LLVM's Clang Is Finally The FreeBSD x86 Compiler

[phoronix]

Phoronix: LLVM's Clang Is Finally The FreeBSD x86 Compiler

After talking about FreeBSD's transition to Clang as the default C/C++ compiler rather than GCC, the move has finally happened where for x86/x86_64 systems the LLVM-based compiler has replaced GCC...

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=MTIyMzM

[Cthulhux]

So FreeBSD is, as always, faster than the Linux guys.

[pingufunkybeat]

So FreeBSD is, as always, faster than the Linux guys.

Actually, after this change, it will be slower :P

[Cthulhux]

Why should it?

[-MacNuke-]

I would like to see a benchmark (also on Linux) with with normal compiler settings (-O2 or -Os ... . flags binary distributions are using).

Most of the GCC vs. clang benchmarks on this site are totally useless, because only a few people in the world compile their software with those unstable flags (-O3 -march=native -ffast-math, ...).

It would be nice to see how the compilers perform on more common flags, like -O2 and -Os without CPU-specific optimizations.

[ryao]

Actually, after this change, it will be slower :P

This change is an improvement over GCC 4.2.x, which is what FreeBSD was using previously.

[Rigaldo]

Why should it?

Because compiling faster and using less RAM, doesn't mean the end result of this compilation is better performing for any reason. It could be, but it is indicated it's not. Tiny C Compiler can probably use much less time and RAM than Clang, too ..

[hubicka]

This change is an improvement over GCC 4.2.x, which is what FreeBSD was using previously.

I would like to see actual numbers. I think it is still not the case for common benchmarks.

[pingufunkybeat]

This change is an improvement over GCC 4.2.x, which is what FreeBSD was using previously.

But he said "faster than Linux", and Linux distros have all moved beyond 4.2.x

[Cthulhux]

It could be, but it is indicated it's not.

Where do you see the indication here?