record definition, the
+ remaining elements in the list may be arbitrary other values, including
+ nested ```dag``' values.
+
+``!strconcat(a, b)``
+ A string value that is the result of concatenating the 'a' and 'b' strings.
+
+``str1#str2``
+ "#" (paste) is a shorthand for !strconcat. It may concatenate things that
+ are not quoted strings, in which case an implicit !cast<string> is done on
+ the operand of the paste.
+
+``!cast<type>(a)``
+ A symbol of type *type* obtained by looking up the string 'a' in the symbol
+ table. If the type of 'a' does not match *type*, TableGen aborts with an
+ error. !cast<string> is a special case in that the argument must be an
+ object defined by a 'def' construct.
+
+``!subst(a, b, c)``
+ If 'a' and 'b' are of string type or are symbol references, substitute 'b'
+ for 'a' in 'c.' This operation is analogous to $(subst) in GNU make.
+
+``!foreach(a, b, c)``
+ For each member 'b' of dag or list 'a' apply operator 'c.' 'b' is a dummy
+ variable that should be declared as a member variable of an instantiated
+ class. This operation is analogous to $(foreach) in GNU make.
+
+``!head(a)``
+ The first element of list 'a.'
+
+``!tail(a)``
+ The 2nd-N elements of list 'a.'
+
+``!empty(a)``
+ An integer {0,1} indicating whether list 'a' is empty.
+
+``!if(a,b,c)``
+ 'b' if the result of 'int' or 'bit' operator 'a' is nonzero, 'c' otherwise.
+
+``!eq(a,b)``
+ 'bit 1' if string a is equal to string b, 0 otherwise. This only operates
+ on string, int and bit objects. Use !cast<string> to compare other types of
+ objects.
+
+Note that all of the values have rules specifying how they convert to values
+for different types. These rules allow you to assign a value like "``7``"
+to a "``bits<4>``" value, for example.
+
+Classes and definitions
+-----------------------
+
+As mentioned in the :doc:`introduction <index>`, classes and definitions (collectively known as
+'records') in TableGen are the main high-level unit of information that TableGen
+collects. Records are defined with a ``def`` or ``class`` keyword, the record
+name, and an optional list of "`template arguments`_". If the record has
+superclasses, they are specified as a comma separated list that starts with a
+colon character ("``:``"). If `value definitions`_ or `let expressions`_ are
+needed for the class, they are enclosed in curly braces ("``{}``"); otherwise,
+the record ends with a semicolon.
+
+Here is a simple TableGen file:
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ class C { bit V = 1; }
+ def X : C;
+ def Y : C {
+ string Greeting = "hello";
+ }
+
+This example defines two definitions, ``X`` and ``Y``, both of which derive from
+the ``C`` class. Because of this, they both get the ``V`` bit value. The ``Y``
+definition also gets the Greeting member as well.
+
+In general, classes are useful for collecting together the commonality between a
+group of records and isolating it in a single place. Also, classes permit the
+specification of default values for their subclasses, allowing the subclasses to
+override them as they wish.
+
+.. _value definition:
+.. _value definitions:
+
+Value definitions
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Value definitions define named entries in records. A value must be defined
+before it can be referred to as the operand for another value definition or
+before the value is reset with a `let expression`_. A value is defined by
+specifying a `TableGen type`_ and a name. If an initial value is available, it
+may be specified after the type with an equal sign. Value definitions require
+terminating semicolons.
+
+.. _let expression:
+.. _let expressions:
+.. _"let" expressions within a record:
+
+'let' expressions
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+A record-level let expression is used to change the value of a value definition
+in a record. This is primarily useful when a superclass defines a value that a
+derived class or definition wants to override. Let expressions consist of the
+'``let``' keyword followed by a value name, an equal sign ("``=``"), and a new
+value. For example, a new class could be added to the example above, redefining
+the ``V`` field for all of its subclasses:
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ class D : C { let V = 0; }
+ def Z : D;
+
+In this case, the ``Z`` definition will have a zero value for its ``V`` value,
+despite the fact that it derives (indirectly) from the ``C`` class, because the
+``D`` class overrode its value.
