# InstCombine contributor guide
This guide lays out a series of rules that contributions to InstCombine should
follow. **Following these rules will results in much faster PR approvals.**
## Tests
### Precommit tests
Tests for new optimizations or miscompilation fixes should be pre-committed.
This means that you first commit the test with CHECK lines showing the behavior
*without* your change. Your actual change will then only contain CHECK line
diffs relative to that baseline.
This means that pull requests should generally contain two commits: First,
one commit adding new tests with baseline check lines. Second, a commit with
functional changes and test diffs.
If the second commit in your PR does not contain test diffs, you did something
wrong. Either you made a mistake when generating CHECK lines, or your tests are
not actually affected by your patch.
Exceptions: When fixing assertion failures or infinite loops, do not pre-commit
tests.
### Use `update_test_checks.py`
CHECK lines should be generated using the `update_test_checks.py` script. Do
**not** manually edit check lines after using it.
Be sure to use the correct opt binary when using the script. For example, if
your build directory is `build`, then you'll want to run:
```sh
llvm/utils/update_test_checks.py --opt-binary build/bin/opt \
llvm/test/Transforms/InstCombine/the_test.ll
```
Exceptions: Hand-written CHECK lines are allowed for debuginfo tests.
### General testing considerations
Place all tests relating to a transform into a single file. If you are adding
a regression test for a crash/miscompile in an existing transform, find the
file where the existing tests are located. A good way to do that is to comment
out the transform and see which tests fail.
Make tests minimal. Only test exactly the pattern being transformed. If your
original motivating case is a larger pattern that your fold enables to
optimize in some non-trivial way, you may add it as well -- however, the bulk
of the test coverage should be minimal.
Give tests short, but meaningful names. Don't call them `@test1`, `@test2` etc.
For example, a test checking multi-use behavior of a fold involving the
addition of two selects might be called `@add_of_selects_multi_use`.
Add representative tests for each test category (discussed below), but don't
test all combinations of everything. If you have multi-use tests, and you have
commuted tests, you shouldn't also add commuted multi-use tests.
Prefer to keep bit-widths for tests low to improve performance of proof checking using alive2. Using `i8` is better than `i128` where possible.
### Add negative tests
Make sure to add tests for which your transform does **not** apply. Start with
one of the test cases that succeeds and then create a sequence of negative
tests, such that **exactly one** different pre-condition of your transform is
not satisfied in each test.
### Add multi-use tests
Add multi-use tests that ensures your transform does not increase instruction
count if some instructions have additional uses. The standard pattern is to
introduce extra uses with function calls:
```llvm
declare void @use(i8)
define i8 @add_mul_const_multi_use(i8 %x) {
%add = add i8 %x, 1
call void @use(i8 %add)
%mul = mul i8 %add, 3
ret i8 %mul
}
```
Exceptions: For transform that only produce one instruction, multi-use tests
may be omitted.
### Add commuted tests
If the transform involves commutative operations, add tests with commuted
(swapped) operands.
Make sure that the operand order stays intact in the CHECK lines of your
pre-commited tests. You should not see something like this:
```llvm
; CHECK-NEXT: [[OR:%.*]] = or i8 [[X]], [[Y]]
; ...
%or = or i8 %y, %x
```
If this happens, you may need to change one of the operands to have higher
complexity (include the "thwart" comment in that case):
```llvm
%y2 = mul i8 %y, %y ; thwart complexity-based canonicalization
%or = or i8 %y, %x
```
### Add vector tests
When possible, it is recommended to add at least one test that uses vectors
instead of scalars.
For patterns that include constants, we distinguish three kinds of tests.
The first are "splat" vectors, where all the vector elements are the same.
These tests *should* usually fold without additional effort.
```llvm
define <2 x i8> @add_mul_const_vec_splat(<2 x i8> %x) {
%add = add <2 x i8> %x, <i8 1, i8 1>
%mul = mul <2 x i8> %add, <i8 3, i8 3>
ret <2 x i8> %mul
}
```
A minor variant is to replace some of the splat elements with poison. These
will often also fold without additional effort.
