binutils Newspaper
JULY 29, 2026
x86 Proposed

x86: helper function + variables for templates' ->operand_types[] accesses

Introduces a helper function to access operand types, preparing for their removal from instruction templates.

As part of a series to refactor x86 instruction templates, Jan Beulich introduces a helper function get_operand_types in tc-i386.c. This function is designed to abstract away the direct access to insn_template->operand_types, serving as a preparatory step for moving this data out of the template structure itself. This change aims to reduce churn in subsequent modifications.

In Details

This patch is part of a series modifying how operand types are handled in the x86 assembler (gas). It introduces a helper function get_operand_types in gas/config/tc-i386.c. This function centralizes the retrieval of operand type information associated with an insn_template. Its primary purpose is to facilitate a future change where operand_types will no longer be directly embedded within insn_template structs, thus reducing churn during that refactoring.

For Context
insn_template
A structure defining the properties and operands of an assembly instruction.
operand_types[]
An array specifying the type of each operand for an instruction.
helper function
A function designed to perform a specific, often small, task that can be reused by other parts of the program.
churn
In software development, 'churn' refers to the amount of code that is changed or modified, often indicating instability or frequent refactoring.
Filed Under: x86gasrefactoringcode-quality