IBM releases compiler for G5

[Captain Code]

http://apple.slashdot.org/apple/03/0...id=137&tid=181

They say it makes a huge difference in application speed compared to GCC. Apple needs to use this compiler(if they aren't already) to compile Panther!

I have no idea if it will compile Objective-C but let's hope it does, and that Apple replaces GCC in XCode with this new compiler.

[Arden]

I'm sure Apple will use it if they don't already. Why would they not? They could solve some of the speed issues just by recompiling.

[Krevinek]

Originally posted by arden
I'm sure Apple will use it if they don't already. Why would they not? They could solve some of the speed issues just by recompiling.

They aren't using IBM's compiler now, and I doubt they would jump over to IBM's compiler later just because it is more optimized for the G5. On top of that, we don't know how optimized IBM's compiler is over gcc (considering Apple and IBM optimized that for the G5 to an extent already).

G5s don't have speed issues with OS X to begin with, and using IBM's compiler will not improve any speed issues you have with your G4/G3 system now.

[fryke]

Yes, what speed issues? ;-) Plus: It's a C++ and Fortran compiler, so it doesn't compile Objective-C (so far). Also: Apple would quite surely not switch compilers for Panther NOW so shortly before release time (let's hope it's AppleExpo Paris!). Also, it's a compiler only for the G5 processors. Do we want to be second class citizens on G3s/G4s so fast? No, we don't.

It's always a pro/con-thing with backwards compatibility, but with iBooks shipping with G3 processors, PowerBooks/iMacs/eMacs shipping with G4 processors, this is quite certainly a no-go.

[lurk]

The News out of NASA is that it compiles for the G4 quite nicely and that is significanty faster.

The thing to keep in mind about GCC is that it is above all else a portable compiler and it uses a generic model of what a processor is and can do. As soon as you can specialize on a single archetectrue or processor there are many more things the compiler can do.

[jazzyjim]

Actually if you read the thread (and the associated Ars thread) you will see that the compiler does indeed compile code for any altivec enabled PowerPC chip including the G4. This compiler does not compile objectiveC but it could be used to compile low level core system libraries... Either way, its a nice development

[lnoelstorr]

I wonder if we'll see benchmarks with this new compiler soon.

All the wintel goons starting crying when the benchmarks didn't use Intel's optimised compiler. I wonder how the IBM compiler on a G5 would compare with the Intel one on a P4.

[Captain Code]

If it produces faster code than GCC 3.1(shouldn't be that hard ) for the G4 as well as the G5, then why SHOULDN'T Apple use it?

I doubt they would switch compilers for Panther this close to release, but it could be possible.

They'll need to update it with Objective-C support before using it in XCode, or they could have it the default compiler for C/C++ and GCC 3.1 for Objective-C.