-moutline, -mno-outline

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B1.63 -moutline, -mno-outline

The outliner searches for identical sequences of code and puts them in a separate function. The outliner then replaces the original sequences of code with calls to this function.

Outlining reduces code size, but it can increase the execution time. The operation of -moutline depends on the optimization level and the complexity of the code.

Note:

-moutline is only supported in AArch64 state.

Default

If the optimization level is -Oz, the default is -moutline. Otherwise the default is -mno-outline.

Syntax

-moutline: Enables outlining.
-mno-outline: Disables outlining.

Parameters

None.

Restrictions

Inline assembly might prevent the outlining of functions.

Examples

This example uses the following C file to show the effects of -moutline:

// foo.c

int func3(int x)
{
    return x*x;
}

int func1(int x)
{
    int i = x;
    i = i * i;
    i+=1;
    //i=func3(i);
    i+=2;
    
    return i;
}

char func2(char x)
{
    int i = x;
    i = i * i;
    i+=1;
    //i=func3(i);
    i+=2;
    
    return i;
}

Compile using -S to output the disassembly to a file as follows:

armclang.exe --target=aarch64-arm-none-eabi -march=armv8.5-a -moutline foo.c -S -o foo.s
armclang.exe --target=aarch64-arm-none-eabi -march=armv8.5-a -moutline foo.c -S -O1 -o foo_O1.s
armclang.exe --target=aarch64-arm-none-eabi -march=armv8.5-a -moutline foo.c -S -O2 -o foo_O2.s

Enable the calls to func3 in foo.c, recompile with -O1 and -O2 and _func3 appended to the output assembly filenames. The following tables show comparisons of the output:

With no optimization and with -O1 and the calls to func3 disabled.
With no optimization and with -O2 and the calls to func3 enabled.

Compiler-generated comments have been removed for brevity.

Functions func1 and func2 are outlined at -O1, as shown in foo_01.s.

If you enable the calls to func3 and recompile with -O1, then no outlining occurs as shown in foo_01_func3.s. This case is not shown in the tables.

If you enable the calls to func3 and recompile with -O2, then outlining occurs as shown in foo_02_func3.s.

Table B1-9 Comparison of disassembly for -moutline with and without -O1 optimization

No optimization (foo.s)

-O1 (foo_01.s)

func3:
// %bb.0:
  sub	sp, sp, #16
  str	w0, [sp, #12]
  ldr	w0, [sp, #12]
  ldr	w8, [sp, #12]
  mul	w0, w0, w8
  add	sp, sp, #16
  ret
.Lfunc_end0:

...

func1:
// %bb.0:
  sub	sp, sp, #16
  str	w0, [sp, #12]
  ldr	w0, [sp, #12]

...

  ldr	w0, [sp, #8]
  add	sp, sp, #16
  ret
.Lfunc_end1:

...

func2:
// %bb.0:
	sub	sp, sp, #16
	strb	w0, [sp, #15]
	ldrb	w0, [sp, #15]

...

	mov	w0, w8
	add	sp, sp, #16
	ret
.Lfunc_end2:

func3:
// %bb.0:
	mul	w0, w0, w0
	ret
.Lfunc_end0:

...

func1:
// %bb.0:
  b	OUTLINED_FUNCTION_0
.Lfunc_end1:

...

func2:
// %bb.0:
  b	OUTLINED_FUNCTION_0

...

  .section	.text.OUTLINED_FUNCTION_0,"ax",@progbits
  .p2align	2
  .type	OUTLINED_FUNCTION_0,@function
OUTLINED_FUNCTION_0:
  .cfi_sections .debug_frame
  .cfi_startproc
// %bb.0:
  orr	w8, wzr, #0x3
  madd	w0, w0, w0, w8
  ret
.Lfunc_end3:
  .size	OUTLINED_FUNCTION_0, .Lfunc_end3-OUTLINED_FUNCTION_0
  .cfi_endproc

Table B1-10 Comparison of disassembly for -moutline with and without -O2 optimization and with func3 enabled

No optimization (foo_func3.s)

-O2 and func3 enabled (foo_02_func3.s)

func3:
// %bb.0:
  sub	sp, sp, #16
  str	w0, [sp, #12]
  ldr	w0, [sp, #12]
  ldr	w8, [sp, #12]
  mul	w0, w0, w8
  add	sp, sp, #16
  ret
.Lfunc_end0:

...

func1:
// %bb.0:
  sub	sp, sp, #32
  str	x30, [sp, #16]
  str	w0, [sp, #12]

...

  ldr	x30, [sp, #16]
  add	sp, sp, #32
  ret
.Lfunc_end1:

...

func2:
// %bb.0:
	sub	sp, sp, #32
	str	x30, [sp, #16]
	strb	w0, [sp, #15]

...

	ldr	x30, [sp, #16]
	add	sp, sp, #32
	ret
.Lfunc_end2:

func3:
// %bb.0:
  mul	w0, w0, w0
  ret
.Lfunc_end0:

...

func1:
// %bb.0:
  orr	w8, wzr, #0x1
  madd	w8, w0, w0, w8
  b	OUTLINED_FUNCTION_0
.Lfunc_end1:

...

func2:
// %bb.0:
  and	w8, w0, #0xff
  orr	w9, wzr, #0x1
  madd	w8, w8, w8, w9
  b	OUTLINED_FUNCTION_0
.Lfunc_end2:
  .size	func2, .Lfunc_end2-func2

  .section	.text.OUTLINED_FUNCTION_0,"ax",@progbits
  .p2align	2
  .type	OUTLINED_FUNCTION_0,@function
OUTLINED_FUNCTION_0:
  .cfi_sections .debug_frame
  .cfi_startproc
// %bb.0:
  orr	w9, wzr, #0x2
  madd	w0, w8, w8, w9
  ret
.Lfunc_end3:
  .size	OUTLINED_FUNCTION_0, .Lfunc_end3-OUTLINED_FUNCTION_0
  .cfi_endproc

Related references

B1.69 -O (armclang)

B1.74 -S

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Home > armclang Reference > armclang Command-line Options > -moutline, -mno-outline

-moutline, -mno-outline

B1.63 -moutline, -mno-outline

Note:

Default

Syntax

Parameters

Restrictions

Examples

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