```llvm
define <2 x i8> @add_mul_const_vec_splat_poison(<2 x i8> %x) {
%add = add <2 x i8> %x, <i8 1, i8 poison>
%mul = mul <2 x i8> %add, <i8 3, i8 poison>
ret <2 x i8> %mul
}
```
Finally, you can have non-splat vectors, where the vector elements are not
the same:
```llvm
define <2 x i8> @add_mul_const_vec_non_splat(<2 x i8> %x) {
%add = add <2 x i8> %x, <i8 1, i8 5>
%mul = mul <2 x i8> %add, <i8 3, i8 6>
ret <2 x i8> %mul
}
```
Non-splat vectors will often not fold by default. You should **not** try to
make them fold, unless doing so does not add **any** additional complexity.
You should still add the test though, even if it does not fold.
### Flag tests
If your transform involves instructions that can have poison-generating flags,
such as `nuw` and `nsw` on `add`, you should test how these interact with the
transform.
If your transform *requires* a certain flag for correctness, make sure to add
negative tests missing the required flag.
If your transform doesn't require flags for correctness, you should have tests
for preservation behavior. If the input instructions have certain flags, are
they preserved in the output instructions, if it is valid to preserve them?
(This depends on the transform. Check with alive2.)
The same also applies to fast-math-flags (FMF). In that case, please always
test specific flags like `nnan`, `nsz` or `reassoc`, rather than the umbrella
`fast` flag.
### Other tests
The test categories mentioned above are non-exhaustive. There may be more tests
to be added, depending on the instructions involved in the transform. Some
examples:
* For folds involving memory accesses like load/store, check that scalable vectors and non-byte-size types (like i3) are handled correctly. Also check that volatile/atomic are handled.
* For folds that interact with the bitwidth in some non-trivial way, check an illegal type like i13. Also confirm that the transform is correct for i1.
* For folds that involve phis, you may want to check that the case of multiple incoming values from one block is handled correctly.
## Proofs
Your pull request description should contain one or more
[alive2 proofs](https://alive2.llvm.org/ce/) for the correctness of the
proposed transform.
### Basics
Proofs are written using LLVM IR, by specifying a `@src` and `@tgt` function.
It is possible to include multiple proofs in a single file by giving the src
and tgt functions matching suffixes.
For example, here is a pair of proofs that both `(x-y)+y` and `(x+y)-y` can
be simplified to `x` ([online](https://alive2.llvm.org/ce/z/MsPPGz)):
```llvm
define i8 @src_add_sub(i8 %x, i8 %y) {
%add = add i8 %x, %y
%sub = sub i8 %add, %y
ret i8 %sub
}
define i8 @tgt_add_sub(i8 %x, i8 %y) {
ret i8 %x
}
define i8 @src_sub_add(i8 %x, i8 %y) {
%sub = sub i8 %x, %y
%add = add i8 %sub, %y
ret i8 %add
}
define i8 @tgt_sub_add(i8 %x, i8 %y) {
ret i8 %x
}
```
### Use generic values in proofs
Proofs should operate on generic values, rather than specific constants, to the degree that this is possible.
For example, if we want to fold `X s/ C s< X` to `X s> 0`, the following would
be a *bad* proof:
```llvm
; Don't do this!
define i1 @src(i8 %x) {
%div = sdiv i8 %x, 123
%cmp = icmp slt i8 %div, %x
ret i1 %cmp
}
define i1 @tgt(i8 %x) {
%cmp = icmp sgt i8 %x, 0
ret i1 %cmp
}
```
This is because it only proves that the transform is correct for the specific
constant 123. Maybe there are some constants for which the transform is
incorrect?
The correct way to write this proof is as follows
([online](https://alive2.llvm.org/ce/z/acjwb6)):
```llvm
define i1 @src(i8 %x, i8 %C) {
%precond = icmp ne i8 %C, 1
call void @llvm.assume(i1 %precond)
%div = sdiv i8 %x, %C
%cmp = icmp slt i8 %div, %x
ret i1 %cmp
}
define i1 @tgt(i8 %x, i8 %C) {
%cmp = icmp sgt i8 %x, 0
ret i1 %cmp
}
```
Note that the `@llvm.assume` intrinsic is used to specify pre-conditions for
the transform. In this case, the proof will fail unless we specify `C != 1` as
a pre-condition.