+
+.. _template arguments:
+
+Class template arguments
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+TableGen permits the definition of parameterized classes as well as normal
+concrete classes. Parameterized TableGen classes specify a list of variable
+bindings (which may optionally have defaults) that are bound when used. Here is
+a simple example:
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ class FPFormat<bits<3> val> {
+ bits<3> Value = val;
+ }
+ def NotFP : FPFormat<0>;
+ def ZeroArgFP : FPFormat<1>;
+ def OneArgFP : FPFormat<2>;
+ def OneArgFPRW : FPFormat<3>;
+ def TwoArgFP : FPFormat<4>;
+ def CompareFP : FPFormat<5>;
+ def CondMovFP : FPFormat<6>;
+ def SpecialFP : FPFormat<7>;
+
+In this case, template arguments are used as a space efficient way to specify a
+list of "enumeration values", each with a "``Value``" field set to the specified
+integer.
+
+The more esoteric forms of `TableGen expressions`_ are useful in conjunction
+with template arguments. As an example:
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ class ModRefVal<bits<2> val> {
+ bits<2> Value = val;
+ }
+
+ def None : ModRefVal<0>;
+ def Mod : ModRefVal<1>;
+ def Ref : ModRefVal<2>;
+ def ModRef : ModRefVal<3>;
+
+ class Value<ModRefVal MR> {
+ // Decode some information into a more convenient format, while providing
+ // a nice interface to the user of the "Value" class.
+ bit isMod = MR.Value{0};
+ bit isRef = MR.Value{1};
+
+ // other stuff...
+ }
+
+ // Example uses
+ def bork : Value<Mod>;
+ def zork : Value<Ref>;
+ def hork : Value<ModRef>;
+
+This is obviously a contrived example, but it shows how template arguments can
+be used to decouple the interface provided to the user of the class from the
+actual internal data representation expected by the class. In this case,
+running ``llvm-tblgen`` on the example prints the following definitions:
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ def bork { // Value
+ bit isMod = 1;
+ bit isRef = 0;
+ }
+ def hork { // Value
+ bit isMod = 1;
+ bit isRef = 1;
+ }
+ def zork { // Value
+ bit isMod = 0;
+ bit isRef = 1;
+ }
+
+This shows that TableGen was able to dig into the argument and extract a piece
+of information that was requested by the designer of the "Value" class. For
+more realistic examples, please see existing users of TableGen, such as the X86
+backend.
+
+Multiclass definitions and instances
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+While classes with template arguments are a good way to factor commonality
+between two instances of a definition, multiclasses allow a convenient notation
+for defining multiple definitions at once (instances of implicitly constructed
+classes). For example, consider an 3-address instruction set whose instructions
+come in two forms: "``reg = reg op reg``" and "``reg = reg op imm``"
+(e.g. SPARC). In this case, you'd like to specify in one place that this
+commonality exists, then in a separate place indicate what all the ops are.
+
+Here is an example TableGen fragment that shows this idea:
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ def ops;
+ def GPR;
+ def Imm;
+ class inst<int opc, string asmstr, dag operandlist>;
+
+ multiclass ri_inst<int opc, string asmstr> {
+ def _rr : inst<opc, !strconcat(asmstr, " $dst, $src1, $src2"),
+ (ops GPR:$dst, GPR:$src1, GPR:$src2)>;
+ def _ri : inst<opc, !strconcat(asmstr, " $dst, $src1, $src2"),
+ (ops GPR:$dst, GPR:$src1, Imm:$src2)>;
+ }
+
+ // Instantiations of the ri_inst multiclass.
+ defm ADD : ri_inst<0b111, "add">;
+ defm SUB : ri_inst<0b101, "sub">;
+ defm MUL : ri_inst<0b100, "mul">;
+ ...
+
+The name of the resultant definitions has the multidef fragment names appended
+to them, so this defines ``ADD_rr``, ``ADD_ri``, ``SUB_rr``, etc. A defm may
+inherit from multiple multiclasses, instantiating definitions from each
+multiclass. Using a multiclass this way is exactly equivalent to instantiating
+the classes multiple times yourself, e.g. by writing:
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ def ops;
+ def GPR;
+ def Imm;
+ class inst<int opc, string asmstr, dag operandlist>;
+
+ class rrinst<int opc, string asmstr>
+ : inst<opc, !strconcat(asmstr, " $dst, $src1, $src2"),
+ (ops GPR:$dst, GPR:$src1, GPR:$src2)>;
+
+ class riinst<int opc, string asmstr>
+ : inst<opc, !strconcat(asmstr, " $dst, $src1, $src2"),
+ (ops GPR:$dst, GPR:$src1, Imm:$src2)>;
+
+ // Instantiations of the ri_inst multiclass.
