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Re: Exception handling



On 2007-06-07 15:03:12 +0000, Michel Hack wrote:
For example, at the physical point of interruption, typically several
instructions beyond the logical point (in systems without a precise
interrupt mode or capability), a stack frame may have been partially
unwound.  It is even possible that two frames were unwound, or that
a new frame was already (perhaps partially) activated.

IMHO, that's not a problem. All the exception handler needs to
do is to set a flag. Such a flag would just be checked at some
control points.

Preventing this type of uncertainty requires inserting synchronising
instructions (interrupt reflection barriers) at block-entry-and-exit
points, which costs plenty even when no interruptions occur,

No, they don't necessarily cost plenty. If the programmer or language
has put too many control points, this is a problem with the programmer
or the language, not with IEEE 754.

Also note that this isn't specific to FP exceptions.

-- 
Vincent Lefèvre <vincent@xxxxxxxxxx> - Web: <http://www.vinc17.org/>
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Work: CR INRIA - computer arithmetic / Arenaire project (LIP, ENS-Lyon)

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