It should be emphasized that there is, in general, no expectation that the
IR in the proofs will be transformed by the implemented fold. In the above
example, the transform would only apply if `%C` is actually a constant, but we
need to use non-constants in the proof.
### Common pre-conditions
Here are some examples of common preconditions.
```llvm
; %x is non-negative:
%nonneg = icmp sgt i8 %x, -1
call void @llvm.assume(i1 %nonneg)
; %x is a power of two:
%ctpop = call i8 @llvm.ctpop.i8(i8 %x)
%pow2 = icmp eq i8 %x, 1
call void @llvm.assume(i1 %pow2)
; %x is a power of two or zero:
%ctpop = call i8 @llvm.ctpop.i8(i8 %x)
%pow2orzero = icmp ult i8 %x, 2
call void @llvm.assume(i1 %pow2orzero)
; Adding %x and %y does not overflow in a signed sense:
%wo = call { i8, i1 } @llvm.sadd.with.overflow(i8 %x, i8 %y)
%ov = extractvalue { i8, i1 } %wo, 1
%ov.not = xor i1 %ov, true
call void @llvm.assume(i1 %ov.not)
```
### Timeouts
Alive2 proofs will sometimes produce a timeout with the following message:
```
Alive2 timed out while processing your query.
There are a few things you can try:
- remove extraneous instructions, if any
- reduce variable widths, for example to i16, i8, or i4
- add the --disable-undef-input command line flag, which
allows Alive2 to assume that arguments to your IR are not
undef. This is, in general, unsound: it can cause Alive2
to miss bugs.
```
This is good advice, follow it!
Reducing the bitwidth usually helps. For floating point numbers, you can use
the `half` type for bitwidth reduction purposes. For pointers, you can reduce
the bitwidth by specifying a custom data layout:
```llvm
; For 16-bit pointers
target datalayout = "p:16:16"
```
If reducing the bitwidth does not help, try `-disable-undef-input`. This will
often significantly improve performance, but also implies that the correctness
of the transform with `undef` values is no longer verified. This is usually
fine if the transform does not increase the number of uses of any value.
Finally, it's possible to build alive2 locally and use `-smt-to=<m>` to verify
the proof with a larger timeout. If you don't want to do this (or it still
does not work), please submit the proof you have despite the timeout.
## Implementation
### Real-world usefulness
There is a very large number of transforms that *could* be implemented, but
only a tiny fraction of them are useful for real-world code.
Transforms that do not have real-world usefulness provide *negative* value to
the LLVM project, by taking up valuable reviewer time, increasing code
complexity and increasing compile-time overhead.
We do not require explicit proof of real-world usefulness for every transform
-- in most cases the usefulness is fairly "obvious". However, the question may
come up for complex or unusual folds. Keep this in mind when chosing what you
work on.
In particular, fixes for fuzzer-generated missed optimization reports will
likely be rejected if there is no evidence of real-world usefulness.
### Pick the correct optimization pass
There are a number of passes and utilities in the InstCombine family, and it
is important to pick the right place when implementing a fold.
* `ConstantFolding`: For folding instructions with constant arguments to a constant. (Mainly relevant for intrinsics.)
* `ValueTracking`: For analyzing instructions, e.g. for known bits, non-zero, etc. Tests should usually use `-passes=instsimplify`.
* `InstructionSimplify`: For folds that do not create new instructions (either fold to existing value or constant).
* `InstCombine`: For folds that create or modify instructions.
* `AggressiveInstCombine`: For folds that are expensive, or violate InstCombine requirements.
* `VectorCombine`: For folds of vector operations that require target-dependent cost-modelling.
Sometimes, folds that logically belong in InstSimplify are placed in InstCombine instead, for example because they are too expensive, or because they are structurally simpler to implement in InstCombine.
