Remarks — LLVM 11 documentation

# Remarks

- Introduction to the LLVM remark diagnostics

- Enabling optimization remarks

  - Remark diagnostics

  - Serialized remarks

- Serialization modes

- YAML remarks

  - YAML with a string table

  - YAML metadata

- LLVM bitstream remarks

  - META_BLOCK

  - REMARK_BLOCK

  - The remark container

- opt-viewer

  - opt-viewer.py

  - opt-stats.py

  - opt-diff.py

- Emitting remark diagnostics in the object file

- C API

- Remark streamers

## Introduction to the LLVM remark diagnostics

LLVM is able to emit diagnostics from passes describing whether an optimization has been performed or missed for a particular reason, which should give more insight to users about what the compiler did during the compilation pipeline.

There are three main remark types:

`Passed`

> Remarks that describe a successful optimization performed by the compiler.

> Example

>     foo inlined into bar with (cost=always): always inline attribute

`Missed`

> Remarks that describe an attempt to an optimization by the compiler that could not be performed.

> Example

>     foo not inlined into bar because it should never be inlined
>     (cost=never): noinline function attribute

`Analysis`

> Remarks that describe the result of an analysis, that can bring more information to the user regarding the generated code.

> Example

>     16 stack bytes in function

>     10 instructions in function

## Enabling optimization remarks

There are two modes that are supported for enabling optimization remarks in LLVM: through remark diagnostics, or through serialized remarks.

### Remark diagnostics

Optimization remarks can be emitted as diagnostics. These diagnostics will be propagated to front-ends if desired, or emitted by tools like llc or opt.

`-pass-remarks``=<regex>`

  Enables optimization remarks from passes whose name match the given (POSIX) regular expression.

`-pass-remarks-missed``=<regex>`

  Enables missed optimization remarks from passes whose name match the given (POSIX) regular expression.

`-pass-remarks-analysis``=<regex>`

  Enables optimization analysis remarks from passes whose name match the given (POSIX) regular expression.

### Serialized remarks

While diagnostics are useful during development, it is often more useful to refer to optimization remarks post-compilation, typically during performance analysis.

For that, LLVM can serialize the remarks produced for each compilation unit to a file that can be consumed later.

By default, the format of the serialized remarks is YAML, and it can be accompanied by a section in the object files to easily retrieve it.

llc and opt support the following options:

`Basic options`

> `-pass-remarks-output``=<filename>`

>   Enables the serialization of remarks to a file specified in <filename>.

>   By default, the output is serialized to YAML.

> `-pass-remarks-format``=<format>`

>   Specifies the output format of the serialized remarks.

>   Supported formats:

>   - yaml (default)

>   - yaml-strtab

>   - bitstream

`Content configuration`

> `-pass-remarks-filter``=<regex>`

>   Only passes whose name match the given (POSIX) regular expression will be serialized to the final output.

> `-pass-remarks-with-hotness```

>   With PGO, include profile count in optimization remarks.

> `-pass-remarks-hotness-threshold```

>   The minimum profile count required for an optimization remark to be emitted.

Other tools that support remarks:

llvm-lto

> `-lto-pass-remarks-output``=<filename>`
> `-lto-pass-remarks-filter``=<regex>`
> `-lto-pass-remarks-format``=<format>`
> `-lto-pass-remarks-with-hotness```
> `-lto-pass-remarks-hotness-threshold```

gold-plugin and lld

> `-opt-remarks-filename``=<filename>`
> `-opt-remarks-filter``=<regex>`
> `-opt-remarks-format``=<format>`
> `-opt-remarks-with-hotness```

## Serialization modes

There are two modes available for serializing remarks:

`Separate`

> In this mode, the remarks and the metadata are serialized separately. The client is responsible for parsing the metadata first, then use the metadata to correctly parse the remarks.

`Standalone`

> In this mode, the remarks and the metadata are serialized to the same stream. The metadata will always come before the remarks.

