System level MPSoC design: a bright future for compiler technology?

Abstract

Looking back at the SCOPES history, compiler research for embedded processors started out in the 1990s with two major ambitions: (1) more architecture aware code optimizations to better support specialized target machines such as DSPs, and (2) higher flexibility to enable compiler retargeting over a wide range of machines. These research efforts have led to numerous results, many of which are part of industrial products today. So, what is left to do in embedded compilers and who -in a world with "free" tools like GCC and LLVM- will pay for them? Naturally, the evolution of embedded processor architectures demands for a never-ending stream of code optimization innovations. However, we argue that the current trend towards ESL design of embedded MPSoC platforms opens up the most promising new opportunities for compiler research, going far beyond the obvious problem of sequential code partitioning. Increasingly complex software stacks, consolidation of the MPSoC platform market, and higher design abstraction levels induce many interesting novel compiler technology use cases, some of which will be highlighted in this presentation.