+ def ADD_rr : rrinst<0b111, "add">;
+ def ADD_ri : riinst<0b111, "add">;
+ def SUB_rr : rrinst<0b101, "sub">;
+ def SUB_ri : riinst<0b101, "sub">;
+ def MUL_rr : rrinst<0b100, "mul">;
+ def MUL_ri : riinst<0b100, "mul">;
+ ...
+
+A ``defm`` can also be used inside a multiclass providing several levels of
+multiclass instantiations.
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ class Instruction<bits<4> opc, string Name> {
+ bits<4> opcode = opc;
+ string name = Name;
+ }
+
+ multiclass basic_r<bits<4> opc> {
+ def rr : Instruction<opc, "rr">;
+ def rm : Instruction<opc, "rm">;
+ }
+
+ multiclass basic_s<bits<4> opc> {
+ defm SS : basic_r<opc>;
+ defm SD : basic_r<opc>;
+ def X : Instruction<opc, "x">;
+ }
+
+ multiclass basic_p<bits<4> opc> {
+ defm PS : basic_r<opc>;
+ defm PD : basic_r<opc>;
+ def Y : Instruction<opc, "y">;
+ }
+
+ defm ADD : basic_s<0xf>, basic_p<0xf>;
+ ...
+
+ // Results
+ def ADDPDrm { ...
+ def ADDPDrr { ...
+ def ADDPSrm { ...
+ def ADDPSrr { ...
+ def ADDSDrm { ...
+ def ADDSDrr { ...
+ def ADDY { ...
+ def ADDX { ...
+
+``defm`` declarations can inherit from classes too, the rule to follow is that
+the class list must start after the last multiclass, and there must be at least
+one multiclass before them.
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ class XD { bits<4> Prefix = 11; }
+ class XS { bits<4> Prefix = 12; }
+
+ class I<bits<4> op> {
+ bits<4> opcode = op;
+ }
+
+ multiclass R {
+ def rr : I<4>;
+ def rm : I<2>;
+ }
+
+ multiclass Y {
+ defm SS : R, XD;
+ defm SD : R, XS;
+ }
+
+ defm Instr : Y;
+
+ // Results
+ def InstrSDrm {
+ bits<4> opcode = { 0, 0, 1, 0 };
+ bits<4> Prefix = { 1, 1, 0, 0 };
+ }
+ ...
+ def InstrSSrr {
+ bits<4> opcode = { 0, 1, 0, 0 };
+ bits<4> Prefix = { 1, 0, 1, 1 };
+ }
+
+File scope entities
+-------------------
+
+File inclusion
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+TableGen supports the '``include``' token, which textually substitutes the
+specified file in place of the include directive. The filename should be
+specified as a double quoted string immediately after the '``include``' keyword.
+Example:
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ include "foo.td"
+
+'let' expressions
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+"Let" expressions at file scope are similar to `"let" expressions within a
+record`_, except they can specify a value binding for multiple records at a
+time, and may be useful in certain other cases. File-scope let expressions are
+really just another way that TableGen allows the end-user to factor out
+commonality from the records.
+
+File-scope "let" expressions take a comma-separated list of bindings to apply,
+and one or more records to bind the values in. Here are some examples:
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ let isTerminator = 1, isReturn = 1, isBarrier = 1, hasCtrlDep = 1 in
+ def RET : I<0xC3, RawFrm, (outs), (ins), "ret", [(X86retflag 0)]>;
+
+ let isCall = 1 in
+ // All calls clobber the non-callee saved registers...
+ let Defs = [EAX, ECX, EDX, FP0, FP1, FP2, FP3, FP4, FP5, FP6, ST0,
+ MM0, MM1, MM2, MM3, MM4, MM5, MM6, MM7,
+ XMM0, XMM1, XMM2, XMM3, XMM4, XMM5, XMM6, XMM7, EFLAGS] in {
+ def CALLpcrel32 : Ii32<0xE8, RawFrm, (outs), (ins i32imm:$dst,variable_ops),
+ "call\t${dst:call}", []>;
+ def CALL32r : I<0xFF, MRM2r, (outs), (ins GR32:$dst, variable_ops),
+ "call\t{*}$dst", [(X86call GR32:$dst)]>;
+ def CALL32m : I<0xFF, MRM2m, (outs), (ins i32mem:$dst, variable_ops),
+ "call\t{*}$dst", []>;
+ }
+
+File-scope "let" expressions are often useful when a couple of definitions need
+to be added to several records, and the records do not otherwise need to be
+opened, as in the case with the ``CALL*`` instructions above.
