RS/6000 and PowerPC Options (Using the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC))

#### 3.20.43 IBM RS/6000 and PowerPC Options ¶

These ‘`-m`’ options are defined for the IBM RS/6000 and PowerPC:

`-mcpu=cpu_type` ¶

  Set architecture type, register usage, and instruction scheduling parameters for machine type cpu_type. Supported values for cpu_type are ‘`401`’, ‘`403`’, ‘`405`’, ‘`405fp`’, ‘`440`’, ‘`440fp`’, ‘`464`’, ‘`464fp`’, ‘`476`’, ‘`476fp`’, ‘`505`’, ‘`601`’, ‘`602`’, ‘`603`’, ‘`603e`’, ‘`604`’, ‘`604e`’, ‘`620`’, ‘`630`’, ‘`740`’, ‘`7400`’, ‘`7450`’, ‘`750`’, ‘`801`’, ‘`821`’, ‘`823`’, ‘`860`’, ‘`970`’, ‘`8540`’, ‘`a2`’, ‘`e300c2`’, ‘`e300c3`’, ‘`e500mc`’, ‘`e500mc64`’, ‘`e5500`’, ‘`e6500`’, ‘`ec603e`’, ‘`G3`’, ‘`G4`’, ‘`G5`’, ‘`titan`’, ‘`power3`’, ‘`power4`’, ‘`power5`’, ‘`power5+`’, ‘`power6`’, ‘`power6x`’, ‘`power7`’, ‘`power8`’, ‘`power9`’, ‘`power10`’, ‘`power11`’, ‘`future`’, ‘`powerpc`’, ‘`powerpc64`’, ‘`powerpc64le`’, ‘`rs64`’, and ‘`native`’.

  `-mcpu=powerpc`, `-mcpu=powerpc64`, and `-mcpu=powerpc64le` specify pure 32-bit PowerPC (either endian), 64-bit big endian PowerPC and 64-bit little endian PowerPC architecture machine types, with an appropriate, generic processor model assumed for scheduling purposes.

  Specifying ‘`native`’ as cpu type detects and selects the architecture option that corresponds to the host processor of the system performing the compilation. `-mcpu=native` has no effect if GCC does not recognize the processor.

  The other options specify a specific processor. Code generated under those options runs best on that processor, and may not run at all on others.

  The `-mcpu` options automatically enable or disable the following options:

      -maltivec  -mfprnd  -mhard-float  -mmfcrf  -mmultiple
      -mpopcntb  -mpopcntd  -mpowerpc64
      -mpowerpc-gpopt  -mpowerpc-gfxopt
      -mmulhw  -mdlmzb  -mmfpgpr  -mvsx
      -mcrypto  -mhtm  -mpower8-fusion
      -mquad-memory  -mquad-memory-atomic  -mfloat128
      -mfloat128-hardware  -mprefixed  -mpcrel  -mmma
      -mdense-math -mrop-protect

  The particular options set for any particular CPU varies between compiler versions, depending on what setting seems to produce optimal code for that CPU; it doesn’t necessarily reflect the actual hardware’s capabilities. If you wish to set an individual option to a particular value, you may specify it after the `-mcpu` option, like `-mcpu=970 -mno-altivec`.

  On AIX, the `-maltivec` and `-mpowerpc64` options are not enabled or disabled by the `-mcpu` option at present because AIX does not have full support for these options. You may still enable or disable them individually if you’re sure it’ll work in your environment.

  In other cases, we recommend you use the `-mcpu=cpu_type` option rather than the options that control generation of specific instructions.

`-mtune=cpu_type` ¶

  Set the instruction scheduling parameters for machine type cpu_type, but do not set the architecture type or register usage, as `-mcpu=cpu_type` does. The same values for cpu_type are used for `-mtune` as for `-mcpu`. If both are specified, the code generated uses the architecture and registers set by `-mcpu`, but the scheduling parameters set by `-mtune`.

`-mpowerpc64` ¶
`-mno-powerpc64`

  The `-mpowerpc64` option allows GCC to generate the additional 64-bit instructions that are found in the full PowerPC64 architecture and to treat GPRs as 64-bit, doubleword quantities. GCC defaults to `-mno-powerpc64`.

`-mcmodel=small` ¶

  Generate PowerPC64 code for the small model: The TOC is limited to 64k.

`-mcmodel=medium` ¶

  Generate PowerPC64 code for the medium model: The TOC and other static data may be up to a total of 4G in size. This is the default for 64-bit Linux.

`-mcmodel=large` ¶

  Generate PowerPC64 code for the large model: The TOC may be up to 4G in size. Other data and code is only limited by the 64-bit address space.

`-mprofile-kernel` ¶

  This option is available on PowerPC64 GNU/Linux targets. When used with `-pg`, it causes calls to `mcount` to be inserted before the function prologue instead of after it.

