HLLDA defies RISC: thoughts on RISCs, CISCs, and HLLDAs

Abstract

High Level Language Directed Architectures (HLLDAs) are usually intended as ideal hosts for programs written in the supported languages. Patterson et al. [1] have claimed that, in general, a Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) is less efficient than a simpler computer with a sophisticated compiler. We claim in this note that HLLDAs should not all be lumped into this generalization, outline some HLLDA design criteria to avoid previously observed inefficiencies, and propose a unification strategy.