Just a small thought...

Why not provide interfaces to _ANY_ assembler (as86, gas, masm, tasm)
defined in some sort of "compiler inline assembler section configuration
file" ;)

-> assemblers.conf:

  <assembler id="masm">
    <exec>c:\masm\bin\ml.exe</exec>
    <param>-c</param>
  </assembler>

-> test.d:

  .
  .
  .

  version(X86) {
    asm(masm) {
      ...
    }
  }
  version(SparcIII) {
    asm(gas) {
      ...
    }
  }
  else
  {
    ...
  }

  .
  .
  .


Benefits:

-> Inline assembly code easier to port
-> Cutting-edge opcodes are always supported using latest assembler versions
(e.g. Intel's SSE)

That would require the D compiler to emit assembler source for everything else, for feeding to the assembler. It's less work to just build the assembler right into the compiler, and the result is much faster compilation, and no bugs due to mismatched assembler/compiler combinations.

"Rui Lopes" <ruidlopes@netcabo.pt> wrote in message news:avsj02$bbi$1@digitaldaemon.com...
> Just a small thought...
>
> Why not provide interfaces to _ANY_ assembler (as86, gas, masm, tasm)
> defined in some sort of "compiler inline assembler section configuration
> file" ;)
>
> -> assemblers.conf:
>
>   <assembler id="masm">
>     <exec>c:\masm\bin\ml.exe</exec>
>     <param>-c</param>
>   </assembler>
>
> -> test.d:
>
>   .
>   .
>   .
>
>   version(X86) {
>     asm(masm) {
>       ...
>     }
>   }
>   version(SparcIII) {
>     asm(gas) {
>       ...
>     }
>   }
>   else
>   {
>     ...
>   }
>
>   .
>   .
>   .
>
>
> Benefits:
>
> -> Inline assembly code easier to port
> -> Cutting-edge opcodes are always supported using latest assembler
versions
> (e.g. Intel's SSE)
>
>

On Sun, 12 Jan 2003 20:28:27 -0000
"Rui Lopes" <ruidlopes@netcabo.pt> wrote:

>   version(X86) {
>     asm(masm) {
>       ...
>     }
>   }
>   version(SparcIII) {
>     asm(gas) {
>       ...
>     }
>   }
>   else
>   {
>     ...
>   }

I think, rather than do that, asm() should accept the CPU type, and can either use an internal assembler or whatever is available for that arch.

-- 
Theodore Reed (rizen/bancus)       -==-       http://www.surreality.us/ ~OpenPGP Signed/Encrypted Mail Preferred; Finger me for my public key!~

"We were born with a curse. It has always driven us to thoughts which men may not wish. We know that we are evil, but there is no will in us and no power to resist it. This is our wonder and our secret fear, that we know and do not resist." -- Equality 7-2521, Ayn Rand's Anthem