Code pattern recognition for a retargetable optimizer

Peephole optimization (based on code pattern recognition and replacement) is one of the latest stages in the compiler that is primarily concerned with replacing sequences of instructions with more efficient (target-specific) instructions, and by this optimizing the executed program with regards to code size, execution speed and power consumption. Because this optimization is inherently target-specific, it is hard to design an algorithm that works in a retargetable optimizing compiler. This paper presents a global, retargetable peephole optimization engine, and gives some details on the results obtained after its integration in the compiler backend.