Re: [language-experts] SSA like notation on a simple AST

[Bruno Haible]

Hi Paulo,

>   The SSA like notation should make it easy to picture what is being done, and
> make it easier to figure out if in a loop, if there is a jump, e.g. goto, etc.
> 
>   A simple example could be represented as:
> 
> void t(c#0) {
>     auto a#0, b#0;
> 
>     for (a#1 = b#1 = 0; a#2 < c#0; a#2++)
>         b#2 += a#2;
> 
>     print("%d\n", b#3);
> }

You mean this notation should be used by a programmer? Or do you only
mean to indicate the internal representation of the compiler or
interpreter?

In any case, I don't see how an operator '++' can apply here. Don't you
need to resolve operator '++' first? So that you get
  a#3 = a#2 + 1

SSA is helpful for register allocation, range propagation, and similar
optimizations [1]. If your compiler is doing these kinds of optimizations,
SSA can help.

Bruno

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_single_assignment_form