Well, I used to do some embedded systems programming using C, and many of
the compilers would make attempts to optimize logical ops like
if( byte_variable & 0xF7 ){...
into something using a processor op equivalent to the 8051C
testbit( byte_variable, bit_offset).
The 8051 processor has several direct, optimized, bit-test and manipulation
ops built-in, equivalent to the 8051C testbit, bitset, high, and low (and
probably more that I don't recall - it's been more than 10 years). These ops
were heavily used in embedded systems (they likely still are ;-).
The idea behind the separate boolean register(s) would be to make it
simpler for the implementer of perl on one of these targets to decide what
to test for optimization. It could also make it "more better" for
determining what ops require extended functionality (like carrys/overflows
for integers... or maybe not).
I have plans on being at your demo on Tuesday and, if you'd like, I think
I still have an old Intel 8051 code manual around somewhere that you can
have. Or if I'm not making myself clear enough (which happens fairly
regularly ;-), tell me... I promise not to be offended.
Let me know,
Grant M.