> The compiler does not support emitting standalone remarks. This mode is more suited for post-processing tools like linkers, that can merge the remarks for one whole project.

## YAML remarks

A typical remark serialized to YAML looks like this:

    --- !<TYPE>
    Pass: <pass>
    Name: <name>
    DebugLoc: { File: <file>, Line: <line>, Column: <column> }
    Function: <function>
    Hotness: <hotness>
    Args:
      - <key>: <value>
        DebugLoc: { File: <arg-file>, Line: <arg-line>, Column: <arg-column> }

The following entries are mandatory:

- `<TYPE>`: can be `Passed`, `Missed`, `Analysis`, `AnalysisFPCommute`, `AnalysisAliasing`, `Failure`.

- `<pass>`: the name of the pass that emitted this remark.

- `<name>`: the name of the remark coming from `<pass>`.

- `<function>`: the mangled name of the function.

If a `DebugLoc` entry is specified, the following fields are required:

- `<file>`

- `<line>`

- `<column>`

If an `arg` entry is specified, the following fields are required:

- `<key>`

- `<value>`

If a `DebugLoc` entry is specified within an `arg` entry, the following fields are required:

- `<arg-file>`

- `<arg-line>`

- `<arg-column>`

### YAML with a string table

The YAML serialization supports the usage of a string table by using the `yaml-strtab` format.

This format replaces strings in the YAML output with integers representing the index in the string table that can be provided separately through metadata.

The following entries can take advantage of the string table while respecting YAML rules:

- `<pass>`

- `<name>`

- `<function>`

- `<file>`

- `<value>`

- `<arg-file>`

Currently, none of the tools in the opt-viewer directory support this format.

### YAML metadata

The metadata used together with the YAML format is:

- a magic number: “REMARKS\0”

- the version number: a little-endian uint64_t

- the total size of the string table (the size itself excluded): little-endian uint64_t

- a list of null-terminated strings

Optional:

- the absolute file path to the serialized remark diagnostics: a null-terminated string.

When the metadata is serialized separately from the remarks, the file path should be present and point to the file where the remarks are serialized to.

In case the metadata only acts as a header to the remarks, the file path can be omitted.

## LLVM bitstream remarks

This format is using LLVM bitstream to serialize remarks and their associated metadata.

A bitstream remark stream can be identified by the magic number `"RMRK"` that is placed at the very beginning.

The format for serializing remarks is composed of two different block types:

### META_BLOCK

The block providing information about the rest of the content in the stream.

Exactly one block is expected. Having multiple metadata blocks is an error.

This block can contain the following records:

`RECORD_META_CONTAINER_INFO`

> The container version and type.

> Version: u32

> Type: u2

`RECORD_META_REMARK_VERSION`

> The version of the remark entries. This can change independently from the container version.

> Version: u32

`RECORD_META_STRTAB`

> The string table used by the remark entries. The format of the string table is a sequence of strings separated by `\0`.

`RECORD_META_EXTERNAL_FILE`

> The external remark file path that contains the remark blocks associated with this metadata. This is an absolute path.

### REMARK_BLOCK

The block describing a remark entry.

0 or more blocks per file are allowed. Each block will depend on the META_BLOCK in order to be parsed correctly.

This block can contain the following records:

`RECORD_REMARK_HEADER`

> The header of the remark. This contains all the mandatory information about a remark.

> Type | u3
> Remark name | VBR6 (string table index)
> Pass name | VBR6 (string table index)
> Function name | VBR6 (string table index)

`RECORD_REMARK_DEBUG_LOC`

> The source location for the corresponding remark. This record is optional.

> File | VBR7 (string table index)
> Line | u32
> Column | u32

`RECORD_REMARK_HOTNESS`

> The hotness of the remark. This record is optional.

> Hotness | VBR8 (string table index)

`RECORD_REMARK_ARG_WITH_DEBUGLOC`

> A remark argument with an associated debug location.