`-maltivec` ¶
`-mno-altivec`

  Generate code that uses (does not use) AltiVec instructions, and also enable the use of built-in functions that allow more direct access to the AltiVec instruction set. You may also need to set `-mabi=altivec` to adjust the current ABI with AltiVec ABI enhancements.

  When `-maltivec` is used, the element order for AltiVec intrinsics such as `vec_splat`, `vec_extract`, and `vec_insert` match array element order corresponding to the endianness of the target. That is, element zero identifies the leftmost element in a vector register when targeting a big-endian platform, and identifies the rightmost element in a vector register when targeting a little-endian platform.

`-mpowerpc-gpopt` ¶
`-mno-powerpc-gpopt`

  Specifying `-mpowerpc-gpopt` allows GCC to use the optional PowerPC architecture instructions in the General Purpose group, including floating-point square root. Specifying

`-mpowerpc-gfxopt` ¶
`-mno-powerpc-gfxopt`

  `-mpowerpc-gfxopt` allows GCC to use the optional PowerPC architecture instructions in the Graphics group, including floating-point select.

`-mmfcrf` ¶
`-mno-mfcrf`

  The `-mmfcrf` option allows GCC to generate the move from condition register field instruction implemented on the POWER4 processor and other processors that support the PowerPC V2.01 architecture.

`-mpopcntb` ¶
`-mno-popcntb`

  The `-mpopcntb` option allows GCC to generate the popcount and double-precision FP reciprocal estimate instruction implemented on the POWER5 processor and other processors that support the PowerPC V2.02 architecture.

`-mpopcntd` ¶
`-mno-popcntd`

  The `-mpopcntd` option allows GCC to generate the popcount instruction implemented on the POWER7 processor and other processors that support the PowerPC V2.06 architecture.

`-mfprnd` ¶
`-mno-fprnd`

  The `-mfprnd` option allows GCC to generate the FP round to integer instructions implemented on the POWER5+ processor and other processors that support the PowerPC V2.03 architecture.

`-mcmpb` ¶
`-mno-cmpb`

  The `-mcmpb` option allows GCC to generate the compare bytes instruction implemented on the POWER6 processor and other processors that support the PowerPC V2.05 architecture.

`-mhard-dfp` ¶
`-mno-hard-dfp`

  The `-mhard-dfp` option allows GCC to generate the decimal floating-point instructions implemented on some POWER processors.

`-mvrsave` ¶
`-mno-vrsave`

  Generate VRSAVE instructions when generating AltiVec code.

`-msecure-plt` ¶

  Generate code that allows `ld` and `ld.so` to build executables and shared libraries with non-executable `.plt` and `.got` sections. This is a PowerPC 32-bit SYSV ABI option.

`-mbss-plt` ¶

  Generate code that uses a BSS `.plt` section that `ld.so` fills in, and requires `.plt` and `.got` sections that are both writable and executable. This is a PowerPC 32-bit SYSV ABI option.

`-msplit-patch-nops` ¶

  When adding NOPs for a patchable area via the `-fpatchable-function-entry` option emit the “before” NOPs in front of the global entry point and the “after” NOPs after the local entry point. This makes the sequence of NOPs not consecutive when a global entry point is generated. Without this option the NOPs are emitted directly before and after the local entry point, making them consecutive but moving global and local entry point further apart. If only a single entry point is generated this option has no effect.

`-misel` ¶
`-mno-isel`

  This switch enables or disables the generation of ISEL instructions.

`-mvsx` ¶
`-mno-vsx`

  Generate code that uses (does not use) vector/scalar (VSX) instructions, and also enable the use of built-in functions that allow more direct access to the VSX instruction set.

`-mcrypto` ¶
`-mno-crypto`

  Enable the use (disable) of the built-in functions that allow direct access to the cryptographic instructions that were added in version 2.07 of the PowerPC ISA.

`-mhtm` ¶
`-mno-htm`

  Enable (disable) the use of the built-in functions that allow direct access to the Hardware Transactional Memory (HTM) instructions that were added in version 2.07 of the PowerPC ISA.

`-mpower8-fusion` ¶
`-mno-power8-fusion`

  Generate code that keeps (does not keeps) some integer operations adjacent so that the instructions can be fused together on power8 and later processors.

`-mquad-memory` ¶
`-mno-quad-memory`

  Generate code that uses (does not use) the non-atomic quad word memory instructions. The `-mquad-memory` option requires use of 64-bit mode.

`-mquad-memory-atomic` ¶
`-mno-quad-memory-atomic`

  Generate code that uses (does not use) the atomic quad word memory instructions. The `-mquad-memory-atomic` option requires use of 64-bit mode.

`-mfloat128` ¶
`-mno-float128`

  Enable/disable the __float128 keyword for IEEE 128-bit floating point and use either software emulation for IEEE 128-bit floating point or hardware instructions.

