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Now that's a 10x programmer if I ever saw one. I'm sure the compiler helped too. The generated code of C compilers from the 80's and 90's versus the generated c

by jart 5y ago

Now that's a 10x programmer if I ever saw one. I'm sure the compiler helped too. The generated code of C compilers from the 80's and 90's versus the generated code created by something like modern GCC -- it's like night and day. We're able to build faster tinier software than we ever have before, and it really helps to illuminate the impact modern tools have had when we apply that advantage to something old we already know.

jpgvm 5y ago
Ironically part of the problem was that the optimising compilers of today make different space and memory throughput tradeoffs vs CPU execution speed that don't hold for the slower memory architecture of the N64. Namely optimisations like loop unrolling that benefit modern CPUs are a detriment to the N64. I think most of the cool stuff he did here is around restructuring the code to remove contention on the RAMBUS as it can do operations on different banks in parallel when servicing reads/writes from different components vs causing contention if they wish to read from the same bank. Also writing directly into the bank that will be used by the graphics unit from the CPU while disabling cache features of the RAMBUS, freeing up the cache for more code pages for the CPU to use. Moving more of the code to execute on the "maxed out" GPU and actually cutting execution time because of the reduced memory bandwidth requirements was also pretty neat.
wiz21c 5y ago
After 20 years not coding (or coding in python, ruby, R, that sort of thing), I started up writing code in rust that needs performance (emulator). I was absolutely amazed by the quality of the compiler today compared to what I had 20 years ago. It's really amazing to see how clever it has become.
djmips 5y ago
10x in one dimension. But not by the modern definition of 10x since this actually took a lot of time. This is more like a craftsman or artisan who toils away until they are ready and the result is perfect.
- jasinjames 5y ago
  I really like the way you put that into words; the creator of the video clearly has a deep passion for his work.

by jart 5y ago

jpgvm 5y ago

Ironically part of the problem was that the optimising compilers of today make different space and memory throughput tradeoffs vs CPU execution speed that don't hold for the slower memory architecture of the N64. Namely optimisations like loop unrolling that benefit modern CPUs are a detriment to the N64. I think most of the cool stuff he did here is around restructuring the code to remove contention on the RAMBUS as it can do operations on different banks in parallel when servicing reads/writes from different components vs causing contention if they wish to read from the same bank. Also writing directly into the bank that will be used by the graphics unit from the CPU while disabling cache features of the RAMBUS, freeing up the cache for more code pages for the CPU to use. Moving more of the code to execute on the "maxed out" GPU and actually cutting execution time because of the reduced memory bandwidth requirements was also pretty neat.

wiz21c 5y ago

After 20 years not coding (or coding in python, ruby, R, that sort of thing), I started up writing code in rust that needs performance (emulator). I was absolutely amazed by the quality of the compiler today compared to what I had 20 years ago. It's really amazing to see how clever it has become.

djmips 5y ago

10x in one dimension. But not by the modern definition of 10x since this actually took a lot of time. This is more like a craftsman or artisan who toils away until they are ready and the result is perfect.

jasinjames 5y ago
I really like the way you put that into words; the creator of the video clearly has a deep passion for his work.