[ruby-core:96757] [Ruby master Misc#16487] Potential for SIMD usage in ruby-core

[jean.boussier@gmail.com]

Issue #16487 has been updated by byroot (Jean Boussier).


> You can't use for example AVX instructions generated from a regular C code, even if your processor supports it. You have to recompile it for your platform, that's a pain of all C programs.

Could you extend on that ? I'm not sure I understand what you mean here.



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Misc #16487: Potential for SIMD usage in ruby-core
https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/16487#change-83748

* Author: byroot (Jean Boussier)
* Status: Open
* Priority: Normal
* Assignee: 
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### Context

There are several ruby core methods that could be optimized with the use of SIMD instructions.

I experimented a bit on `coderange_scan` https://github.com/Shopify/ruby/pull/2, and Pavel Rosický experimented on `String#strip` https://github.com/ruby/ruby/pull/2815.

### Problem

The downside of SIMD instructions is that they are not universally available.
So it means maintaining several versions of the same code, and switching them either statically or dynamically.

And since most Ruby users use precompiled binaries from repositories and such, it would need to be dynamic if we want most users to benefit from it.

So it's not exactly "free speed", as it means a complexified codebase.

### Question

So the question is to know wether ruby-core is open to patches using SIMD instructions ? And if so under which conditions.

cc @shyouhei





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