Multiplying an unsigned char by 64U produces bigger slower code than necessary.
avr-gcc (WinAVR 20081205) 4.3.2 Copyright (C) 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc. This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Windows XP avr-gcc -c -mmcu=atmega168 -save-temps -Wall -std=gnu99 -Os ../64.c No terminal output. 64.i: # 1 "../64.c" # 1 "<built-in>" # 1 "<command-line>" # 1 "../64.c" unsigned mult(unsigned char arg) { return arg*64U; } compiled into this: Code: mov r18,r24 ldi r19,lo8(0) ldi r24,6 1: lsl r18 rol r19 dec r24 brne 1b movw r24,r18 ret Not this: Code: mov r19,r24 ldi r18,0 lsr r19 ror r18 lsr r19 ror r18 movw r24,r18 ret or this Code: mov r25,r24 ldi r24,0 lsr r25 ror r24 lsr r25 ror r24 ret Each example is faster than the previous. If R0 and R1 had been deemed available, using MUL would have been even faster, but MUL doesn't get used even in that case. -- Summary: unsigned char times 64U produces long slow loop Product: gcc Version: 4.3.2 Status: UNCONFIRMED Severity: normal Priority: P3 Component: c AssignedTo: unassigned at gcc dot gnu dot org ReportedBy: hennebry at web dot cs dot ndsu dot nodak dot edu GCC build triplet: avr-gcc (WinAVR 20081205) 4.3.2? http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=39250