  The VSX instruction set (`-mvsx`) must be enabled to use the IEEE 128-bit floating point support. The IEEE 128-bit floating point is only supported on Linux.

  The default for `-mfloat128` is enabled on PowerPC Linux systems using the VSX instruction set, and disabled on other systems.

  If you use the ISA 3.0 instruction set (`-mcpu=power9`) on a 64-bit system, the IEEE 128-bit floating point support also enables the generation of ISA 3.0 IEEE 128-bit floating point instructions. Otherwise, if you do not specify generation of ISA 3.0 instructions or you are targeting a 32-bit big-endian system, IEEE 128-bit floating point is handled with software emulation.

`-mfloat128-hardware` ¶
`-mno-float128-hardware`

  Enable/disable using ISA 3.0 hardware instructions to support the __float128 data type.

  The default for `-mfloat128-hardware` is enabled on PowerPC Linux systems using the ISA 3.0 instruction set, and disabled on other systems.

`-m32` ¶
`-m64`

  Generate code for 32-bit or 64-bit environments of Darwin and SVR4 targets (including GNU/Linux). The 32-bit environment sets int, long and pointer to 32 bits and generates code that runs on any PowerPC variant. The 64-bit environment sets int to 32 bits and long and pointer to 64 bits, and generates code for PowerPC64, as for `-mpowerpc64`.

`-mfull-toc` ¶
`-mno-fp-in-toc`
`-mno-sum-in-toc`
`-mminimal-toc`

  Modify generation of the TOC (Table Of Contents), which is created for every executable file. The `-mfull-toc` option is selected by default. In that case, GCC allocates at least one TOC entry for each unique non-automatic variable reference in your program. GCC also places floating-point constants in the TOC. However, only 16,384 entries are available in the TOC.

  If you receive a linker error message that saying you have overflowed the available TOC space, you can reduce the amount of TOC space used with the `-mno-fp-in-toc` and `-mno-sum-in-toc` options. `-mno-fp-in-toc` prevents GCC from putting floating-point constants in the TOC and `-mno-sum-in-toc` forces GCC to generate code to calculate the sum of an address and a constant at run time instead of putting that sum into the TOC. You may specify one or both of these options. Each causes GCC to produce very slightly slower and larger code at the expense of conserving TOC space.

  If you still run out of space in the TOC even when you specify both of these options, specify `-mminimal-toc` instead. This option causes GCC to make only one TOC entry for every file. When you specify this option, GCC produces code that is slower and larger but which uses extremely little TOC space. You may wish to use this option only on files that contain less frequently-executed code.

`-maix64` ¶
`-maix32`

  Enable 64-bit AIX ABI and calling convention: 64-bit pointers, 64-bit `long` type, and the infrastructure needed to support them. Specifying `-maix64` implies `-mpowerpc64`, while `-maix32` disables the 64-bit ABI and implies `-mno-powerpc64`. GCC defaults to `-maix32`.

`-mxl-compat` ¶
`-mno-xl-compat`

  Produce code that conforms more closely to IBM XL compiler semantics when using AIX-compatible ABI. Pass floating-point arguments to prototyped functions beyond the register save area (RSA) on the stack in addition to argument FPRs. Do not assume that most significant double in 128-bit long double value is properly rounded when comparing values and converting to double. Use XL symbol names for long double support routines.

  The AIX calling convention was extended but not initially documented to handle an obscure K&R C case of calling a function that takes the address of its arguments with fewer arguments than declared. IBM XL compilers access floating-point arguments that do not fit in the RSA from the stack when a subroutine is compiled without optimization. Because always storing floating-point arguments on the stack is inefficient and rarely needed, this option is not enabled by default and only is necessary when calling subroutines compiled by IBM XL compilers without optimization.

`-mpe` ¶

  Support IBM RS/6000 SP Parallel Environment (PE). Link an application written to use message passing with special startup code to enable the application to run. The system must have PE installed in the standard location (`/usr/lpp/ppe.poe/`), or the `specs` file must be overridden with the `-specs=` option to specify the appropriate directory location. The Parallel Environment does not support threads, so the `-mpe` option and the `-pthread` option are incompatible.

`-malign-natural` ¶
`-malign-power`

  On AIX, 32-bit Darwin, and 64-bit PowerPC GNU/Linux, the option `-malign-natural` overrides the ABI-defined alignment of larger types, such as floating-point doubles, on their natural size-based boundary. The option `-malign-power` instructs GCC to follow the ABI-specified alignment rules. GCC defaults to the standard alignment defined in the ABI.

  On 64-bit Darwin, natural alignment is the default, and `-malign-power` is not supported.

`-msoft-float` ¶
`-mhard-float`

  Generate code that does not use (uses) the floating-point register set. Software floating-point emulation is provided if you use the `-msoft-float` option, and pass the option to GCC when linking.