For example, if a fold produces new instructions in some cases but returns an existing value in others, it may be preferable to keep all cases in InstCombine, rather than trying to split them among InstCombine and InstSimplify.
### Canonicalization and target-independence
InstCombine is a target-independent canonicalization pass. This means that it
tries to bring IR into a "canonical form" that other optimizations (both inside
and outside of InstCombine) can rely on. For this reason, the chosen canonical
form needs to be the same for all targets, and not depend on target-specific
cost modelling.
In many cases, "canonicalization" and "optimization" coincide. For example, if
we convert `x * 2` into `x << 1`, this both makes the IR more canonical
(because there is now only one way to express the same operation, rather than
two) and faster (because shifts will usually have lower latency than
multiplies).
However, there are also canonicalizations that don't serve any direct
optimization purpose. For example, InstCombine will canonicalize non-strict
predicates like `ule` to strict predicates like `ult`. `icmp ule i8 %x, 7`
becomes `icmp ult i8 %x, 8`. This is not an optimization in any meaningful
sense, but it does reduce the number of cases that other transforms need to
handle.
If some canonicalization is not profitable for a specific target, then a reverse
transform needs to be added in the backend. Patches to disable specific
InstCombine transforms on certain targets, or to drive them using
target-specific cost-modelling, **will not be accepted**. The only permitted
target-dependence is on DataLayout and TargetLibraryInfo.
The use of TargetTransformInfo is only allowed for hooks for target-specific
intrinsics, such as `TargetTransformInfo::instCombineIntrinsic()`. These are
already inherently target-dependent anyway.
For vector-specific transforms that require cost-modelling, the VectorCombine
pass can be used instead. In very rare circumstances, if there are no other
alternatives, target-dependent transforms may be accepted into
AggressiveInstCombine.
### PatternMatch
Many transforms make use of the matching infrastructure defined in
[PatternMatch.h](https://github.com/llvm/llvm-project/blame/main/llvm/include/llvm/IR/PatternMatch.h).
Here is a typical usage example:
```
// Fold (A - B) + B and B + (A - B) to A.
Value *A, *B;
if (match(V, m_c_Add(m_Sub(m_Value(A), m_Value(B)), m_Deferred(B))))
return A;
```
And another:
```
// Fold A + C1 == C2 to A == C1+C2
Value *A;
if (match(V, m_ICmp(Pred, m_Add(m_Value(A), m_APInt(C1)), m_APInt(C2))) &&
ICmpInst::isEquality(Pred))
return Builder.CreateICmp(Pred, A,
ConstantInt::get(A->getType(), *C1 + *C2));
```
Some common matchers are:
* `m_Value(A)`: Match any value and write it into `Value *A`.
* `m_Specific(A)`: Check that the operand equals A. Use this if A is
assigned **outside** the pattern.
* `m_Deferred(A)`: Check that the operand equals A. Use this if A is
assigned **inside** the pattern, for example via `m_Value(A)`.
* `m_APInt(C)`: Match a scalar integer constant or splat vector constant into
`const APInt *C`. Does not permit undef/poison values.
* `m_ImmConstant(C)`: Match any non-constant-expression constant into
`Constant *C`.
* `m_Constant(C)`: Match any constant into `Constant *C`. Don't use this unless
you know what you're doing.
* `m_Add(M1, M2)`, `m_Sub(M1, M2)`, etc: Match an add/sub/etc where the first
operand matches M1 and the second M2.
* `m_c_Add(M1, M2)`, etc: Match an add commutatively. The operands must match
either M1 and M2 or M2 and M1. Most instruction matchers have a commutative
variant.
* `m_ICmp(Pred, M1, M2)` and `m_c_ICmp(Pred, M1, M2)`: Match an icmp, writing
the predicate into `IcmpInst::Predicate Pred`. If the commutative version
is used, and the operands match in order M2, M1, then `Pred` will be the
swapped predicate.
* `m_OneUse(M)`: Check that the value only has one use, and also matches M.
For example `m_OneUse(m_Add(...))`. See the next section for more
information.
See the header for the full list of available matchers.