+
+It's also possible to use "let" expressions inside multiclasses, providing more
+ways to factor out commonality from the records, specially if using several
+levels of multiclass instantiations. This also avoids the need of using "let"
+expressions within subsequent records inside a multiclass.
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ multiclass basic_r<bits<4> opc> {
+ let Predicates = [HasSSE2] in {
+ def rr : Instruction<opc, "rr">;
+ def rm : Instruction<opc, "rm">;
+ }
+ let Predicates = [HasSSE3] in
+ def rx : Instruction<opc, "rx">;
+ }
+
+ multiclass basic_ss<bits<4> opc> {
+ let IsDouble = 0 in
+ defm SS : basic_r<opc>;
+
+ let IsDouble = 1 in
+ defm SD : basic_r<opc>;
+ }
+
+ defm ADD : basic_ss<0xf>;
+
+Looping
+^^^^^^^
+
+TableGen supports the '``foreach``' block, which textually replicates the loop
+body, substituting iterator values for iterator references in the body.
+Example:
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ foreach i = [0, 1, 2, 3] in {
+ def R#i : Register<...>;
+ def F#i : Register<...>;
+ }
+
+This will create objects ``R0``, ``R1``, ``R2`` and ``R3``. ``foreach`` blocks
+may be nested. If there is only one item in the body the braces may be
+elided:
-.. productionlist::
- SimpleValue: `TokIdentifier`
+.. code-block:: llvm
-The value will be the variable referenced by the identifier. It can be one
-of:
+ foreach i = [0, 1, 2, 3] in
+ def R#i : Register<...>;
-.. The code for this is exceptionally abstruse. These examples are a
- best-effort attempt.
-
-* name of a ``def``, such as the use of ``Bar`` in::
-
- def Bar : SomeClass {
- int X = 5;
- }
-
- def Foo {
- SomeClass Baz = Bar;
- }
-
-* value local to a ``def``, such as the use of ``Bar`` in::
-
- def Foo {
- int Bar = 5;
- int Baz = Bar;
- }
-
-* a template arg of a ``class``, such as the use of ``Bar`` in::
-
- class Foo<int Bar> {
- int Baz = Bar;
- }
-
-* value local to a ``multiclass``, such as the use of ``Bar`` in::
-
- multiclass Foo {
- int Bar = 5;
- int Baz = Bar;
- }
-
-* a template arg to a ``multiclass``, such as the use of ``Bar`` in::
-
- multiclass Foo<int Bar> {
- int Baz = Bar;
- }
-
-.. productionlist::
- SimpleValue: `TokInteger`
-
-This represents the numeric value of the integer.
-
-.. productionlist::
- SimpleValue: `TokString`+
-
-Multiple adjacent string literals are concatenated like in C/C++. The value
-is the concatenation of the strings.
-
-.. productionlist::
- SimpleValue: `TokCodeFragment`
-
-The value is the string value of the code fragment.
-
-.. productionlist::
- SimpleValue: "?"
-
-``?`` represents an "unset" initializer.
-
-.. productionlist::
- SimpleValue: "{" `ValueList` "}"
- ValueList: [`ValueListNE`]
- ValueListNE: `Value` ("," `Value`)*
-
-This represents a sequence of bits, as would be used to initialize a
-``bits<n>`` field (where ``n`` is the number of bits).
-
-.. productionlist::
- SimpleValue: `ClassID` "<" `ValueListNE` ">"
-
-This generates a new anonymous record definition (as would be created by an
-unnamed ``def`` inheriting from the given class with the given template
-arguments) and the value is the value of that record definition.
-
-.. productionlist::
- SimpleValue: "[" `ValueList` "]" ["<" `Type` ">"]
-
-A list initializer. The optional :token:`Type` can be used to indicate a
-specific element type, otherwise the element type will be deduced from the
-given values.
-
-.. The initial `DagArg` of the dag must start with an identifier or
- !cast, but this is more of an implementation detail and so for now just
- leave it out.
-
-.. productionlist::
- SimpleValue: "(" `DagArg` `DagArgList` ")"
- DagArgList: `DagArg` ("," `DagArg`)*
- DagArg: `Value` [":" `TokVarName`] | `TokVarName`
-
-The initial :token:`DagArg` is called the "operator" of the dag.
-
-.. productionlist::
- SimpleValue: `BangOperator` ["<" `Type` ">"] "(" `ValueListNE` ")"
-
-Bodies
-------
-
-.. productionlist::
- ObjectBody: `BaseClassList` `Body`
- BaseClassList: [":" `BaseClassListNE`]
- BaseClassListNE: `SubClassRef` ("," `SubClassRef`)*
- SubClassRef: (`ClassID` | `MultiClassID`) ["<" `ValueList` ">"]
- DefmID: `TokIdentifier`
-
-The version with the :token:`MultiClassID` is only valid in the
-:token:`BaseClassList` of a ``defm``.
