llvm中如何利用分支概率和基本块频率估计

1. 背景

llvm自2.9版以后，已经集成了对分支概率和基本块频率的静态分析。

分支概率（branch probability）是指在程序的控制流图中，从控制流从一个基本块A到其任意后继基本块Si的概率。控制流从基本块A到其所有后继基本块的概率之和为1. 基本块频率（block frequency）是指在程序的控制流图中，任意基本块的执行次数。这两种信息都可以通过静态分析得到。其原理如下【1】【2】：

An alternative is static profiling, in which a compiler estimates execution frequencies (not absolute counts) with static program analysis. A static profile eliminates the drawbacks of dynamic profiling— if it accurately captures a program’s dynamic behavior. Recent work suggests that static analysis can predict dynamic program behavior. Fisher and Freudenberger [Fisher-92] observed that many programs’ dynamic branching behavior is independent of their input data. Ball and Larus developed a simple algorithm that statically predicts the outcome of a conditional branch with good accuracy [Ball-93]. Wagner et al. usedl simple estimates of branch probabilit