> Key | VBR7 (string table index)
> Value | VBR7 (string table index)
> File | VBR7 (string table index)
> Line | u32
> Column | u32

`RECORD_REMARK_ARG_WITHOUT_DEBUGLOC`

> A remark argument with an associated debug location.

> Key | VBR7 (string table index)
> Value | VBR7 (string table index)

### The remark container

Bitstream remarks are designed to be used in two different modes:

`The separate mode`

> The separate mode is the mode that is typically used during compilation. It provides a way to serialize the remark entries to a stream while some metadata is kept in memory to be emitted in the product of the compilation (typically, an object file).

`The standalone mode`

> The standalone mode is typically stored and used after the distribution of a program. It contains all the information that allows the parsing of all the remarks without having any external dependencies.

In order to support multiple modes, the format introduces the concept of a bitstream remark container type.

`SeparateRemarksMeta: the metadata emitted separately`

> This container type expects only a META_BLOCK containing only:

> - RECORD_META_CONTAINER_INFO

> - RECORD_META_STRTAB

> - RECORD_META_EXTERNAL_FILE

> Typically, this is emitted in a section in the object files, allowing clients to retrieve remarks and their associated metadata directly from intermediate products.

`SeparateRemarksFile: the remark entries emitted separately`

> This container type expects only a META_BLOCK containing only:

> - RECORD_META_CONTAINER_INFO

> - RECORD_META_REMARK_VERSION

> This container type expects 0 or more REMARK_BLOCK.

> Typically, this is emitted in a side-file alongside an object file, and is made to be able to stream to without increasing the memory consumption of the compiler. This is referenced by the RECORD_META_EXTERNAL_FILE entry in the SeparateRemarksMeta container.

When the parser tries to parse a container that contains the metadata for the separate remarks, it should parse the version and type, then keep the string table in memory while opening the external file, validating its metadata and parsing the remark entries.

The container versions from the separate container should match in order to have a well-formed file.

`Standalone: the metadata and the remark entries emitted together`

> This container type expects only a META_BLOCK containing only:

> - RECORD_META_CONTAINER_INFO

> - RECORD_META_REMARK_VERSION

> - RECORD_META_STRTAB

> This container type expects 0 or more REMARK_BLOCK.

A complete output of llvm-bcanalyzer on the different container types:

`SeparateRemarksMeta`

    <BLOCKINFO_BLOCK/>
    <Meta BlockID=8 NumWords=13 BlockCodeSize=3>
      <Container info codeid=1 abbrevid=4 op0=5 op1=0/>
      <String table codeid=3 abbrevid=5/> blob data = 'pass\\x00key\\x00value\\x00'
      <External File codeid=4 abbrevid=6/> blob data = '/path/to/file/name'
    </Meta>

`SeparateRemarksFile`

    <BLOCKINFO_BLOCK/>
    <Meta BlockID=8 NumWords=3 BlockCodeSize=3>
      <Container info codeid=1 abbrevid=4 op0=0 op1=1/>
      <Remark version codeid=2 abbrevid=5 op0=0/>
    </Meta>
    <Remark BlockID=9 NumWords=8 BlockCodeSize=4>
      <Remark header codeid=5 abbrevid=4 op0=2 op1=0 op2=1 op3=2/>
      <Remark debug location codeid=6 abbrevid=5 op0=3 op1=99 op2=55/>
      <Remark hotness codeid=7 abbrevid=6 op0=999999999/>
      <Argument with debug location codeid=8 abbrevid=7 op0=4 op1=5 op2=6 op3=11 op4=66/>
    </Remark>

