Re: [Jikesrvm-researchers] OPT_IRTools.getLoadOp and REF_ALOAD

[David P G. <gr...@us...>]

The difference between a LOAD and an ALOAD instruction is in the 
calculation of the effective address (ALOAD implies base + scaled index, 
LOAD implies base + offset) not the value being loaded.  It is perfectly 
reasonable to use a LOAD instruction to load an array from a static or 
instance field.  It is also reasonable to use an ALOAD to load an Object 
(or primitive) from an array.

I think what you are asking for is a function that takes the type of the 
base ptr being loaded from and then determines whether to use a LOAD or 
ALOAD instruction and furthermore which particular LOAD/ALOAD to use.  We 
do not have such a function defined.

--dave