Generalized loop-unrolling: a method for program speedup

Abstract

It is well known that to optimize a program for speedup efforts should be focused on the regions where the payoff will be greatest. Loop constructs in a program represent such regions. In the literature, it has been shown that a certain degree of speedup can be achieved by loop unrolling. The technique published so far, however, appears to be applicable to FOR-loops only. This paper presents a generalized loop-unrolling method that can be applied to any type of loop construct. Possible complications in its applications, together with some experimental results, are discussed in detail.