The paper proposes a novel software-pipelining algorithm, Register-Sensitive Force-Directed Retiming Algorithm (RS-FDRA), suitable for optimizing compilers targeting embedded very large instruction word processors. The key difference between RS-FDRA and previous approaches is that this algorithm can handle code-size constraints along with latency and resource constraints. This capability enables the exploration of Pareto "optimal" points with respect to code size and performance. RS-FDRA can also minimize the increase in register pressure typically incurred by software pipelining. This ability is critical since the need to insert spill code may result in significant performance degradation. Extensive experimental results are presented demonstrating that the extended set of optimization goals and constraints supported by RS-FDRA enables a thorough compiler-assisted exploration of tradeoffs among performance, code size, and register requirements for time-critical segments of embedded software components.

In this paper, we describe a software pipelining framework, CALiBeR (cluster aware load balancing retiming algorithm), suitable for compilers targeting clustered embedded VLIW processors. CALiBeR can be effectively used by embedded system designers to explore different code optimization alternatives, i.e. it can assist the generation of high-quality customized retiming solutions for desired program memory size and throughput requirements, while minimizing register pressure. An extensive set of experimental results is presented, considering several representative benchmark loop kernels and a wide variety of clustered datapath configurations, demonstrating that our algorithm compares favorably with one of the best state-of-the-art algorithms, achieving up to 50% improvement in performance and up to 47% improvement in register requirements.