[Docs] Update MemorySSA doc to address more feedback.

Primarily, this clarifies wording in a few places, and adds "\ "s to
make the formatting of things like "``Foo`` s" better.

Thanks to Michael Kuperstein for the comments.


git-svn-id: https://llvm.org/svn/llvm-project/llvm/trunk@279007 91177308-0d34-0410-b5e6-96231b3b80d8
This commit is contained in:
George Burgess IV 2016-08-17 23:21:56 +00:00
parent ac9c0f4d45
commit 7c34aef00d

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@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ MemorySSA Structure
===================
MemorySSA is a virtual IR. After it's built, ``MemorySSA`` will contain a
structure that maps ``Instruction`` s to ``MemoryAccess`` es, which are
``MemorySSA``'s parallel to LLVM ``Instruction`` s.
structure that maps ``Instruction``\ s to ``MemoryAccess``\ es, which are
``MemorySSA``'s parallel to LLVM ``Instruction``\ s.
Each ``MemoryAccess`` can be one of three types:
@ -45,25 +45,25 @@ Each ``MemoryAccess`` can be one of three types:
- ``MemoryUse``
- ``MemoryDef``
``MemoryPhi`` s are ``PhiNode`` , but for memory operations. If at any
point we have two (or more) ``MemoryDef`` s that could flow into a
``MemoryPhi``\ s are ``PhiNode``\ s, but for memory operations. If at any
point we have two (or more) ``MemoryDef``\ s that could flow into a
``BasicBlock``, the block's top ``MemoryAccess`` will be a
``MemoryPhi``. As in LLVM IR, ``MemoryPhi`` s don't correspond to any
concrete operation. As such, you can't look up a ``MemoryPhi`` with an
``Instruction`` (though we do allow you to do so with a
``BasicBlock``).
``MemoryPhi``. As in LLVM IR, ``MemoryPhi``\ s don't correspond to any
concrete operation. As such, ``BasicBlock``\ s are mapped to ``MemoryPhi``\ s
inside ``MemorySSA``, whereas ``Instruction``\ s are mapped to ``MemoryUse``\ s
and ``MemoryDef``\ s.
Note also that in SSA, Phi nodes merge must-reach definitions (that
is, definite new versions of variables). In MemorySSA, PHI nodes merge
may-reach definitions (that is, until disambiguated, the versions that
reach a phi node may or may not clobber a given variable)
``MemoryUse`` s are operations which use but don't modify memory. An example of
``MemoryUse``\ s are operations which use but don't modify memory. An example of
a ``MemoryUse`` is a ``load``, or a ``readonly`` function call.
``MemoryDef`` s are operations which may either modify memory, or which
otherwise clobber memory in unquantifiable ways. Examples of ``MemoryDef`` s
include ``store`` s, function calls, ``load`` s with ``acquire`` (or higher)
``MemoryDef``\ s are operations which may either modify memory, or which
otherwise clobber memory in unquantifiable ways. Examples of ``MemoryDef``\ s
include ``store``\ s, function calls, ``load``\ s with ``acquire`` (or higher)
ordering, volatile operations, memory fences, etc.
Every function that exists has a special ``MemoryDef`` called ``liveOnEntry``.
@ -73,12 +73,12 @@ run on, and implies that we've hit the top of the function. It's the only
``liveOnEntry`` implies that the memory being used is either undefined or
defined before the function begins.
An example of all of this overlayed on LLVM IR (obtained by running ``opt
An example of all of this overlaid on LLVM IR (obtained by running ``opt
-passes='print<memoryssa>' -disable-output`` on an ``.ll`` file) is below. When
viewing this example, it may be helpful to view it in terms of clobbers. The
operands of a given ``MemoryAccess`` are all (potential) clobbers of said
MemoryAccess, and the value produced by a ``MemoryAccess`` can act as a clobber
for other ``MemoryAccess`` es. Another useful way of looking at it is in
for other ``MemoryAccess``\ es. Another useful way of looking at it is in
terms of heap versions. In that view, operands of of a given
``MemoryAccess`` are the version of the heap before the operation, and
if the access produces a value, the value is the new version of the heap
@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ to (if such an instruction exists). For example, ``1 = MemoryDef(liveOnEntry)``
is a ``MemoryAccess`` (specifically, a ``MemoryDef``), and it describes the LLVM
instruction ``store i8 0, i8* %p3``. Other places in ``MemorySSA`` refer to this
particular ``MemoryDef`` as ``1`` (much like how one can refer to ``load i8, i8*
%p1`` in LLVM with ``%1``). Again, ``MemoryPhi`` s don't correspond to any LLVM
%p1`` in LLVM with ``%1``). Again, ``MemoryPhi``\ s don't correspond to any LLVM
Instruction, so the line directly below a ``MemoryPhi`` isn't special.
Going from the top down:
@ -135,7 +135,9 @@ Going from the top down:
``MemoryPhi`` is referred to in the textual IR by the number ``6``.
- ``2 = MemoryDef(6)`` notes that ``store i8 0, i8* %p1`` is a definition,
and its reaching definition before it is ``6``, or the ``MemoryPhi`` after
``while.cond``.
``while.cond``. (See the `Build-time use optimization`_ and `Precision`_
sections below for why this ``MemoryDef`` isn't linked to a seperate,
disambiguated ``MemoryPhi``.)
- ``3 = MemoryDef(6)`` notes that ``store i8 0, i8* %p2`` is a definition; its
reaching definition is also ``6``.
- ``5 = MemoryPhi({if.then,2},{if.else,3})`` notes that the clobber before
