Add inline assembly to the reference #1105

Amanieu · 2021-11-09T14:01:14Z

This PR adds inline assembly to the reference, pending stabilization in rust-lang/rust#72016.

I have included all features currently supported by inline assembly, including the ones that are not being stabilized immediately (sym & const operands, support for additional architectures). This is intentional since it keeps all of the documentation about inline assembly in a single place.

bjorn3 · 2021-11-09T15:33:20Z

src/inline-assembly.md

+- MIPS
+- WebAssembly
+- BPF
+- SPIR-V


Maybe clarify that for many it is currently unstable?

bjorn3 · 2021-11-09T15:57:58Z

src/inline-assembly.md

+    - You cannot exit an `asm!` block that has not been entered. Neither can you exit an `asm!` block that has already been exited.
+    - You are responsible for switching any target-specific state (e.g. thread-local storage, stack bounds).
+    - The set of memory locations that you may access is the intersection of those allowed by the `asm!` blocks you entered and exited.
+- You cannot assume that an `asm!` block will appear exactly once in the output binary. The compiler is allowed to instantiate multiple copies of the `asm!` block, for example when the function containing it is inlined in multiple places.


Maybe explain that the implication of this is that only numbered labels are allowed and not named labels?

ehuss

Thank you very much for preparing this!

I am very reluctant to add unstable documentation here. The reference very explicitly tries to avoid adding any unstable documentation, and I don't know why we would add an exception here. Would it be possible to relegate any unstable documentation to the unstable book? Or leave unstable parts commented out? I understand the desire to have some level of consolidation of documentation, but going by that logic, everything from the unstable book would end up here.

Can you add a newline after each sentence? That is the style used in the reference.

Would it be possible to sprinkle a few examples in? I think it is very helpful to have a few illustrative examples, and we try to do that throughout the reference.

I notice that the unstable book has more in-depth documentation. Is there a plan for how that documentation will live on?

ehuss · 2021-11-14T16:36:22Z

src/inline-assembly.md

@@ -0,0 +1,462 @@
+# Inline assembly
+
+Rust provides support for inline assembly via the `asm!` and `global_asm!` macros.


We generally try to avoid using "in Rust" style phrases, as almost everything in the reference is about Rust.

I think it would also be good to match these to the standard library docs.

Suggested change

Rust provides support for inline assembly via the `asm!` and `global_asm!` macros.

Support for inline assembly is provided via the [`asm!`] and [`global_asm!`] macros.

[`asm!`]: ../core/arch/macro.asm.html

[`global_asm!`]: ../core/arch/macro.global_asm.html

ehuss · 2021-11-14T16:36:58Z

src/inline-assembly.md

+- BPF
+- SPIR-V
+
+Support for more targets may be added in the future. The compiler will emit an error if `asm!` is used on an unsupported target.


I think it goes without saying that the language can be extended in the future.

Suggested change

Support for more targets may be added in the future. The compiler will emit an error if `asm!` is used on an unsupported target.

The compiler will emit an error if `asm!` is used on an unsupported target.

ehuss · 2021-11-14T16:43:07Z

src/inline-assembly.md

+
+Currently, all supported targets follow the assembly code syntax used by LLVM's internal assembler which usually corresponds to that of the GNU assembler (GAS). On x86, the `.intel_syntax noprefix` mode of GAS is used by default. On ARM, the `.syntax unified` mode is used. These targets impose an additional restriction on the assembly code: any assembler state (e.g. the current section which can be changed with `.section`) must be restored to its original value at the end of the asm string. Assembly code that does not conform to the GAS syntax will result in assembler-specific behavior.
+
+[format-syntax]: https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/fmt/#syntax


The reference uses relative links to other books so that they work offline, and so that the link checker is able to validate them.

Suggested change

[format-syntax]: https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/fmt/#syntax

[format-syntax]: ../std/fmt/#syntax

ehuss · 2021-11-14T16:45:34Z

src/inline-assembly.md

+
+An `asm!` invocation may have one or more template string arguments; an `asm!` with multiple template string arguments is treated as if all the strings were concatenated with a `\n` between them. The expected usage is for each template string argument to correspond to a line of assembly code. All template string arguments must appear before any other arguments.
+
+As with format strings, named arguments must appear after positional arguments. Explicit register operands must appear at the end of the operand list, after named arguments if any.


