4 ms·

x86 and x86_64 software optimization resources

95 points by HaoZeke 2y ago

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
HaoZeke 2y ago
I should point out that this has been posted [1], but not for the past half decade, long enough to need another PSA :) [1] https://hn.algolia.com/?q=https%3A%2F%2Fagner.org%2Foptimize%2F https://hn.algolia.com/?q=https%3A%2F%2Fagner.org%2Foptimize...
- gpderetta 2y ago
  Wrong sorting. It gets posted much more often; for example: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36905443 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36905443
ashvardanian 2y ago
This is still one of the most trusted sources for low-level optimization! uops.info is also very handy for x86 ( https://uops.info/table_overview.html https://uops.info/table_overview.html ). But if you are just starting, those may be a bit overwhelming. In that case, check out the official intrinsics guides for x86 from Intel ( https://software.intel.com/sites/landingpage/IntrinsicsGuide/ https://software.intel.com/sites/landingpage/IntrinsicsGuide... ) and a separate one for Arm ( https://developer.arm.com/architectures/instruction-sets/intrinsics/ https://developer.arm.com/architectures/instruction-sets/int... )
DeathArrow 2y ago
Too bad most people use Javascript frameworks for desktop development.
- bitwize 2y ago
  The software people enjoy using is typically written in C++, Rust, or Swift. Nobody writes desktop software in a GC'd language that doesn't suffer from noticeable performance issues. There's a reason why people bitch about e.g., Microsoft Teams, and it has a lot to do with language choice.
  - Denvercoder9 2y ago
    Garbage collected languages are fine for the desktop, there's plenty of software written in C# or Java that performs perfectly fine. It's mostly the web stack that tends to be bloated and slow.
    - bitwize 2y ago
      Name me a C# or Java desktop program that doesn't have annoying GC pauses or stutters. Name me a C# or Java desktop program that isn't bloated and slow compared to the equivalent C++ program. Programmers choose GC languages because it's what they want, not what users want.
      - HappySweeney 2y ago
        Maptool is written in Java and it runs as fast as anything else I use.
- fancyfredbot 2y ago
  I'd say this resource is more aimed at the developers writing the stuff on the other side of the APIs a typical desktop application calls. Not that I'm in favour of developing desktop applications in JavaScript or anything. I don't really think those are a great idea. It's just that there's a lot of intermediate steps between "let's use JavaScript" and "let's worry about using the best x86 opcodes" which are perhaps more sensible than either extreme.
- flohofwoe 2y ago
  It may help improve the code which runs that Javascript though.

95 points by HaoZeke 2y ago

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

I should point out that this has been posted [1], but not for the past half decade, long enough to need another PSA :) [1] https://hn.algolia.com/?q=https%3A%2F%2Fagner.org%2Foptimize%2F https://hn.algolia.com/?q=https%3A%2F%2Fagner.org%2Foptimize...

gpderetta 2y ago
Wrong sorting. It gets posted much more often; for example: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36905443 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36905443

ashvardanian 2y ago

This is still one of the most trusted sources for low-level optimization! uops.info is also very handy for x86 ( https://uops.info/table_overview.html https://uops.info/table_overview.html ). But if you are just starting, those may be a bit overwhelming. In that case, check out the official intrinsics guides for x86 from Intel ( https://software.intel.com/sites/landingpage/IntrinsicsGuide/ https://software.intel.com/sites/landingpage/IntrinsicsGuide... ) and a separate one for Arm ( https://developer.arm.com/architectures/instruction-sets/intrinsics/ https://developer.arm.com/architectures/instruction-sets/int... )

DeathArrow 2y ago

Too bad most people use Javascript frameworks for desktop development.

bitwize 2y ago
The software people enjoy using is typically written in C++, Rust, or Swift. Nobody writes desktop software in a GC'd language that doesn't suffer from noticeable performance issues. There's a reason why people bitch about e.g., Microsoft Teams, and it has a lot to do with language choice.
- Denvercoder9 2y ago
  Garbage collected languages are fine for the desktop, there's plenty of software written in C# or Java that performs perfectly fine. It's mostly the web stack that tends to be bloated and slow.
  - bitwize 2y ago
    Name me a C# or Java desktop program that doesn't have annoying GC pauses or stutters. Name me a C# or Java desktop program that isn't bloated and slow compared to the equivalent C++ program. Programmers choose GC languages because it's what they want, not what users want.
    - HappySweeney 2y ago
      Maptool is written in Java and it runs as fast as anything else I use.
fancyfredbot 2y ago
I'd say this resource is more aimed at the developers writing the stuff on the other side of the APIs a typical desktop application calls. Not that I'm in favour of developing desktop applications in JavaScript or anything. I don't really think those are a great idea. It's just that there's a lot of intermediate steps between "let's use JavaScript" and "let's worry about using the best x86 opcodes" which are perhaps more sensible than either extreme.
flohofwoe 2y ago
It may help improve the code which runs that Javascript though.