-The :token:`MultiClassID` should be the name of a ``multiclass``.
-
-.. put this somewhere else
-
-It is after parsing the base class list that the "let stack" is applied.
-
-.. productionlist::
- Body: ";" | "{" BodyList "}"
- BodyList: BodyItem*
- BodyItem: `Declaration` ";"
- :| "let" `TokIdentifier` [`RangeList`] "=" `Value` ";"
-
-The ``let`` form allows overriding the value of an inherited field.
-
-``def``
--------
-
-.. TODO::
- There can be pastes in the names here, like ``#NAME#``. Look into that
- and document it (it boils down to ParseIDValue with IDParseMode ==
- ParseNameMode). ParseObjectName calls into the general ParseValue, with
- the only different from "arbitrary expression parsing" being IDParseMode
- == Mode.
-
-.. productionlist::
- Def: "def" `TokIdentifier` `ObjectBody`
-
-Defines a record whose name is given by the :token:`TokIdentifier`. The
-fields of the record are inherited from the base classes and defined in the
-body.
-
-Special handling occurs if this ``def`` appears inside a ``multiclass`` or
-a ``foreach``.
-
-``defm``
---------
-
-.. productionlist::
- Defm: "defm" `TokIdentifier` ":" `BaseClassListNE` ";"
-
-Note that in the :token:`BaseClassList`, all of the ``multiclass``'s must
-precede any ``class``'s that appear.
-
-``foreach``
------------
-
-.. productionlist::
- Foreach: "foreach" `Declaration` "in" "{" `Object`* "}"
- :| "foreach" `Declaration` "in" `Object`
-
-The value assigned to the variable in the declaration is iterated over and
-the object or object list is reevaluated with the variable set at each
-iterated value.
-
-Top-Level ``let``
------------------
-
-.. productionlist::
- Let: "let" `LetList` "in" "{" `Object`* "}"
- :| "let" `LetList` "in" `Object`
- LetList: `LetItem` ("," `LetItem`)*
- LetItem: `TokIdentifier` [`RangeList`] "=" `Value`
+Code Generator backend info
+===========================
-This is effectively equivalent to ``let`` inside the body of a record
-except that it applies to multiple records at a time. The bindings are
-applied at the end of parsing the base classes of a record.
+Expressions used by code generator to describe instructions and isel patterns:
-``multiclass``
---------------
+``(implicit a)``
+ an implicitly defined physical register. This tells the dag instruction
+ selection emitter the input pattern's extra definitions matches implicit
+ physical register definitions.
-.. productionlist::
- MultiClass: "multiclass" `TokIdentifier` [`TemplateArgList`]
- : [":" `BaseMultiClassList`] "{" `MultiClassObject`+ "}"
- BaseMultiClassList: `MultiClassID` ("," `MultiClassID`)*
- MultiClassID: `TokIdentifier`
- MultiClassObject: `Def` | `Defm` | `Let` | `Foreach`
Added: llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/index.rst
URL: http://llvm.org/viewvc/llvm-project/llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/index.rst?rev=204351&view=auto
==============================================================================
--- llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/index.rst (added)
+++ llvm/trunk/docs/TableGen/index.rst Thu Mar 20 11:08:34 2014
@@ -0,0 +1,306 @@
+========
+TableGen
+========
+
+.. contents::
+ :local:
+
+.. toctree::
+ :hidden:
+
+ BackEnds
+ LangRef
+ Deficiencies
+
+Introduction
+============
+
+TableGen's purpose is to help a human develop and maintain records of
+domain-specific information. Because there may be a large number of these
+records, it is specifically designed to allow writing flexible descriptions and
+for common features of these records to be factored out. This reduces the
+amount of duplication in the description, reduces the chance of error, and makes
+it easier to structure domain specific information.
+
+The core part of TableGen parses a file, instantiates the declarations, and
+hands the result off to a domain-specific `backends`_ for processing.
+
+The current major users of TableGen are :doc:`../CodeGenerator`
+and the
+`Clang diagnostics and attributes <http://clang.llvm.org/docs/UsersManual.html#controlling-errors-and-warnings>`_.
