Re: New back end ia16: 16-bit Intel x86

["H.J. Lu" <hjl@lucon.org>]

On Wed, Aug 08, 2007 at 08:51:55PM +0200, Rask Ingemann Lambertsen wrote:
> 
>    I'm disappointed to hear arguments along the lines of "-m16 looks cute"
> in favour of a merge. From a user's point of view, you could just as well
> say "gcc -b ia16-elf" as "gcc -m16" if it matters to you to use the same
> front end binary.

I don't see -m16 work natively on Linux even with a merged x86 backend
since 16bit run-time enviroment is totall different.  It is most likely
to be built as a cross compiler for a different target.

My main concern is the new processsor support. I don't know if ia16
will need to suport new processsor and where it will come from if
it is needed.

On the other hand, if merging with x86 will force x86 backend to be
modular and flexible, it is a good thing since x86 backend has to
support so many different calling conventions and there may be more
on the way. Cleanup x86 backend with ia16 merge is a good long term
investment.


H.J.