On 11/19/2009 10:33 AM, Steven Rostedt wrote:
>
> It has to align the entire stack? Why not just the variable within the
> stack?
>
Because if the stack pointer isn't aligned, it won't know where it can
stuff the variable. It has to pad *somewhere*, and since you may have
more than one such variable, the most efficient way -- and by far least
complex -- is for the compiler to align the stack when it sets up the
stack frame.
-hpa
--
H. Peter Anvin, Intel Open Source Technology Center
I work for Intel. I don't speak on their behalf.