This term is used before it is defined. It can help to link to the section where it is defined to provide some context.

Suggested change

As with format strings, named arguments must appear after positional arguments. Explicit register operands must appear at the end of the operand list, after named arguments if any.

As with format strings, named arguments must appear after positional arguments. Explicit [register operands](#register-operands) must appear at the end of the operand list, after named arguments if any.

ehuss · 2021-11-14T16:51:49Z

src/inline-assembly.md

+>
+> - Some register classes are marked as "Only clobbers" which means that they cannot be used for inputs or outputs, only clobbers of the form `out("reg") _` or `lateout("reg") _`.
+
+Additional register classes may be added in the future based on demand (e.g. MMX, x87, etc).


I don't think it is necessary to mention what might happen in the future. If something is added in the future, it will get added to this list, and almost all changes to the language are based on demand and need.

Suggested change

Additional register classes may be added in the future based on demand (e.g. MMX, x87, etc).

Amanieu · 2021-11-16T23:59:31Z

I can move the unstable parts (unstable arch registers, sym & const) to the unstable book.

The guide-level explanation from the unstable book (which is from the RFC) will most likely go into Rust by example.

Taken from rust-lang/rust#90086

Stabilize asm! and global_asm! Tracking issue: rust-lang#72016 It's been almost 2 years since the original [RFC](rust-lang/rfcs#2850) was posted and we're finally ready to stabilize this feature! The main changes in this PR are: - Removing `asm!` and `global_asm!` from the prelude as per the decision in rust-lang#87228. - Stabilizing the `asm` and `global_asm` features. - Removing the unstable book pages for `asm` and `global_asm`. The contents are moved to the [reference](rust-lang/reference#1105) and [rust by example](rust-lang/rust-by-example#1483). - All links to these pages have been removed to satisfy the link checker. In a later PR these will be replaced with links to the reference or rust by example. - Removing the automatic suggestion for using `llvm_asm!` instead of `asm!` if you're still using the old syntax, since it doesn't work anymore with `asm!` no longer being in the prelude. This only affects code that predates the old LLVM-style `asm!` being renamed to `llvm_asm!`. - Updating `stdarch` and `compiler-builtins`. - Updating all the tests. r? `@joshtriplett`

Amanieu · 2021-12-16T05:26:04Z

asm! and global_asm! are now stable on the latest nightly, so the tests should pass.

Stabilize asm! and global_asm! Tracking issue: #72016 It's been almost 2 years since the original [RFC](rust-lang/rfcs#2850) was posted and we're finally ready to stabilize this feature! The main changes in this PR are: - Removing `asm!` and `global_asm!` from the prelude as per the decision in #87228. - Stabilizing the `asm` and `global_asm` features. - Removing the unstable book pages for `asm` and `global_asm`. The contents are moved to the [reference](rust-lang/reference#1105) and [rust by example](rust-lang/rust-by-example#1483). - All links to these pages have been removed to satisfy the link checker. In a later PR these will be replaced with links to the reference or rust by example. - Removing the automatic suggestion for using `llvm_asm!` instead of `asm!` if you're still using the old syntax, since it doesn't work anymore with `asm!` no longer being in the prelude. This only affects code that predates the old LLVM-style `asm!` being renamed to `llvm_asm!`. - Updating `stdarch` and `compiler-builtins`. - Updating all the tests. r? `@joshtriplett`

Amanieu · 2021-12-27T21:59:40Z

Ping! I'd like to get this merged before the beta branch in 2 weeks which include stable inline assembly.

src/inline-assembly.md

ehuss · 2021-12-28T21:00:47Z

Thanks for the updates!

If I'm understanding this correctly, this seems to introduce a new set of undefined behaviors to the language? Would it make sense to add an entry to the bullet list at https://github.com/rust-lang/reference/blob/master/src/behavior-considered-undefined.md that links to this chapter?