`-mmultiple` ¶
`-mno-multiple`

  Generate code that uses (does not use) the load multiple word instructions and the store multiple word instructions. These instructions are generated by default on POWER systems, and not generated on PowerPC systems. Do not use `-mmultiple` on little-endian PowerPC systems, since those instructions do not work when the processor is in little-endian mode. The exceptions are PPC740 and PPC750 which permit these instructions in little-endian mode.

`-mupdate` ¶
`-mno-update`

  Generate code that uses (does not use) the load or store instructions that update the base register to the address of the calculated memory location. These instructions are generated by default. If you use `-mno-update`, there is a small window between the time that the stack pointer is updated and the address of the previous frame is stored, which means code that walks the stack frame across interrupts or signals may get corrupted data.

`-mavoid-indexed-addresses` ¶
`-mno-avoid-indexed-addresses`

  Generate code that tries to avoid (not avoid) the use of indexed load or store instructions. These instructions can incur a performance penalty on Power6 processors in certain situations, such as when stepping through large arrays that cross a 16M boundary. This option is enabled by default when targeting Power6 and disabled otherwise.

`-mfused-madd` ¶
`-mno-fused-madd`

  Generate code that uses (does not use) the floating-point multiply and accumulate instructions. These instructions are generated by default if hardware floating point is used. The machine-dependent `-mfused-madd` option is now mapped to the machine-independent `-ffp-contract=fast` option, and `-mno-fused-madd` is mapped to `-ffp-contract=off`.

`-mmulhw` ¶
`-mno-mulhw`

  Generate code that uses (does not use) the half-word multiply and multiply-accumulate instructions on the IBM 405, 440, 464 and 476 processors. These instructions are generated by default when targeting those processors.

`-mdlmzb` ¶
`-mno-dlmzb`

  Generate code that uses (does not use) the string-search ‘`dlmzb`’ instruction on the IBM 405, 440, 464 and 476 processors. This instruction is generated by default when targeting those processors.

`-mno-bit-align` ¶
`-mbit-align`

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems do not (do) force structures and unions that contain bit-fields to be aligned to the base type of the bit-field.

  For example, by default a structure containing nothing but 8 `unsigned` bit-fields of length 1 is aligned to a 4-byte boundary and has a size of 4 bytes. By using `-mno-bit-align`, the structure is aligned to a 1-byte boundary and is 1 byte in size.

`-mbit-word` ¶
`-mno-bit-word`

  Allow bit-fields to cross word boundaries.

`-mno-strict-align` ¶
`-mstrict-align`

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems do not (do) assume that unaligned memory references are handled by the system.

`-mrelocatable` ¶
`-mno-relocatable`

  Generate code that allows (does not allow) a static executable to be relocated to a different address at run time. A simple embedded PowerPC system loader should relocate the entire contents of `.got2` and 4-byte locations listed in the `.fixup` section, a table of 32-bit addresses generated by this option. For this to work, all objects linked together must be compiled with `-mrelocatable` or `-mrelocatable-lib`. `-mrelocatable` code aligns the stack to an 8-byte boundary.

`-mrelocatable-lib` ¶
`-mno-relocatable-lib`

  Like `-mrelocatable`, `-mrelocatable-lib` generates a `.fixup` section to allow static executables to be relocated at run time, but `-mrelocatable-lib` does not use the smaller stack alignment of `-mrelocatable`. Objects compiled with `-mrelocatable-lib` may be linked with objects compiled with any combination of the `-mrelocatable` options.

`-mlittle` ¶
`-mlittle-endian`

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems compile code for the processor in little-endian mode. The `-mlittle-endian` option is the same as `-mlittle`.

`-mbig` ¶
`-mbig-endian`

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems compile code for the processor in big-endian mode. The `-mbig-endian` option is the same as `-mbig`.

`-mdynamic-no-pic` ¶

  On Darwin / macOS systems, compile code so that it is not relocatable, but that its external references are relocatable. The resulting code is suitable for applications, but not shared libraries.

`-msingle-pic-base` ¶

  Treat the register used for PIC addressing as read-only, rather than loading it in the prologue for each function. The runtime system is responsible for initializing this register with an appropriate value before execution begins.

`-mprioritize-restricted-insns=priority` ¶

  This option controls the priority that is assigned to dispatch-slot restricted instructions during the second scheduling pass. The argument priority takes the value ‘`0`’, ‘`1`’, or ‘`2`’ to assign no, highest, or second-highest (respectively) priority to dispatch-slot restricted instructions.

`-msched-costly-dep=dependence_type` ¶

  This option controls which dependences are considered costly by the target during instruction scheduling. The argument dependence_type takes one of the following values:

  ‘`no`’

    No dependence is costly.

  ‘`all`’

    All dependences are costly.

  ‘`true_store_to_load`’

    A true dependence from store to load is costly.