+
+Note that if you work on TableGen much, and use emacs or vim, that you can find
+an emacs "TableGen mode" and a vim language file in the ``llvm/utils/emacs`` and
+``llvm/utils/vim`` directories of your LLVM distribution, respectively.
+
+.. _intro:
+
+
+The TableGen program
+====================
+
+TableGen files are interpreted by the TableGen program: `llvm-tblgen` available
+on your build directory under `bin`. It is not installed in the system (or where
+your sysroot is set to), since it has no use beyond LLVM's build process.
+
+Running TableGen
+----------------
+
+TableGen runs just like any other LLVM tool. The first (optional) argument
+specifies the file to read. If a filename is not specified, ``llvm-tblgen``
+reads from standard input.
+
+To be useful, one of the `backends`_ must be used. These backends are
+selectable on the command line (type '``llvm-tblgen -help``' for a list). For
+example, to get a list of all of the definitions that subclass a particular type
+(which can be useful for building up an enum list of these records), use the
+``-print-enums`` option:
+
+.. code-block:: bash
+
+ $ llvm-tblgen X86.td -print-enums -class=Register
+ AH, AL, AX, BH, BL, BP, BPL, BX, CH, CL, CX, DH, DI, DIL, DL, DX, EAX, EBP, EBX,
+ ECX, EDI, EDX, EFLAGS, EIP, ESI, ESP, FP0, FP1, FP2, FP3, FP4, FP5, FP6, IP,
+ MM0, MM1, MM2, MM3, MM4, MM5, MM6, MM7, R10, R10B, R10D, R10W, R11, R11B, R11D,
+ R11W, R12, R12B, R12D, R12W, R13, R13B, R13D, R13W, R14, R14B, R14D, R14W, R15,
+ R15B, R15D, R15W, R8, R8B, R8D, R8W, R9, R9B, R9D, R9W, RAX, RBP, RBX, RCX, RDI,
+ RDX, RIP, RSI, RSP, SI, SIL, SP, SPL, ST0, ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5, ST6, ST7,
+ XMM0, XMM1, XMM10, XMM11, XMM12, XMM13, XMM14, XMM15, XMM2, XMM3, XMM4, XMM5,
+ XMM6, XMM7, XMM8, XMM9,
+
+ $ llvm-tblgen X86.td -print-enums -class=Instruction
+ ABS_F, ABS_Fp32, ABS_Fp64, ABS_Fp80, ADC32mi, ADC32mi8, ADC32mr, ADC32ri,
+ ADC32ri8, ADC32rm, ADC32rr, ADC64mi32, ADC64mi8, ADC64mr, ADC64ri32, ADC64ri8,
+ ADC64rm, ADC64rr, ADD16mi, ADD16mi8, ADD16mr, ADD16ri, ADD16ri8, ADD16rm,
+ ADD16rr, ADD32mi, ADD32mi8, ADD32mr, ADD32ri, ADD32ri8, ADD32rm, ADD32rr,
+ ADD64mi32, ADD64mi8, ADD64mr, ADD64ri32, ...
+
+The default backend prints out all of the records.
+
+If you plan to use TableGen, you will most likely have to write a `backend`_
+that extracts the information specific to what you need and formats it in the
+appropriate way.
+
+Example
+-------
+
+With no other arguments, `llvm-tblgen` parses the specified file and prints out all
+of the classes, then all of the definitions. This is a good way to see what the
+various definitions expand to fully. Running this on the ``X86.td`` file prints
+this (at the time of this writing):
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ ...
+ def ADD32rr { // Instruction X86Inst I
+ string Namespace = "X86";
+ dag OutOperandList = (outs GR32:$dst);
+ dag InOperandList = (ins GR32:$src1, GR32:$src2);
+ string AsmString = "add{l}\t{$src2, $dst|$dst, $src2}";
+ list<dag> Pattern = [(set GR32:$dst, (add GR32:$src1, GR32:$src2))];
+ list<Register> Uses = [];
+ list<Register> Defs = [EFLAGS];
+ list<Predicate> Predicates = [];
+ int CodeSize = 3;
+ int AddedComplexity = 0;
+ bit isReturn = 0;
+ bit isBranch = 0;
+ bit isIndirectBranch = 0;
+ bit isBarrier = 0;
+ bit isCall = 0;
+ bit canFoldAsLoad = 0;
+ bit mayLoad = 0;
+ bit mayStore = 0;
+ bit isImplicitDef = 0;
+ bit isConvertibleToThreeAddress = 1;
+ bit isCommutable = 1;
+ bit isTerminator = 0;
+ bit isReMaterializable = 0;
+ bit isPredicable = 0;
+ bit hasDelaySlot = 0;
+ bit usesCustomInserter = 0;
+ bit hasCtrlDep = 0;
+ bit isNotDuplicable = 0;
+ bit hasSideEffects = 0;
+ bit neverHasSideEffects = 0;
+ InstrItinClass Itinerary = NoItinerary;
+ string Constraints = "";
+ string DisableEncoding = "";
+ bits<8> Opcode = { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1 };
+ Format Form = MRMDestReg;
+ bits<6> FormBits = { 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1 };
+ ImmType ImmT = NoImm;
+ bits<3> ImmTypeBits = { 0, 0, 0 };
+ bit hasOpSizePrefix = 0;
+ bit hasAdSizePrefix = 0;
+ bits<4> Prefix = { 0, 0, 0, 0 };
+ bit hasREX_WPrefix = 0;
+ FPFormat FPForm = ?;
+ bits<3> FPFormBits = { 0, 0, 0 };
+ }
+ ...
