branch probability hinting

[Greg McGary]

"Frank Ch. Eigler" <fche@redhat.com> writes:

> echristo suggests "expect", which I don't like because
> it doesn't have a natural opposite ("unexpect"?).  mrg
> suggests "predict_true". which I don't like because it's
> too verbose.  I like "LIKELY" because it's short,
> eyecatching, and a reversible adjective/adverb that
> suggests a meta-function rather than an ordinary function.
> 
> I'd like to stick with LIKELY/UNLIKELY for now, until
> a better candidate comes along later, riding alongside
> a champion who is eager enough to do the renaming.

I don't normally waste bandwidth with "me too" messages, but since
some expressed their distaste for Frank's naming, I thought I'd offer
some counterweight.  I like Frank's names and capitalization for all
the reasons he explains.  The terminology also meshes with MIPS
jargon.

Greg