Compiler transformations for high-performance computing

Reviewer: Max Hailperin

This is a comprehensive survey of high-level optimizing transformations used in compilers for superscalar, vector, and multiprocessor machines. The emphasis is on transformations endemic to these architectures; supporting analyses and more classic transformations also receive some coverage. The authors expect "readers ... to be familiar with modern computer architecture and basic program compilation techniques." The extensive bibliography generally includes both the earliest work on a topic and a sampling of important recent work. Since the recent work is only sampled, a citation index should be consulted. The writing is generally clear, and is supplemented with useful examples and diagrams and a helpful appendix of model architectures. Accessibility is marred by flaws in the diagrams and bibliography. In the diagrams, the dotted lines largely disappeared between the authors' computer and the printed page. In some diagrams, they are gone entirely; in others, an occasional faint dot remains. This unfortunately turns the diagrams into puzzles. The bibliography's "alphabetization" is quite unusual. The presentation seems reasonably authoritative; there are some minor weaknesses in this regard in peripheral topics (e.g., the definition of dependence distance, the description of the Omega test, the citation of Morel and Renvoise's work, and the treatment of tail-recursion optimization). The importance of this survey, however, doesn't rest on its authoritativeness, let alone its authoritativeness regarding peripheral topics. Rather, it is important because of the amount of material that is collected into one easily accessible place. It will play an important educational role for years to come. Online Computing Reviews Service