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Re: [PATCH] MIPS: Add a GNU attribute for -mips32 -mfp64 objects
Paul Koning <pkoning@equallogic.com> writes:
>>>>>> "Richard" == Richard Sandiford <rsandifo@nildram.co.uk> writes:
>
> Richard> I agree with Joseph here. Although it's redundant to
> Richard> specify -mfp64 with -msoft-float, it isn't actively wrong.
> Richard> The options have traditionally been orthogonal. I don't
> Richard> think the assembler should assume that -mfp64 implies
> Richard> -mhard-float.
>
> It seems strange, since -msoft-float means no float registers, while
> -mfp64 says there are float registers and they are 64 bits wide.
Well, -mhard-float and -msoft-float are ABI options. -mfp64 is
an architectural configuration option, and only affects calling
conventions when combined with -mhard-float. It is perfectly
possible to write code that conforms to the soft-float ABI while
still using FPU instructions within a function. (Strictly speaking,
the use of FPU instructions is also part of the ABI. But it isn't
what this attribute specifies; this attribute is about the calling
conventions.)
The practical example of the difference is MIPS16. -mhard-float
-mips16 doesn't say "use the FPU from MIPS16 code"; you can't.
It says instead that the hard-float ABI is in effect, and that
we need to use special stubs to interface with non-MIPS16 code.
Richard