Otherwise, this looks good to me, though I can't vouch for the accuracy of all the information as I have no experience with it. I did at least scanned over the parser and it seems to match.

I don't know if anyone else would want to comment. Maybe @joshtriplett would be willing to chime in?

src/inline-assembly.md

Co-authored-by: Josh Triplett <[email protected]>

Amanieu · 2021-12-29T21:39:56Z

Thanks for the feedback! I've applied all the suggestions, so it should be good to go.

joshtriplett · 2021-12-30T07:50:54Z

I remain saddened by the restrictions on assuming a single instance of an asm!, and I think people are highly likely to end up ignoring that and getting the results they expect with some careful use of #[inline(never)] and further care. I am not suggesting at this time that we know all the steps necessary to make that work reliably, but people will figure it out in practice when they need it, and I think we should be prepared to consider documenting those findings.

But I don't consider this a blocking concern, insofar as we can always loosen a restriction.

joshtriplett · 2021-12-30T07:51:45Z

I think this is ready to merge.

ehuss

Thank you!!

I'll update the books early next week before the branch.

Update books ## reference 3 commits in 06f9e61931bcf58b91dfe6c924057e42ce273ee1..f8ba2f12df60ee19b96de24ae5b73af3de8a446b 2021-12-17 07:31:40 -0800 to 2022-01-03 11:02:08 -0800 - Switch the default edition for examples to 2021 (rust-lang/reference#1125) - Clarify behavior of x87 FP registers in inline assembly (rust-lang/reference#1126) - Add inline assembly to the reference (rust-lang/reference#1105) ## book 36 commits in 8a0bb3c96e71927b80fa2286d7a5a5f2547c6aa4..d3740fb7aad0ea4a80ae20f64dee3a8cfc0c5c3c 2021-12-22 20:54:27 -0500 to 2022-01-03 21:46:04 -0500 - Add a concrete example of an optional value. Fixes rust-lang/book#2848. - match isn't really an operator. Fixes rust-lang/book#2859 - Edits to edits of chapter 6 - Make fixes recommended by shellcheck - Use shellcheck - SIGH fix all the typos that were missed while spellcheck was broken - SIGH add all the words to the dictionary that were missed while spellcheck was broken - Remove test_harness from the dictionary - sigh, the xkcd sandwich one - Install aspell in CI - set -eu in all bash scripts - typo: assignement -> assignment - Fix quotes - Snapshot of ch12 for nostarch - Use 'static lifetime earlier because that's more correct. Fixes rust-lang/book#2864. - Add does_not_compile annotation to intermediate steps that don't compile - Sidestep who provides output streams. Fixes rust-lang/book#2933. - Remove note about primitive obsession. Fixes rust-lang/book#2863. - Remove sentence encouraging writing tests on your own. Fixes rust-lang/book#2223. - Bump mdBook version to 0.4.14 in workflow main.yml - Past tense make better sense - Past tense makes better sense - Update the edition in all the listings' Cargo.toml - Update the book to either say 2021 edition or not talk about editions - Remove most of the 2018 edition text from the title page. Fixes rust-lang/book#2852. - Fix word wrapping - Emphasize return type is mandatory - fix title capitalization - Further edits to mention of --include-ignored, propagate to src - feat: mention `cargo test -- --include-ignored` - wording: get rid of "to from" - interchanged position of `binary` and `library` - Fix wrong word typo - Further edits in rust-analyzer text - appendix-04 IDE integration: Replaced rls by rust-analyzer - Update link to Italian translation. Connects to rust-lang/book#2484. ## rustc-dev-guide 3 commits in 9bf0028b557798ddd07a6f652e4d0c635d3d6620..875464457c4104686faf667f47848aa7b0f0a744 2021-12-20 21:53:57 +0900 to 2021-12-28 22:17:49 -0600 - Update link to moved section (rust-lang/rustc-dev-guide#1282) - Fix link in contributing.md (rust-lang/rustc-dev-guide#1280) - Streamline "Getting Started" (rust-lang/rustc-dev-guide#1279)

Freax13 · 2022-02-11T13:06:57Z

src/inline-assembly.md

+- The set of memory locations that assembly code is allowed to read and write are the same as those allowed for an FFI function.
+  - Refer to the unsafe code guidelines for the exact rules.
+  - If the `readonly` option is set, then only memory reads are allowed.
+  - If the `nomem` option is set then no reads or writes to memory are allowed.
+  - These rules do not apply to memory which is private to the asm code, such as stack space allocated within the asm block.


