HP-UX 11i Version 1.6 Release Notes

Programming
IPF Assembler
Chapter 7
97
• Catalog handling in a XDK environment:
The XDK logic in the assembler has changed to avoid occasional catalog problems
caused by the improper setting of NLSPATH. The assembler now always annotates
NLSPATH to include the correct path to the catalog file independently of how it was
invoked. This causes the catalog to be found in almost all cases.
• New implementation of dependency checking:
The dependency or hazard checking logic is vastly improved and now keeps track of
dependencies in almost all cases. This includes switching to and from different code
sections in between instruction groups. As such, dependency checking is found
robust enough to emit errors for the definite violations. Possible dependency
violations still remain warnings. As a consequence of the new implementation,
support for the .pred.rel directive has been added.
IMPORTANT The assembler is now more likely to emit the following warning:
warning: redundant instruction stop
This is the result of acting on the fact that certain instructions do end instruction
groups. The explicit use of an instruction stop after these instructions is therefore
redundant. The warning is harmless, but it has been observed that the removal of
the redundant stop improves bundling and yield more compact code.
Impact
Assembly code that contains definite dependency violations now cause an error, and as
such may result in failed builds that used to succeed with a prior version of the
assembler.
Compatibility
Compatibility with the Intel IA-64Architecture Software Developer’s Manual Version 1.1
has been maintained or increased slightly. This manual, as well as other related
information, can be obtained at:
http://developer.intel.com/design/itanium/manuals/index.htm
Performance
There are no negative performance issues.
Obsolescence
Not applicable.
Documentation
The as (1) manpage has been updated to reflect these changes, please refer to this
manpage for more information.