+
+This definition corresponds to the 32-bit register-register ``add`` instruction
+of the x86 architecture. ``def ADD32rr`` defines a record named
+``ADD32rr``, and the comment at the end of the line indicates the superclasses
+of the definition. The body of the record contains all of the data that
+TableGen assembled for the record, indicating that the instruction is part of
+the "X86" namespace, the pattern indicating how the instruction should be
+emitted into the assembly file, that it is a two-address instruction, has a
+particular encoding, etc. The contents and semantics of the information in the
+record are specific to the needs of the X86 backend, and are only shown as an
+example.
+
+As you can see, a lot of information is needed for every instruction supported
+by the code generator, and specifying it all manually would be unmaintainable,
+prone to bugs, and tiring to do in the first place. Because we are using
+TableGen, all of the information was derived from the following definition:
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ let Defs = [EFLAGS],
+ isCommutable = 1, // X = ADD Y,Z --> X = ADD Z,Y
+ isConvertibleToThreeAddress = 1 in // Can transform into LEA.
+ def ADD32rr : I<0x01, MRMDestReg, (outs GR32:$dst),
+ (ins GR32:$src1, GR32:$src2),
+ "add{l}\t{$src2, $dst|$dst, $src2}",
+ [(set GR32:$dst, (add GR32:$src1, GR32:$src2))]>;
+
+This definition makes use of the custom class ``I`` (extended from the custom
+class ``X86Inst``), which is defined in the X86-specific TableGen file, to
+factor out the common features that instructions of its class share. A key
+feature of TableGen is that it allows the end-user to define the abstractions
+they prefer to use when describing their information.
+
+Each ``def`` record has a special entry called "NAME". This is the name of the
+record ("``ADD32rr``" above). In the general case ``def`` names can be formed
+from various kinds of string processing expressions and ``NAME`` resolves to the
+final value obtained after resolving all of those expressions. The user may
+refer to ``NAME`` anywhere she desires to use the ultimate name of the ``def``.
+``NAME`` should not be defined anywhere else in user code to avoid conflicts.
+
+Syntax
+======
+
+TableGen has a syntax that is losely based on C++ templates, with built-in
+types and specification. In addition, TableGen's syntax introduces some
+automation concepts like multiclass, foreach, let, etc.
+
+Basic concepts
+--------------
+
+TableGen files consist of two key parts: 'classes' and 'definitions', both of
+which are considered 'records'.
+
+**TableGen records** have a unique name, a list of values, and a list of
+superclasses. The list of values is the main data that TableGen builds for each
+record; it is this that holds the domain specific information for the
+application. The interpretation of this data is left to a specific `backends`_,
+but the structure and format rules are taken care of and are fixed by
+TableGen.
+
+**TableGen definitions** are the concrete form of 'records'. These generally do
+not have any undefined values, and are marked with the '``def``' keyword.
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ def FeatureFPARMv8 : SubtargetFeature<"fp-armv8", "HasFPARMv8", "true",
+ "Enable ARMv8 FP">;
+
+In this example, FeatureFPARMv8 is ``SubtargetFeature`` record initialised
+with some values. The names of the classes are defined via the
+keyword `class` either on the same file or some other included. Most target
+TableGen files include the generic ones in ``include/llvm/Target``.
