Editing GNU Compiler Collection (section)

=== GENERIC and GIMPLE ===
''GENERIC'' is an [[intermediate representation]] language used as a "middle end" while compiling source code into [[executable|executable binaries]]. A subset, called ''GIMPLE'', is targeted by all the front ends of GCC.

The middle stage of GCC does all of the code analysis and [[optimizing compiler|optimization]], working independently of both the compiled language and the target architecture, starting from the GENERIC<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gccint/GENERIC.html|title=GENERIC (GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) Internals)|website=gcc.gnu.org|access-date=July 25, 2016|archive-date=January 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118185814/https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gccint/GENERIC.html|url-status=live}}</ref> representation and expanding it to [[register transfer language]] (RTL). The GENERIC representation contains only the subset of the imperative [[computer programming|programming]] constructs optimized by the middle end.

In transforming the source code to GIMPLE,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gccint/GIMPLE.html|title=GIMPLE (GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) Internals)|website=gcc.gnu.org|access-date=July 25, 2016|archive-date=January 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118185814/https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gccint/GIMPLE.html|url-status=live}}</ref> complex [[Expression (programming)|expressions]] are split into a [[three-address code]] using [[temporary variable]]s. This representation was inspired by the SIMPLE representation proposed in the McCAT compiler<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www-acaps.cs.mcgill.ca/info/McCAT/McCAT.html |title=McCAT |access-date=2017-09-14 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812030043/http://www-acaps.cs.mcgill.ca/info/McCAT/McCAT.html |archive-date=August 12, 2004 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> by Laurie J. Hendren<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sable.mcgill.ca/~hendren/|title=Laurie Hendren's Home Page|website=www.sable.mcgill.ca|access-date=July 20, 2009|archive-date=September 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927074148/http://www.sable.mcgill.ca/~hendren/|url-status=live}}</ref> for simplifying the analysis and [[Optimization (computer science)|optimization]] of [[Imperative programming|imperative programs]].