  ‘`store_to_load`’

    Any dependence from store to load is costly.

  number

    Any dependence for which the latency is greater than or equal to number is costly.

`-minsert-sched-nops=scheme` ¶

  This option controls which NOP insertion scheme is used during the second scheduling pass. The argument scheme takes one of the following values:

  ‘`no`’

    Don’t insert NOPs.

  ‘`pad`’

    Pad with NOPs any dispatch group that has vacant issue slots, according to the scheduler’s grouping.

  ‘`regroup_exact`’

    Insert NOPs to force costly dependent insns into separate groups. Insert exactly as many NOPs as needed to force an insn to a new group, according to the estimated processor grouping.

  number

    Insert NOPs to force costly dependent insns into separate groups. Insert number NOPs to force an insn to a new group.

`-mcall-sysv` ¶

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems compile code using calling conventions that adhere to the March 1995 draft of the System V Application Binary Interface, PowerPC processor supplement. This is the default unless you configured GCC using ‘`powerpc-*-eabiaix`’.

`-mcall-sysv-eabi` ¶
`-mcall-eabi`

  Specify both `-mcall-sysv` and `-meabi` options.

`-mcall-sysv-noeabi` ¶

  Specify both `-mcall-sysv` and `-mno-eabi` options.

`-mcall-aixdesc` ¶

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems compile code for the AIX operating system.

`-mcall-linux` ¶

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems compile code for the Linux-based GNU system.

`-mcall-freebsd` ¶

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems compile code for the FreeBSD operating system.

`-mcall-netbsd` ¶

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems compile code for the NetBSD operating system.

`-mcall-openbsd` ¶

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems compile code for the OpenBSD operating system.

`-mtraceback=traceback_type` ¶

  Select the type of traceback table. Valid values for traceback_type are ‘`full`’, ‘`part`’, and ‘`no`’.

`-maix-struct-return` ¶

  Return all structures in memory (as specified by the AIX ABI).

`-msvr4-struct-return` ¶

  Return structures smaller than 8 bytes in registers (as specified by the SVR4 ABI).

`-mabi=abi-type` ¶

  Extend the current ABI with a particular extension, or remove such extension. Valid values are: ‘`altivec`’, ‘`no-altivec`’, ‘`ibmlongdouble`’, ‘`ieeelongdouble`’, ‘`elfv1`’, ‘`elfv2`’, and for AIX: ‘`vec-extabi`’, ‘`vec-default`’.

`-mabi=ibmlongdouble` ¶

  Change the current ABI to use IBM extended-precision long double. This is not likely to work if your system defaults to using IEEE extended-precision long double. If you change the long double type from IEEE extended-precision, the compiler issues a warning unless you use the `-Wno-psabi` option (see Options to Request or Suppress Warnings). Requires `-mlong-double-128` to be enabled.

`-mabi=ieeelongdouble` ¶

  Change the current ABI to use IEEE extended-precision long double. This is not likely to work if your system defaults to using IBM extended-precision long double. If you change the long double type from IBM extended-precision, the compiler issues a warning unless you use the `-Wno-psabi` option (see Options to Request or Suppress Warnings). Requires `-mlong-double-128` to be enabled.

`-mabi=elfv1` ¶

  Change the current ABI to use the ELFv1 ABI. This is the default ABI for big-endian PowerPC 64-bit Linux. Overriding the default ABI requires special system support and is likely to fail in spectacular ways.

`-mabi=elfv2` ¶

  Change the current ABI to use the ELFv2 ABI. This is the default ABI for little-endian PowerPC 64-bit Linux. Overriding the default ABI requires special system support and is likely to fail in spectacular ways.

`-mgnu-attribute` ¶
`-mno-gnu-attribute`

  Emit .gnu_attribute assembly directives to set tag/value pairs in a .gnu.attributes section that specify ABI variations in function parameters or return values.

`-mprototype` ¶
`-mno-prototype`

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems assume that all calls to variable argument functions are properly prototyped. Otherwise, the compiler must insert an instruction before every non-prototyped call to set or clear bit 6 of the condition code register (`CR`) to indicate whether floating-point values are passed in the floating-point registers in case the function takes variable arguments. With `-mprototype`, only calls to prototyped variable argument functions set or clear the bit.

`-msim` ¶

  On embedded PowerPC systems, assume that the startup module is called `sim-crt0.o` and that the standard C libraries are `libsim.a` and `libc.a`. This is the default for ‘`powerpc-*-eabisim`’ configurations.

`-mmvme` ¶

  On embedded PowerPC systems, assume that the startup module is called `crt0.o` and the standard C libraries are `libmvme.a` and `libc.a`.

`-mads` ¶

  On embedded PowerPC systems, assume that the startup module is called `crt0.o` and the standard C libraries are `libads.a` and `libc.a`.

`-myellowknife` ¶

  On embedded PowerPC systems, assume that the startup module is called `crt0.o` and the standard C libraries are `libyk.a` and `libc.a`.

