Pointer target tracking---an empirical study

CONVEX Computer Corp. has developed a language-indepen dent inter procedural optimizer that is now available to users of its C-series supercomputers. This paper documents the benefits of one particular feature of that optimizer, pointer target tracking. This paper surveys the st ructure of the interpro­ cedural optimizer and the goals of pointer target track­ ing. It describes the realitie s of scientific codes that had to be handled. and gives an overview of the algorithms used. It also provides detailed statistics on the oppor­ tunities for pointer tracking, the characteristics of pointer ranges, and the benefits to optimization of pointer tracking.