### InstCombine APIs
InstCombine transforms are handled by `visitXYZ()` methods, where XYZ
corresponds to the root instruction of your transform. If the outermost
instruction of the pattern you are matching is an icmp, the fold will be
located somewhere inside `visitICmpInst()`.
The return value of the visit method is an instruction. You can either return
a new instruction, in which case it will be inserted before the old one, and
uses of the old one will be replaced by it. Or you can return the original
instruction to indicate that *some* kind of change has been made. Finally, a
nullptr return value indicates that no change occurred.
For example, if your transform produces a single new icmp instruction, you could
write the following:
```
if (...)
return new ICmpInst(Pred, X, Y);
```
In this case the main InstCombine loop takes care of inserting the instruction
and replacing uses of the old instruction.
Alternatively, you can also write it like this:
```
if (...)
return replaceInstUsesWith(OrigI, Builder.CreateICmp(Pred, X, Y));
```
In this case `IRBuilder` will insert the instruction and `replaceInstUsesWith()`
will replace the uses of the old instruction, and return it to indicate that
a change occurred.
Both forms are equivalent, and you can use whichever is more convenient in
context. For example, it's common that folds are inside helper functions that
return `Value *` and then `replaceInstUsesWith()` is invoked on the result of
that helper.
InstCombine makes use of a worklist, which needs to be correctly updated during
transforms. This usually happens automatically, but there are some things to
keep in mind:
* Don't use the `Value::replaceAllUsesWith()` API. Use InstCombine's
`replaceInstUsesWith()` helper instead.
* Don't use the `Instruction::eraseFromParent()` API. Use InstCombine's
`eraseInstFromFunction()` helper instead. (Explicitly erasing instruction
is usually not necessary, as side-effect free instructions without users
are automatically removed.)
* Apart from the "directly return an instruction" pattern above, use IRBUilder
to create all instruction. Do not manually create and insert them.
* When replacing operands or uses of instructions, use `replaceOperand()`
and `replaceUse()` instead of `setOperand()`.
### Multi-use handling
Transforms should usually not increase the total number of instructions. This
is not a hard requirement: For example, it is usually worthwhile to replace a
single division instruction with multiple other instructions.
For example, if you have a transform that replaces two instructions, with two
other instructions, this is (usually) only profitable if *both* the original
instructions can be removed. To ensure that both instructions are removed, you
need to add a one-use check for the inner instruction.
One-use checks can be performed using the `m_OneUse()` matcher, or the
`V->hasOneUse()` method.
### Generalization
Transforms can both be too specific (only handling some odd subset of patterns,
leading to unexpected optimization cliffs) and too general (introducing
complexity to handle cases with no real-world relevance). The right level of
generality is quite subjective, so this section only provides some broad
guidelines.
* Avoid transforms that are hardcoded to specific constants. Try to figure
out what the general rule for arbitrary constants is.
* Add handling for conjugate patterns. For example, if you implement a fold
for `icmp eq`, you almost certainly also want to support `icmp ne`, with the
inverse result. Similarly, if you implement a pattern for `and` of `icmp`s,
you should also handle the de-Morgan conjugate using `or`.
* Handle non-splat vector constants if doing so is free, but do not add
handling for them if it adds any additional complexity to the code.
* Do not handle non-canonical patterns, unless there is a specific motivation
to do so. For example, it may sometimes be worthwhile to handle a pattern
that would normally be converted into a different canonical form, but can
still occur in multi-use scenarios. This is fine to do if there is specific
real-world motivation, but you should not go out of your way to do this
otherwise.
* Sometimes the motivating pattern uses a constant value with certain
properties, but the fold can be generalized to non-constant values by making
use of ValueTracking queries. Whether this makes sense depends on the case,
but it's usually a good idea to only handle the constant pattern first, and
then generalize later if it seems useful.
## Guidelines for reviewers
* Do not ask new contributors to implement non-splat vector support in code
reviews. If you think non-splat vector support for a fold is both
worthwhile and policy-compliant (that is, the handling would not result in
any appreciable increase in code complexity), implement it yourself in a
follow-up patch.
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