`-mvxworks` ¶

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems, specify that you are compiling for a VxWorks system.

`-memb` ¶

  On embedded PowerPC systems, set the `PPC_EMB` bit in the ELF flags header to indicate that ‘`eabi`’ extended relocations are used.

`-meabi` ¶
`-mno-eabi`

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems do (do not) adhere to the Embedded Applications Binary Interface (EABI), which is a set of modifications to the System V.4 specifications. Selecting `-meabi` means that the stack is aligned to an 8-byte boundary, a function `__eabi` is called from `main` to set up the EABI environment, and the `-msdata` option can use both `r2` and `r13` to point to two separate small data areas. Selecting `-mno-eabi` means that the stack is aligned to a 16-byte boundary, no EABI initialization function is called from `main`, and the `-msdata` option only uses `r13` to point to a single small data area. The `-meabi` option is on by default if you configured GCC using one of the ‘`powerpc*-*-eabi*`’ options.

`-msdata=eabi` ¶

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems, put small initialized `const` global and static data in the `.sdata2` section, which is pointed to by register `r2`. Put small initialized non-`const` global and static data in the `.sdata` section, which is pointed to by register `r13`. Put small uninitialized global and static data in the `.sbss` section, which is adjacent to the `.sdata` section. The `-msdata=eabi` option is incompatible with the `-mrelocatable` option. The `-msdata=eabi` option also sets the `-memb` option.

`-msdata=sysv` ¶

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems, put small global and static data in the `.sdata` section, which is pointed to by register `r13`. Put small uninitialized global and static data in the `.sbss` section, which is adjacent to the `.sdata` section. The `-msdata=sysv` option is incompatible with the `-mrelocatable` option.

`-msdata=default` ¶
`-msdata`

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems, if `-meabi` is used, compile code the same as `-msdata=eabi`, otherwise compile code the same as `-msdata=sysv`.

`-msdata=data` ¶

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems, put small global data in the `.sdata` section. Put small uninitialized global data in the `.sbss` section. Do not use register `r13` to address small data however. This is the default behavior unless other `-msdata` options are used.

`-msdata=none` ¶
`-mno-sdata`

  On embedded PowerPC systems, put all initialized global and static data in the `.data` section, and all uninitialized data in the `.bss` section.

`-mreadonly-in-sdata` ¶

  Put read-only objects in the `.sdata` section as well. This is the default.

`-mblock-move-inline-limit=num` ¶

  Inline all block moves (such as calls to `memcpy` or structure copies) less than or equal to num bytes. The minimum value for num is 32 bytes on 32-bit targets and 64 bytes on 64-bit targets. The default value is target-specific.

`-mblock-compare-inline-limit=num` ¶

  Generate non-looping inline code for all block compares (such as calls to `memcmp` or structure compares) less than or equal to num bytes. If num is 0, all inline expansion (non-loop and loop) of block compare is disabled. The default value is target-specific.

`-mblock-compare-inline-loop-limit=num` ¶

  Generate an inline expansion using loop code for all block compares that are less than or equal to num bytes, but greater than the limit for non-loop inline block compare expansion. If the block length is not constant, at most num bytes are compared before `memcmp` is called to compare the remainder of the block. The default value is target-specific.

`-mstring-compare-inline-limit=num` ¶

  Compare at most num string bytes with inline code. If the difference or end of string is not found at the end of the inline compare, a call to `strcmp` or `strncmp` takes care of the rest of the comparison. The default is 64 bytes.

`-G num` ¶

  On embedded PowerPC systems, put global and static items less than or equal to num bytes into the small data or BSS sections instead of the normal data or BSS section. By default, num is 8. The `-G num` switch is also passed to the linker. All modules should be compiled with the same `-G num` value.

`-mregnames` ¶
`-mno-regnames`

  On System V.4 and embedded PowerPC systems do (do not) emit register names in the assembly language output using symbolic forms.

`-mlongcall` ¶
`-mno-longcall`

  By default assume that all calls are far away so that a longer and more expensive calling sequence is required. This is required for calls farther than 32 megabytes (33,554,432 bytes) from the current location. A short call is generated if the compiler knows the call cannot be that far away. This setting can be overridden by the `shortcall` function attribute, or by `#pragma longcall(0)`.

  Some linkers are capable of detecting out-of-range calls and generating glue code on the fly. On these systems, long calls are unnecessary and generate slower code. As of this writing, the AIX linker can do this, as can the GNU linker for PowerPC/64. It is planned to add this feature to the GNU linker for 32-bit PowerPC systems as well.

  On PowerPC64 ELFv2 and 32-bit PowerPC systems with newer GNU linkers, GCC can generate long calls using an inline PLT call sequence (see `-mpltseq`). PowerPC with `-mbss-plt` and PowerPC64 ELFv1 (big-endian) do not support inline PLT calls.

