Skip to content

Change -Z asm_comments to -Z verbose_asm, stop stripping handwritten assembly comments #762

Closed
@tgross35

Description

@tgross35

Proposal

-Z asm-comments currently controls two things: stripping all comments from assembly (PreserveAsmComments), and LLVM emitting its own verbose comments (AsmVerbose). By default this option is set to false, so even handwritten comments get stripped:

use core::arch::asm;

pub fn foo() {
    unsafe {
        asm!("nop # hello");
        asm!("nop // world");
    }
}

The output doesn't have the "hello" and "world" comments anywhere:

example::foo::h61551f5681388f69:
        push    rax
        #APP

        nop

        #NO_APP
        #APP

        nop

        #NO_APP
        pop     rax
        ret

Link: https://rust.godbolt.org/z/jxdEWY6oG

There doesn't seem to be a good reason to strip handwritten assembly comments ever (within the string), since a user can just write Rust comments if they don't want something to show up in the binary. So, proposal:

  1. Rename the configuration flag to -Z verbose-asm, which will be consistent with Clang/GCC
  2. Change that config option to only control LLVM-generated comments (AsmVerbose)
  3. Change PreserveAsmComments to be always true
  4. Start an actual tracking issue so -Z verbose-asm might wind up stabilized one day

The flag was originally added at rust-lang/rust#53290

See background discussion at https://rust-lang.zulipchat.com/#narrow/stream/131828-t-compiler/topic/Comments.20in.20.60asm!.60

Mentors or Reviewers

I can do the change

Process

The main points of the Major Change Process are as follows:

  • File an issue describing the proposal.
  • A compiler team member or contributor who is knowledgeable in the area can second by writing @rustbot second.
    • Finding a "second" suffices for internal changes. If however, you are proposing a new public-facing feature, such as a -C flag, then full team check-off is required.
    • Compiler team members can initiate a check-off via @rfcbot fcp merge on either the MCP or the PR.
  • Once an MCP is seconded, the Final Comment Period begins. If no objections are raised after 10 days, the MCP is considered approved.

You can read more about Major Change Proposals on forge.

Comments

This issue is not meant to be used for technical discussion. There is a Zulip stream for that. Use this issue to leave procedural comments, such as volunteering to review, indicating that you second the proposal (or third, etc), or raising a concern that you would like to be addressed.

Metadata

Metadata

Assignees

No one assigned

    Labels

    T-compilerAdd this label so rfcbot knows to poll the compiler teammajor-changeA proposal to make a major change to rustcmajor-change-acceptedA major change proposal that was accepted

    Type

    No type

    Projects

    No projects

    Milestone

    No milestone

    Relationships

    None yet

    Development

    No branches or pull requests

    Issue actions