Mercurial > cpython-lru_cache-weakref
diff Python/ceval.c @ 47886:c93596ec1d3d legacy-trunk
Update comment on prediction macros.
| author | Raymond Hettinger <python@rcn.com> |
|---|---|
| date | Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:11:55 +0000 |
| parents | 4a8329535234 |
| children | 09beb96ba20d |
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--- a/Python/ceval.c Fri Jul 04 17:22:53 2008 +0000 +++ b/Python/ceval.c Sat Jul 05 02:11:55 2008 +0000 @@ -615,18 +615,20 @@ COMPARE_OP is often followed by JUMP_IF_FALSE or JUMP_IF_TRUE. And, those opcodes are often followed by a POP_TOP. - Verifying the prediction costs a single high-speed test of register + Verifying the prediction costs a single high-speed test of a register variable against a constant. If the pairing was good, then the - processor has a high likelihood of making its own successful branch - prediction which results in a nearly zero overhead transition to the - next opcode. - - A successful prediction saves a trip through the eval-loop including - its two unpredictable branches, the HAS_ARG test and the switch-case. - - If collecting opcode statistics, turn off prediction so that - statistics are accurately maintained (the predictions bypass - the opcode frequency counter updates). + processor's own internal branch predication has a high likelihood of + success, resulting in a nearly zero-overhead transition to the + next opcode. A successful prediction saves a trip through the eval-loop + including its two unpredictable branches, the HAS_ARG test and the + switch-case. Combined with the processor's internal branch prediction, + a successful PREDICT has the effect of making the two opcodes run as if + they were a single new opcode with the bodies combined. + + If collecting opcode statistics, your choices are to either keep the + predictions turned-on and interpret the results as if some opcodes + had been combined or turn-off predictions so that the opcode frequency + counter updates for both opcodes. */ #ifdef DYNAMIC_EXECUTION_PROFILE