  On Darwin/PPC systems, `#pragma longcall` generates `jbsr callee, L42`, plus a branch island (glue code). The two target addresses represent the callee and the branch island. The Darwin/PPC linker prefers the first address and generates a `bl callee` if the PPC `bl` instruction reaches the callee directly; otherwise, the linker generates `bl L42` to call the branch island. The branch island is appended to the body of the calling function; it computes the full 32-bit address of the callee and jumps to it.

  On Mach-O (Darwin) systems, this option directs the compiler emit to the glue for every direct call, and the Darwin linker decides whether to use or discard it.

  In the future, GCC may ignore all longcall specifications when the linker is known to generate glue.

`-mpltseq` ¶
`-mno-pltseq`

  Implement (do not implement) -fno-plt and long calls using an inline PLT call sequence that supports lazy linking and long calls to functions in dlopen’d shared libraries. Inline PLT calls are only supported on PowerPC64 ELFv2 and 32-bit PowerPC systems with newer GNU linkers, and are enabled by default if the support is detected when configuring GCC, and, in the case of 32-bit PowerPC, if GCC is configured with `--enable-secureplt`. `-mpltseq` code and `-mbss-plt` 32-bit PowerPC relocatable objects may not be linked together.

`-mtls-markers` ¶
`-mno-tls-markers`

  Mark (do not mark) calls to `__tls_get_addr` with a relocation specifying the function argument. The relocation allows the linker to reliably associate function call with argument setup instructions for TLS optimization, which in turn allows GCC to better schedule the sequence.

`-mrecip` ¶
`-mno-recip`

  This option enables use of the reciprocal estimate and reciprocal square root estimate instructions with additional Newton-Raphson steps to increase precision instead of doing a divide or square root and divide for floating-point arguments. You should use the `-ffast-math` option when using `-mrecip` (or at least `-funsafe-math-optimizations`, `-ffinite-math-only`, `-freciprocal-math` and `-fno-trapping-math`). Note that while the throughput of the sequence is generally higher than the throughput of the non-reciprocal instruction, the precision of the sequence can be decreased by up to 2 ulp (i.e. the inverse of 1.0 equals 0.99999994) for reciprocal square roots.

`-mrecip=opt` ¶

  This option controls which reciprocal estimate instructions may be used. opt is a comma-separated list of options, which may be preceded by a `!` to invert the option:

  ‘`all`’

    Enable all estimate instructions.

  ‘`default`’

    Enable the default instructions, equivalent to `-mrecip`.

  ‘`none`’

    Disable all estimate instructions, equivalent to `-mno-recip`.

  ‘`div`’

    Enable the reciprocal approximation instructions for both single and double precision.

  ‘`divf`’

    Enable the single-precision reciprocal approximation instructions.

  ‘`divd`’

    Enable the double-precision reciprocal approximation instructions.

  ‘`rsqrt`’

    Enable the reciprocal square root approximation instructions for both single and double precision.

  ‘`rsqrtf`’

    Enable the single-precision reciprocal square root approximation instructions.

  ‘`rsqrtd`’

    Enable the double-precision reciprocal square root approximation instructions.

  So, for example, `-mrecip=all,!rsqrtd` enables all of the reciprocal estimate instructions, except for the `FRSQRTE`, `XSRSQRTEDP`, and `XVRSQRTEDP` instructions which handle the double-precision reciprocal square root calculations.

`-mrecip-precision` ¶
`-mno-recip-precision`

  Assume (do not assume) that the reciprocal estimate instructions provide higher-precision estimates than is mandated by the PowerPC ABI. Selecting `-mcpu=power6`, `-mcpu=power7` or `-mcpu=power8` automatically selects `-mrecip-precision`. The double-precision square root estimate instructions are not generated by default on low-precision machines, since they do not provide an estimate that converges after three steps.

`-mveclibabi=type` ¶

  Specifies the ABI type to use for vectorizing intrinsics using an external library. The only type supported at present is ‘`mass`’, which specifies to use IBM’s Mathematical Acceleration Subsystem (MASS) libraries for vectorizing intrinsics using external libraries. GCC currently emits calls to `acosd2`, `acosf4`, `acoshd2`, `acoshf4`, `asind2`, `asinf4`, `asinhd2`, `asinhf4`, `atan2d2`, `atan2f4`, `atand2`, `atanf4`, `atanhd2`, `atanhf4`, `cbrtd2`, `cbrtf4`, `cosd2`, `cosf4`, `coshd2`, `coshf4`, `erfcd2`, `erfcf4`, `erfd2`, `erff4`, `exp2d2`, `exp2f4`, `expd2`, `expf4`, `expm1d2`, `expm1f4`, `hypotd2`, `hypotf4`, `lgammad2`, `lgammaf4`, `log10d2`, `log10f4`, `log1pd2`, `log1pf4`, `log2d2`, `log2f4`, `logd2`, `logf4`, `powd2`, `powf4`, `sind2`, `sinf4`, `sinhd2`, `sinhf4`, `sqrtd2`, `sqrtf4`, `tand2`, `tanf4`, `tanhd2`, and `tanhf4` when generating code for power7. Both `-ftree-vectorize` and `-funsafe-math-optimizations` must also be enabled. The MASS libraries must be specified at link time.

