C++ Exception Handling for IA64

Abstract

The C++ programming language offers a feature known as exception handling, which is used, for instance, to report error conditions. This technique can result in more robust software. On the other hand, it generally has a highly negative performance impact, even when exceptions are not actually thrown. This impact is especially important on an architecture such as the HP/Intel IA-64 processor, which is very sensitive to compiler optimizations. Hewlett-Packard implemented exception handling for IA-64 in a way that leaves the door open for optimizations, even in the presence of exceptions.