CAREER: EOC: An Energy-Aware Optimizing Compiler Framework

Pennsylvania State Univ University Park, University Park PA

Investigators

Abstract

Until recently, performance has been the single most important issue in the design of hardware and software. However, with the proliferation of battery-powered embedded and portable devices and the ever-increasing clock frequencies of general-purpose processors, the problem of effective energy optimization has become very important for a wide variety of architectures. The goal of this project is to design and implement an energy-aware optimizing compiler framework that take as input a source code written in a high-level language, energy and performance constraints, architectural description and technology related parameters, and generates as output an energy/performance optimized executable and an estimation of energy consumption. Some key contributions include (i) high-level energy models that can be used by a compiler, (ii) a simulator infrastructure to validate compiler output, (iii) new, energy-oriented compiler optimizations, and (iv) investigating the necessary os and architectural support for effective cooperation between the compiler, os, and architecture so as to address the growing energy problem in a unified manner. The proposed energy/performance-aware approach represents a radical shift from pure performance-oriented strategies used so far in optimizing compilers, and will open new avenues of research in computing in a world that is increasingly becoming more energy-conscious.