+
+**TableGen classes** are abstract records that are used to build and describe
+other records. These classes allow the end-user to build abstractions for
+either the domain they are targeting (such as "Register", "RegisterClass", and
+"Instruction" in the LLVM code generator) or for the implementor to help factor
+out common properties of records (such as "FPInst", which is used to represent
+floating point instructions in the X86 backend). TableGen keeps track of all of
+the classes that are used to build up a definition, so the backend can find all
+definitions of a particular class, such as "Instruction".
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ class ProcNoItin<string Name, list<SubtargetFeature> Features>
+ : Processor<Name, NoItineraries, Features>;
+
+Here, the class ProcNoItin, receiving parameters `Name` of type `string` and
+a list of target features is specializing the class Processor by passing the
+arguments down as well as hard-coding NoItineraries.
+
+**TableGen multiclasses** are groups of abstract records that are instantiated
+all at once. Each instantiation can result in multiple TableGen definitions.
+If a multiclass inherits from another multiclass, the definitions in the
+sub-multiclass become part of the current multiclass, as if they were declared
+in the current multiclass.
+
+.. code-block:: llvm
+
+ multiclass ro_signed_pats<string T, string Rm, dag Base, dag Offset, dag Extend,
+ dag address, ValueType sty> {
+ def : Pat<(i32 (!cast<SDNode>("sextload" # sty) address)),
+ (!cast<Instruction>("LDRS" # T # "w_" # Rm # "_RegOffset")
+ Base, Offset, Extend)>;
+
+ def : Pat<(i64 (!cast<SDNode>("sextload" # sty) address)),
+ (!cast<Instruction>("LDRS" # T # "x_" # Rm # "_RegOffset")
+ Base, Offset, Extend)>;
+ }
+
+ defm : ro_signed_pats<"B", Rm, Base, Offset, Extend,
+ !foreach(decls.pattern, address,
+ !subst(SHIFT, imm_eq0, decls.pattern)),
+ i8>;
+
+
+
+See the `TableGen Language Reference <LangRef.html>`_ for more information.
+
+.. _backend:
+.. _backends:
+
+TableGen backends
+=================
+
+TableGen files have no real meaning without a back-end. The default operation
+of running ``llvm-tblgen`` is to print the information in a textual format, but
+that's only useful for debugging of the TableGen files themselves. The power
+in TableGen is, however, to interpret the source files into an internal
+representation that can be generated into anything you want.
+
+Current usage of TableGen is to create include huge files with tables that you
+can either include directly (if the output is in the language you're coding),
+or be used in pre-processing via macros surrounding the include of the file.
+
+Direct output can be used if the back-end already prints a table in C format
+or if the output is just a list of strings (for error and warning messages).
+Pre-processed output should be used if the same information needs to be used
+in different contexts (like Instruction names), so your back-end should print
+a meta-information list that can be shaped into different compile-time formats.
+
+See the `TableGen BackEnds <BackEnds.html>`_ for more information.
+
+TableGen Deficiencies
+=====================
+
+Despite being very generic, TableGen has some deficiencies that have been
+pointed out numerous times. The common theme is that, while TableGen allows
+you to build Domain-Specific-Languages, the final languages that you create
+lack the power of other DSLs, which in turn increase considerably the size
+and complecity of TableGen files.
+
+At the same time, TableGen allows you to create virtually any meaning of
+the basic concepts via custom-made back-ends, which can pervert the original
+design and make it very hard for newcomers to understand the evil TableGen
+file.
+
+There are some in favour of extending the semantics even more, but makeing sure
+back-ends adhere to strict rules. Others suggesting we should move to less,
+more powerful DSLs designed with specific purposes, or even re-using existing
+DSLs.
+
+Either way, this is a discussion that is likely spanning across several years,
+if not decades. You can read more in the `TableGen Deficiencies <Deficiencies.html>`_
+document.
Modified: llvm/trunk/docs/index.rst
URL: http://llvm.org/viewvc/llvm-project/llvm/trunk/docs/index.rst?rev=204351&r1=204350&r2=204351&view=diff
==============================================================================
--- llvm/trunk/docs/index.rst (original)
+++ llvm/trunk/docs/index.rst Thu Mar 20 11:08:34 2014
@@ -222,6 +222,7 @@ For API clients and LLVM developers.
LinkTimeOptimization
SegmentedStacks
TableGenFundamentals
+ TableGen/index
DebuggingJITedCode
GoldPlugin
MarkedUpDisassembly
@@ -231,7 +232,6 @@ For API clients and LLVM developers.
WritingAnLLVMBackend
GarbageCollection
WritingAnLLVMPass
- TableGen/LangRef
HowToUseAttributes
NVPTXUsage
StackMaps
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