================ @@ -0,0 +1,544 @@ +======================== +Function Effect Analysis +======================== + +.. contents:: + :depth: 3 + :local: + + +Introduction +============ + +Clang Function Effect Analysis is a language extension which can warn about "unsafe" +constructs. The feature is currently tailored for the Performance Constraint attributes, +``nonblocking`` and ``nonallocating``; functions with these attributes are verified as not +containing any language constructs or calls to other functions which violate the constraint. +(See :doc:`AttributeReference`.) + + +The ``nonblocking`` and ``nonallocating`` attributes +==================================================== + +Attribute syntax +---------------- + +The ``nonblocking`` and ``nonallocating`` attributes apply to function types, allowing them to be +attached to functions, blocks, function pointers, lambdas, and member functions. + +.. code-block:: c++ + + // Functions + void nonblockingFunction() [[clang::nonblocking]]; + void nonallocatingFunction() [[clang::nonallocating]]; + + // Function pointers + void (*nonblockingFunctionPtr)() [[clang::nonblocking]]; + + // Typedefs, type aliases. + typedef void (*NBFunctionPtrTypedef)() [[clang::nonblocking]]; + using NBFunctionPtrTypeAlias_gnu = __attribute__((nonblocking)) void (*)(); + using NBFunctionPtrTypeAlias_std = void (*)() [[clang::nonblocking]]; + + // C++ methods + struct Struct { + void NBMethod() [[clang::nonblocking]]; + }; + + // C++ lambdas + auto nbLambda = []() [[clang::nonblocking]] {}; + + // Blocks + void (^nbBlock)() = ^() [[clang::nonblocking]] {}; + +The attribute applies only to the function itself. In particular, it does not apply to any nested +functions or declarations, such as blocks, lambdas, and local classes. + +This document uses the C++/C23 syntax ``[[clang::nonblocking]]``, since it parallels the placement +of the ``noexcept`` specifier, and the attributes have other similarities to ``noexcept``. The GNU +``__attribute__((nonblocking))`` syntax is also supported. Note that it requires a different +placement on a C++ type alias. + +Like ``noexcept``, ``nonblocking`` and ``nonallocating`` have an optional argument, a compile-time +constant boolean expression. By default, the argument is ``true``, so ``[[clang::nonblocking]]`` +is equivalent to ``[[clang::nonblocking(true)]]``, and declares the function type as never locking. + + +Attribute semantics +------------------- + +Together with ``noexcept``, the ``nonallocating`` and ``nonblocking`` attributes define an ordered +series of performance constraints. From weakest to strongest: + +- ``noexcept`` (as per the C++ standard): The function type will never throw an exception. +- ``nonallocating``: The function type will never allocate memory on the heap, and never throw an + exception. +- ``nonblocking``: The function type will never block on a lock, never allocate memory on the heap, + and never throw an exception. + +``nonblocking`` includes the ``nonallocating`` guarantee. + +While ``nonblocking`` and ``nonallocating`` are conceptually a superset of ``noexcept``, neither +attribute implicitly specifies ``noexcept``. Further, ``noexcept`` has a specified runtime behavior of +aborting if an exception is thrown, while the ``nonallocating`` and ``nonblocking`` attributes are +purely for compile-time analysis and have no potential runtime behavior. Nonetheless, Clang emits a +warning if, in C++, a function is declared ``nonblocking`` or ``nonallocating`` without +``noexcept``. This diagnostic is controlled by ``-Wperf-constraint-implies-noexcept``. + +Also, the ``nonblocking`` and ``blocking`` attributes do have special runtime behavior in code built +with Clang's :doc:`RealtimeSanitizer`. + +``nonblocking(true)`` and ``nonallocating(true)`` apply to function *types*, and by extension, to +function-like declarations. When applied to a declaration with a body, the compiler verifies the +function, as described in the section "Analysis and warnings", below. Functions without an explicit +performance constraint are not verified. + +``blocking`` and ``allocating`` are synonyms for ``nonblocking(false)`` and +``nonallocating(false)``, respectively. They can be used on a function-like declaration to +explicitly disable any potential inference of ``nonblocking`` or ``nonallocating`` during +verification. (Inference is described later in this document). ``nonblocking(false)`` and +``nonallocating(false)`` are legal, but superfluous when applied to a function *type*. +``float (int) [[nonblocking(false)]]`` and ``float (int)`` are identical types. ---------------- Sirraide wrote:
```suggestion ``nonallocating(false)`` are legal, but superfluous when applied to a function *type* that is not part of a declarator: ``float (int) [[nonblocking(false)]]`` and ``float (int)`` are identical types. ``` Just because that might not be 100% clear otherwise. https://github.com/llvm/llvm-project/pull/109855 _______________________________________________ cfe-commits mailing list cfe-commits@lists.llvm.org https://lists.llvm.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/cfe-commits