Intel's New Compiler Boosts Transmeta's Crusoe

Bram Stolk writes: "Intel recently released its new C++ compiler for linux. I've been testing it on my TM5600 Crusoe. Ironically, it turns out that Transmeta's arch nemesis, Intel, provides the tools to really unlock Crusoe's full potential on linux." It doesn't support all of gcc's extensions, so Intel's compiler can't compile the Linux kernel yet, but choice is nice.

Comments

GCC extensions??

[Reality Master 101]

Wait, the Kernel uses GCC extensions? I thought the Kernel was written in real C, not that bastard GCC version. I've never look at Kernel code, so I'm not sure. Is this really true?

If it's true, I think that's a huge mistake. The Kernel should not be at the mercy of one compiler.

screw the kernel, recompile the system libraries!

[brer_rabbit]

I wonder if Intel's compiler is binary compatible with gcc. While it's probably against the licensing to redistribute the compiler's math or C library, I wonder if you could compile the gnu math/C library with icc and produce a shared object? An optimized math or other system library would give some decent improvement in performance.

archenemy

[Anonymous Coward]

how is intel the 'archenemy' of us... just because Linus works at Transmeta? What chip are you running your OS on? I bet its an Intel chip, or an intel-clone (AMD)

/me is wintel-free, yay Mac

KDE performance

[joshua42]

Just a thought: Might this compiler perhaps be different in a way that improves the situation regarding the C++ library relocation issues that bothers KDE?

Re:This is very interesting.

[hexix]

I think you're reading more into this. I think it's more like intel released a compiler to generate better optimized x86 code for it's processors. And since transmeta does code morphing from x86 to whatever it's instruction set is, a side effect from better optimized x86 code would be faster code morphing of that better optimized code.

You make it sound like it only improves transmeta's chips and not others. I really doubt that's what's going on here.

Here's another news flash

[kijiki]

Intel's compiler boosts AMD Athlons too.

AMD uses (or at least, used to use, I haven't checked lately) Intel's compilers for their SPEC runs.

Intel's compiler is the best available for CPUs that implement the x86 ISA. Transmeta implements that ISA, so why does this news surprise people?

Gcc, performance

[Bert64]

GCC has never been an especially performant compiler, on sparc/mips/alpha atleast, the vendor compilers are CONSIDERABLY faster than gcc, it really sickens me to see programs which use nonstandard features of C that refuse to compile on anything other than gcc. Perhaps the gcc team should work more on generating more optimised output, and less on adding nonstandard features..

Re:Without the kernel, what good is it?

[Sentry21]

So, again, until you can actually compile the kernel, it's a fascinating breakthrough, but one with little utility to the real world.

So what you're saying is that the only really useful use of a compiler is to compile the Linux kernel?

That's quite possibly the silliest thing I've heard someone say. Try:

Son: "Look ma, I got the fastest engine in the world for my car! Now I can drive faster than anyone else!"

Ma: "Um, sonny, it can't play MIDI files or make julean fries, so it's totally useless."

Totally wrong. There are thousands of pieces of software out there. The Linux kernel is merely one.

--Dan