MIPS Options

Using and Porting GNU CC

3.14.10: MIPS Options

These `-m' options are defined for the MIPS family of computers:

-mcpu=cpu type: Assume the defaults for the machine type cpu type when scheduling instructions. The choices for cpu type are `r2000', `r3000', `r4000', `r4400', `r4600', and `r6000'. While picking a specific cpu type will schedule things appropriately for that particular chip, the compiler will not generate any code that does not meet level 1 of the MIPS ISA (instruction set architecture) without the `-mips2' or `-mips3' switches being used.
-mips1: Issue instructions from level 1 of the MIPS ISA. This is the default. `r3000' is the default cpu type at this ISA level.
-mips2: Issue instructions from level 2 of the MIPS ISA (branch likely, square root instructions). `r6000' is the default cpu type at this ISA level.
-mips3: Issue instructions from level 3 of the MIPS ISA (64 bit instructions). `r4000' is the default cpu type at this ISA level.
-mfp32: Assume that 32 32-bit floating point registers are available. This is the default.
-mfp64: Assume that 32 64-bit floating point registers are available. This is the default when the `-mips3' option is used.
-mgp32: Assume that 32 32-bit general purpose registers are available. This is the default.
-mgp64: Assume that 32 64-bit general purpose registers are available. This is the default when the `-mips3' option is used.
-mint64: Types long and int are 64 bits. This works only if `-mips3' is also specified.
-mlong64: Type long is 64 bits, and type int is 32 bits. This works only if `-mips3' is also specified.
-mmips-as: Generate code for the MIPS assembler, and invoke `mips-tfile' to add normal debug information. This is the default for all platforms except for the OSF/1 reference platform, using the OSF/rose object format. If the either of the `-gstabs' or `-gstabs+' switches are used, the `mips-tfile' program will encapsulate the stabs within MIPS ECOFF.
-mgas: Generate code for the GNU assembler. This is the default on the OSF/1 reference platform, using the OSF/rose object format.
-mrnames
-mno-rnames: The `-mrnames' switch says to output code using the MIPS software names for the registers, instead of the hardware names (ie, a0 instead of $4). The only known assembler that supports this option is the Algorithmics assembler.
-mgpopt
-mno-gpopt: The `-mgpopt' switch says to write all of the data declarations before the instructions in the text section, this allows the MIPS assembler to generate one word memory references instead of using two words for short global or static data items. This is on by default if optimization is selected.
-mstats
-mno-stats: For each non-inline function processed, the `-mstats' switch causes the compiler to emit one line to the standard error file to print statistics about the program (number of registers saved, stack size, etc.).
-mmemcpy
-mno-memcpy: The `-mmemcpy' switch makes all block moves call the appropriate string function (`memcpy' or `bcopy') instead of possibly generating inline code.
-mmips-tfile
-mno-mips-tfile: The `-mno-mips-tfile' switch causes the compiler not postprocess the object file with the `mips-tfile' program, after the MIPS assembler has generated it to add debug support. If `mips-tfile' is not run, then no local variables will be available to the debugger. In addition, `stage2' and `stage3' objects will have the temporary file names passed to the assembler embedded in the object file, which means the objects will not compare the same. The `-mno-mips-tfile' switch should only be used when there are bugs in the `mips-tfile' program that prevents compilation.
-msoft-float: Generate output containing library calls for floating point. Warning: the requisite libraries are not part of GNU CC. Normally the facilities of the machine's usual C compiler are used, but this can't be done directly in cross-compilation. You must make your own arrangements to provide suitable library functions for cross-compilation.
-mhard-float: Generate output containing floating point instructions. This is the default if you use the unmodified sources.
-mabicalls
-mno-abicalls: Emit (or do not emit) the pseudo operations `.abicalls', `.cpload', and `.cprestore' that some System V.4 ports use for position independent code.
-mlong-calls
-mno-long-calls: Do all calls with the `JALR' instruction, which requires loading up a function's address into a register before the call. You need to use this switch, if you call outside of the current 512 megabyte segment to functions that are not through pointers.
-mhalf-pic
-mno-half-pic: Put pointers to extern references into the data section and load them up, rather than put the references in the text section.
-membedded-pic
-mno-embedded-pic: Generate PIC code suitable for some embedded systems. All calls are made using PC relative address, and all data is addressed using the $gp register. This requires GNU as and GNU ld which do most of the work.
-membedded-data
-mno-embedded-data: Allocate variables to the read-only data section first if possible, then next in the small data section if possible, otherwise in data. This gives slightly slower code than the default, but reduces the amount of RAM required when executing, and thus may be preferred for some embedded systems.
-G num: 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. This allows the assembler to emit one word memory reference instructions based on the global pointer (gp or $28), instead of the normal two words used. By default, num is 8 when the MIPS assembler is used, and 0 when the GNU assembler is used. The `-G num' switch is also passed to the assembler and linker. All modules should be compiled with the same `-G num' value.
-nocpp: Tell the MIPS assembler to not run it's preprocessor over user assembler files (with a `.s' suffix) when assembling them.

These options are defined by the macro TARGET_SWITCHES in the machine description. The default for the options is also defined by that macro, which enables you to change the defaults.