[LLVMdev] C Backend's future

Chris Lattner clattner at apple.com
Fri Nov 5 22:34:33 PDT 2010


On Nov 5, 2010, at 7:11 AM, Kirk Kelsey wrote:

> I'm wondering what the longer term plans are for the C Backend. I understand it's not actively developed, even deprecated. What I'm not clear about is whether it's something that is viewed as non-vital and should just as well go away, or if it's just a low priority. Basically: it's not improving, but is it likely to disappear?

I don't know of anyone actively working on it, and that means it isn't likely to improve anytime soon.

That said, a saving grace of the C backend is that it is very isolated from the rest of the compiler.  That means that there is little reason to rip it out.  However, as new features are added to LLVM IR, the C backend *is* likely to get more and more out of date and less and less useful.

In short, I don't see a compelling reason to rip it out anytime soon.  If it ends up being completely broken for simple programs, it might make sense to remove in the future.

-Chris



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