Do the unsafe code guidelines actually have any information about this? I can't find anything in the published reference and I also can't find anything in the unsafe code guidelines' github issues. While not mentioned here, I also couldn't find anything in the Rustonomicon. Did I miss something or is there some other place that has information about this?

Besides that, isn't the whole point of the unsafe code guidelines to be a place for discussion before being moved into the proper reference? It seems a bit weird to have the official reference point to an unofficial reference.

Add inline assembly to the reference

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Tracking Issue for inline assembly (asm!) rust-lang/rust#72016

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- MIPS

- WebAssembly

- BPF

- SPIR-V

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Maybe clarify that for many it is currently unstable?

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Amanieu added 3 commits November 29, 2021 15:30

Remove references to unstable parts of asm!

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Put each sentence on a separate line.

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Amanieu force-pushed the asm branch 2 times, most recently from bd9ad8e to f0b862d Compare December 2, 2021 21:56

Add example of inline assembly

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Amanieu force-pushed the asm branch from f0b862d to 2c969f4 Compare December 2, 2021 21:56

Amanieu added 2 commits December 7, 2021 15:17

Fix minor typos

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Taken from rust-lang/rust#90086

Sync with latest changes to the unstable book

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Amanieu force-pushed the asm branch from 6cd6679 to 1b09eb2 Compare December 9, 2021 14:27

This was referenced Dec 10, 2021

Stabilize asm! and global_asm! rust-lang/rust#91728

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asm: Allow using r9 (ARM) and x18 (AArch64) if they are not reserved by the current target rust-lang/rust#91643

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Fix more minor typos rust-lang/rust#90086

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Fix example

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Tracking issue for global-asm support (RFC 1548) rust-lang/rust#35119

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Add inline assembly to the reference #1105

Add inline assembly to the reference #1105

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Freax13 Feb 11, 2022

		@@ -0,0 +1,462 @@
		# Inline assembly

		Rust provides support for inline assembly via the `asm!` and `global_asm!` macros.

-Rust provides support for inline assembly via the `asm!` and `global_asm!` macros.
+Support for inline assembly is provided via the [`asm!`] and [`global_asm!`] macros.
+[`asm!`]: ../core/arch/macro.asm.html
+[`global_asm!`]: ../core/arch/macro.global_asm.html

	Support for more targets may be added in the future. The compiler will emit an error if `asm!` is used on an unsupported target.
	The compiler will emit an error if `asm!` is used on an unsupported target.


		Currently, all supported targets follow the assembly code syntax used by LLVM's internal assembler which usually corresponds to that of the GNU assembler (GAS). On x86, the `.intel_syntax noprefix` mode of GAS is used by default. On ARM, the `.syntax unified` mode is used. These targets impose an additional restriction on the assembly code: any assembler state (e.g. the current section which can be changed with `.section`) must be restored to its original value at the end of the asm string. Assembly code that does not conform to the GAS syntax will result in assembler-specific behavior.

		[format-syntax]: https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/fmt/#syntax

	[format-syntax]: https://doc.rust-lang.org/std/fmt/#syntax
	[format-syntax]: ../std/fmt/#syntax


		An `asm!` invocation may have one or more template string arguments; an `asm!` with multiple template string arguments is treated as if all the strings were concatenated with a `\n` between them. The expected usage is for each template string argument to correspond to a line of assembly code. All template string arguments must appear before any other arguments.

		As with format strings, named arguments must appear after positional arguments. Explicit register operands must appear at the end of the operand list, after named arguments if any.

Add inline assembly to the reference #1105

Add inline assembly to the reference #1105

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