Sophie

Sophie

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mlton-20100608-3.fc15.i686.rpm

\section{System Integration}
  In a heavily parameterized system like this, one very quickly ends up
  with a large number of modules and dependencies making it very
  easy to mix things up in the wrong way.  
  \image{module dependencies}{pictures/png/sharing1.png}{align=center} 
  \br{clear=left} 
   For example, MLRisc is parameterised over pseudo-ops,
  constants, and regions. An instruction set must be parameterized
  over constants so that instructions that carry immediate operands
  can also carry these abstract constants. Instructions must also be
  parameterized over regions so that memory operations can be
  appropriately annotated. Finally, the flowgraph module must be
  parameterized over instructions it carries in basic blocks and
  pseudo-ops that describe data layout and alignment constraints.

  \image{sharing constraints}{pictures/png/sharing2.png}{align=right}
  \br{clear=left}
  In integrating a system that involves these modules, it must be the
  case that they were created with the same base modules. That is to
  say the pseudo-ops in flowgraphs must be the same abstraction that
  was used to define the MLRisc intermediate
  representation. Alternatively, we want 
  \begin{color}{#ff0000}sharing constraints\end{color} 
  that assert that identity of modules used to
  specialize other modules. In Standard ML, this is a complete
  non-issue. A single line that says exactly that is all that is
  needed to maintain consistency, and the module system does the rest
  to ensure that the final system is built correctly.

  \image{Back end optimizations}{pictures/png/sharing3.png}{align=left}
  \br{clear=right}
  In certain cases one wants to write a specific module for a
  particular architecture. For instance it may be desirable to collapse
  trap barriers on the DEC Alpha where it is legal to do so. The
  INSTRUCTIONS interface is abstract with no built-in knowledge of 
  trap barriers as not all architectures have them.
  Further the DEC Alpha has fairly unique trap barrier semantics,
  that one may want to write an optimization module specific and
  dedicated to the Alpha instruction set and architecture, and forget
  about writing anything generic. In this case, the Standard ML module
  system allows one to say that a specific abstraction actually is or
  matches a more detailed interface. That is to say the INSTRUCTION
  interface is really the DEC Alpha instruction set.