@ -146,9 +148,9 @@ Going from the top down:
reaching definition is ``5``.
- ``MemoryUse(1)`` notes that ``load i8, i8* %p3`` is just a user of memory,
and the last thing that could clobber this use is above ``while.cond`` (e.g.
the store to ``%p3``). In heap versioning parlance, it really
only depends on the heap version 1, and is unaffected by the new
heap versions generated since then.
the store to ``%p3``). In heap versioning parlance, it really only depends on
the heap version 1, and is unaffected by the new heap versions generated since
then.
As an aside, ``MemoryAccess`` is a ``Value`` mostly for convenience; it's not
meant to interact with LLVM IR.
@ -158,9 +160,9 @@ Design of MemorySSA
``MemorySSA`` is an analysis that can be built for any arbitrary function. When
it's built, it does a pass over the function's IR in order to build up its
mapping of ``MemoryAccess`` es. You can then query ``MemorySSA`` for things like
the dominance relation between ``MemoryAccess`` es, and get the ``MemoryAccess``
for any given ``Instruction`` .
mapping of ``MemoryAccess``\ es. You can then query ``MemorySSA`` for things
like the dominance relation between ``MemoryAccess``\ es, and get the
``MemoryAccess`` for any given ``Instruction`` .
When ``MemorySSA`` is done building, it also hands you a ``MemorySSAWalker``
that you can use (see below).
@ -171,7 +173,7 @@ The walker
A structure that helps ``MemorySSA`` do its job is the ``MemorySSAWalker``, or
the walker, for short. The goal of the walker is to provide answers to clobber
queries beyond what's represented directly by ``MemoryAccess`` es. For example,
queries beyond what's represented directly by ``MemoryAccess``\ es. For example,
given:
.. code-block:: llvm
@ -190,10 +192,11 @@ The store to ``%a`` is clearly not a clobber for the store to ``%b``. It would
be the walker's goal to figure this out, and return ``liveOnEntry`` when queried
for the clobber of ``MemoryAccess`` ``2``.
By default, ``MemorySSA`` provides a walker that can optimize ``MemoryDef`` s
and ``MemoryUse`` s by consulting alias analysis. Walkers were built to be
flexible, though, so it's entirely reasonable (and expected) to create more
specialized walkers (e.g. one that queries ``GlobalsAA``).
By default, ``MemorySSA`` provides a walker that can optimize ``MemoryDef``\ s
and ``MemoryUse``\ s by consulting whatever alias analysis stack you happen to
be using. Walkers were built to be flexible, though, so it's entirely reasonable
(and expected) to create more specialized walkers (e.g. one that specifically
queries ``GlobalsAA``, one that always stops at ``MemoryPhi`` nodes, etc).
Locating clobbers yourself
@ -201,22 +204,23 @@ Locating clobbers yourself
If you choose to make your own walker, you can find the clobber for a
``MemoryAccess`` by walking every ``MemoryDef`` that dominates said
``MemoryAccess``. The structure of ``MemoryDef`` s makes this relatively simple;
``MemoryAccess``. The structure of ``MemoryDef``\ s makes this relatively simple;
they ultimately form a linked list of every clobber that dominates the
``MemoryAccess`` that you're trying to optimize. In other words, the
``definingAccess`` of a ``MemoryDef`` is always the nearest dominating
``MemoryDef`` or ``MemoryPhi`` of said ``MemoryDef``.
Use optimization
----------------
Build-time use optimization
---------------------------
``MemorySSA`` will optimize some ``MemoryAccess`` es at build-time.
``MemorySSA`` will optimize some ``MemoryAccess``\ es at build-time.
Specifically, we optimize the operand of every ``MemoryUse`` to point to the
actual clobber of said ``MemoryUse``. This can be seen in the above example; the
second ``MemoryUse`` in ``if.end`` has an operand of ``1``, which is a
``MemoryDef`` from the entry block. This is done to make walking,
value numbering, etc, faster and easier.
It is not possible to optimize ``MemoryDef`` in the same way, as we
restrict ``MemorySSA`` to one heap variable and, thus, one Phi node
per block.
@ -228,13 +232,13 @@ Invalidation and updating
Because ``MemorySSA`` keeps track of LLVM IR, it needs to be updated whenever
the IR is updated. "Update", in this case, includes the addition, deletion, and
motion of ``Instructions``. The update API is being made on an as-needed basis.
If you'd like examples, ``GVNHoist`` is a user of ``MemorySSA`` s update API.
If you'd like examples, ``GVNHoist`` is a user of ``MemorySSA``\ s update API.
Phi placement
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
``MemorySSA`` only places ``MemoryPhi`` s where they're actually
``MemorySSA`` only places ``MemoryPhi``\ s where they're actually
needed. That is, it is a pruned SSA form, like LLVM's SSA form. For
example, consider:
@ -274,7 +278,7 @@ for ``if.end`` would be pointless, so we don't place one. So, if you need to
place a ``MemoryDef`` in ``if.then`` or ``if.else``, you'll need to also create
a ``MemoryPhi`` for ``if.end``.
If it turns out that this is a large burden, we can just place ``MemoryPhi`` s
If it turns out that this is a large burden, we can just place ``MemoryPhi``\ s
everywhere. Because we have Walkers that are capable of optimizing above said
phis, doing so shouldn't prohibit optimizations.