`Standalone`

    <BLOCKINFO_BLOCK/>
    <Meta BlockID=8 NumWords=15 BlockCodeSize=3>
      <Container info codeid=1 abbrevid=4 op0=5 op1=2/>
      <Remark version codeid=2 abbrevid=5 op0=30/>
      <String table codeid=3 abbrevid=6/> blob data = 'pass\\x00remark\\x00function\\x00path\\x00key\\x00value\\x00argpath\\x00'
    </Meta>
    <Remark BlockID=9 NumWords=8 BlockCodeSize=4>
      <Remark header codeid=5 abbrevid=4 op0=2 op1=1 op2=0 op3=2/>
      <Remark debug location codeid=6 abbrevid=5 op0=3 op1=99 op2=55/>
      <Remark hotness codeid=7 abbrevid=6 op0=999999999/>
      <Argument with debug location codeid=8 abbrevid=7 op0=4 op1=5 op2=6 op3=11 op4=66/>
    </Remark>

## opt-viewer

The `opt-viewer` directory contains a collection of tools that visualize and summarize serialized remarks.

The tools only support the `yaml` format.

### opt-viewer.py

Output a HTML page which gives visual feedback on compiler interactions with your program.

> Examples

>     $ opt-viewer.py my_yaml_file.opt.yaml

>     $ opt-viewer.py my_build_dir/

### opt-stats.py

Output statistics about the optimization remarks in the input set.

> Example

>     $ opt-stats.py my_yaml_file.opt.yaml

>     Total number of remarks           3

>     Top 10 remarks by pass:
>       inline                         33%
>       asm-printer                    33%
>       prologepilog                   33%

>     Top 10 remarks:
>       asm-printer/InstructionCount   33%
>       inline/NoDefinition            33%
>       prologepilog/StackSize         33%

### opt-diff.py

Produce a new YAML file which contains all of the changes in optimizations between two YAML files.

Typically, this tool should be used to do diffs between:

- new compiler + fixed source vs old compiler + fixed source

- fixed compiler + new source vs fixed compiler + old source

This diff file can be displayed using opt-viewer.py.

> Example

>     $ opt-diff.py my_opt_yaml1.opt.yaml my_opt_yaml2.opt.yaml -o my_opt_diff.opt.yaml
>     $ opt-viewer.py my_opt_diff.opt.yaml

## Emitting remark diagnostics in the object file

A section containing metadata on remark diagnostics will be emitted for the following formats:

- `yaml-strtab`

- `bitstream`

This can be overridden by using the flag `-remarks-section=<bool>`.

The section is named:

- `__LLVM,__remarks` (MachO)

## C API

LLVM provides a library that can be used to parse remarks through a shared library named `libRemarks`.

The typical usage through the C API is like the following:

    LLVMRemarkParserRef Parser = LLVMRemarkParserCreateYAML(Buf, Size);
    LLVMRemarkEntryRef Remark = NULL;
    while ((Remark = LLVMRemarkParserGetNext(Parser))) {
       // use Remark
       LLVMRemarkEntryDispose(Remark); // Release memory.
    }
    bool HasError = LLVMRemarkParserHasError(Parser);
    LLVMRemarkParserDispose(Parser);

## Remark streamers

The `RemarkStreamer` interface is used to unify the serialization capabilities of remarks across all the components that can generate remarks.

All remark serialization should go through the main remark streamer, the `llvm::remarks::RemarkStreamer` set up in the `LLVMContext`. The interface takes remark objects converted to `llvm::remarks::Remark`, and takes care of serializing it to the requested format, using the requested type of metadata, etc.

Typically, a specialized remark streamer will hold a reference to the one set up in the `LLVMContext`, and will operate on its own type of diagnostics.

For example, LLVM IR passes will emit `llvm::DiagnosticInfoOptimization*` that get converted to `llvm::remarks::Remark` objects. Then, clang could set up its own specialized remark streamer that takes `clang::Diagnostic` objects. This can allow various components of the frontend to emit remarks using the same techniques as the LLVM remarks.

This gives us the following advantages:

- Composition: during the compilation pipeline, multiple components can set up their specialized remark streamers that all emit remarks through the same main streamer.

- Re-using the remark infrastructure in `lib/Remarks`.

- Using the same file and format for the remark emitters created throughout the compilation.

at the cost of an extra layer of abstraction.