Last December I posted a short video every day about a different compiler optimization. Some were obvious, some surprised me, a handful caught me out completely, and some were compiler bugs. This talk distils the most interesting into a story about where modern optimizers are scary good, where they’re stubbornly bad, and where that gap has moved. We’ll investigate a number of interesting cases interactively with Compiler Explorer, and I’ll go into some details on how the series was filmed and edited too.
About Matt Godbolt
Matt Godbolt is a C++ developer with a passion for striking the balance between readable, maintainable code and high-performance solutions. He is fascinated by looking under the hood, whether that’s exploring the inner workings of compilers, operating systems, or even the silicon powering our devices. By day, Matt applies his expertise in C++ to write high-performance software for Hudson River Trading. By night, he pursues a range of hobby projects, from emulating vintage computers in the browser and building embedded systems to developing and maintaining the Compiler Explorer website.