register allocation

compiler, algorithm The phase of a compiler that

determines which values will be placed in registers.

Register allocation may be combined with registerassignment.

This problem can be shown to be isomorphic to graphcolouring by relating values to nodes in the graph and

registers to colours. Values (nodes) which must be valid

simultaneously are linked by edges and cannot be stored in the

same register (coloured the same).

See also register dancing and register spilling.

[Preston Briggs, PhD thesis, Rice University, April 1992

\"Register Allocation via Graph Coloring\"].

(2000-12-04)