How do I analyze codegen with Compiler Explorer for embedded systems?

Compiler Explorer, also known as Godbolt, is a powerful tool for analyzing the code generation (codegen) output of various compilers. For embedded systems, understanding how your code translates into machine instructions is crucial for optimizing performance, memory usage, and overall efficiency. In this guide, we will explore how to analyze codegen specifically for embedded systems using Compiler Explorer.

Follow these steps to effectively use Compiler Explorer for embedded systems:

  1. Select the appropriate compiler for your embedded system (e.g., GCC, Clang).
  2. Input your C or C++ code into the editor.
  3. Configure the settings to match your target architecture (e.g., ARM, AVR).
  4. Review the generated assembly output in the right panel, which shows you how your high-level code corresponds to low-level assembly instructions.
  5. Use the annotations and optimizations settings to see the differences in codegen outputs with various optimization levels.

By leveraging Compiler Explorer, you can gain insights into how different coding practices impact performance on embedded systems.

// Example C code for embedded systems #include void setup() { // Initialize serial communication Serial.begin(9600); } void loop() { // Simple loop to print a message Serial.println("Hello, Embedded World!"); delay(1000); // Wait for a second }

Compiler Explorer codegen embedded systems machine instructions performance optimization GCC Clang assembly output