`-mfriz` ¶
`-mno-friz`

  Generate (do not generate) the `friz` instruction when the `-funsafe-math-optimizations` option is used to optimize rounding of floating-point values to 64-bit integer and back to floating point. The `friz` instruction does not return the same value if the floating-point number is too large to fit in an integer.

`-mpointers-to-nested-functions` ¶
`-mno-pointers-to-nested-functions`

  Generate (do not generate) code to load up the static chain register (`r11`) when calling through a pointer on AIX and 64-bit Linux systems where a function pointer points to a 3-word descriptor giving the function address, TOC value to be loaded in register `r2`, and static chain value to be loaded in register `r11`. The `-mpointers-to-nested-functions` is on by default. You cannot call through pointers to nested functions or pointers to functions compiled in other languages that use the static chain if you use `-mno-pointers-to-nested-functions`.

`-msave-toc-indirect` ¶
`-mno-save-toc-indirect`

  Generate (do not generate) code to save the TOC value in the reserved stack location in the function prologue if the function calls through a pointer on AIX and 64-bit Linux systems. If the TOC value is not saved in the prologue, it is saved just before the call through the pointer. The `-mno-save-toc-indirect` option is the default.

`-mcompat-align-parm` ¶
`-mno-compat-align-parm`

  Generate (do not generate) code to pass structure parameters with a maximum alignment of 64 bits, for compatibility with older versions of GCC.

  Older versions of GCC (prior to 4.9.0) incorrectly did not align a structure parameter on a 128-bit boundary when that structure contained a member requiring 128-bit alignment. This is corrected in more recent versions of GCC. This option may be used to generate code that is compatible with functions compiled with older versions of GCC.

  The `-mno-compat-align-parm` option is the default.

`-mstack-protector-guard=guard` ¶
`-mstack-protector-guard-reg=reg`
`-mstack-protector-guard-offset=offset`

  Generate stack protection code using canary at guard. Supported locations are ‘`global`’ for global canary or ‘`tls`’ for per-thread canary in the TLS block (the default with GNU libc version 2.4 or later).

  With the latter choice the options `-mstack-protector-guard-reg=reg` and `-mstack-protector-guard-offset=offset` furthermore specify which register to use as base register for reading the canary, and from what offset from that base register. The default for those is as specified in the relevant ABI.

`-mpcrel` ¶
`-mno-pcrel`

  Generate (do not generate) pc-relative addressing. The `-mpcrel` option requires that the medium code model (`-mcmodel=medium`) and prefixed addressing (`-mprefixed`) options are enabled.

`-mprefixed` ¶
`-mno-prefixed`

  Generate (do not generate) addressing modes using prefixed load and store instructions. The `-mprefixed` option requires that the option `-mcpu=power10` (or later) is enabled.

`-mmma` ¶
`-mno-mma`

  Generate (do not generate) the MMA instructions. The `-mma` option requires that the option `-mcpu=power10` (or later) is enabled.

`-mdense-math` ¶
`-mno-dense-math`

  Generate (do not generate) Dense Math Facility (DMF) instructions. The `-mdense-math` option requires that the option `-mcpu=future` (or later) is enabled.

`-mrop-protect` ¶
`-mno-rop-protect`

  Generate (do not generate) ROP protection instructions when the target processor supports them. Currently this option disables the shrink-wrap optimization (`-fshrink-wrap`).

`-mprivileged` ¶
`-mno-privileged`

  Generate (do not generate) code that runs in privileged state.

`-mblock-ops-unaligned-vsx` ¶
`-mno-block-ops-unaligned-vsx`

  Generate (do not generate) unaligned vsx loads and stores for inline expansion of `memcpy` and `memmove`.

`-msplat-word-constant` ¶
`-mno-splat-word-constant`

  Generate (do not generate) code that uses the `XXSPLTIW` instruction. This option is enabled by default.

`-msplat-float-constant` ¶
`-mno-splat-float-constant`

  Generate (do not generate) code that uses the `XXSPLTIDP` instruction. This option is enabled by default.

`-mieee128-constant` ¶
`-mno-ieee128-constant`

  Generate (do not generate) code that uses the `LXVKQ` instruction. This option is enabled by default.

`-mwarn-altivec-long` ¶
`-mno-warn-altivec-long`

  Enable or disable warnings about deprecated ‘`vector long ...`’ Altivec type usage. This option is enabled by default.