AArch64 TME extension deprecated, starting deprecation cycle.
The AArch64 TME extension is deprecated and removed from documentation and tests.
Arm has officially sunset the Transactional Memory Extension (TME) for the AArch64 architecture due to a lack of implementations. In line with this, GCC is beginning a deprecation cycle for TME. This involves removing mentions from documentation, issuing warnings when the TME option is used during compilation, and removing associated test cases.
In Details
This commit initiates the deprecation of the AArch64 Transactional Memory Extension (TME) within GCC. Arm has indicated that TME is no longer part of the AArch64 architecture roadmap. Consequently, this patch removes TME from GCC's documentation (doc/invoke.texi), adds warnings for the -tme architecture feature and related target attributes in aarch64.cc, and deletes several test cases from gcc/testsuite/gcc.target/aarch64/ that specifically targeted TME functionality.
- AArch64
- The 64-bit ARM architecture, widely used in mobile devices and increasingly in servers and desktops.
- Transactional Memory Extension (TME)
- A hardware feature that allows code to execute transactions which can be rolled back if conflicts occur, simplifying concurrent programming by allowing optimistic execution.
- deprecation cycle
- A process of phasing out a feature or API. It typically involves warning users about its upcoming removal, gradually limiting its support, and eventually removing it in a future release.
- architecture extension
- An optional set of instructions or features that can be added to a base processor architecture, providing specialized capabilities.