The XL C/C++ Advanced Edition V7.0 for Linux is an optimizing compiler that IBM says provides high compile and execution performance, parallel programming APIs, memory management debug routines, and runtime dynamic linking. A follow-on to VisualAge C++ V6.0 for Linux, it is intended for machines using Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS V3 or SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 operating system distributions.

The XL C/C++ compiler fully exploits the capabilities of the IBM PowerPC, Power3, and Power4 processor architectures, according to IBM, and it adds new support for systems based on the Power5 processor architecture, including Apple's Power Mac G5 systems running Terra Soft Solutions's Y-HPC distribution of Linux.

It features what the company calls a wide range of optimizing features “that let you generate highly-optimized 32- or 64-bit application code to run efficiently on a wide variety of processors and processor families, or you can opt to tune generated code to run most efficiently on a specific processor or processor family.”

The compiler includes a complete implementation of the OpenMP C/C++ API, Version 2.0 which, IBM noted, is useful for cranking the utmost of performance out of multiprocessor systems. It also includes libraries of mathematical intrinsic functions tuned for the Power processor architecture. “These libraries offer improved performance over the standard mathematical library routines, are thread-safe and support both 32- and 64-bit compilations in C, C++, and Fortran applications,” according to IBM.

The beta version of XL C/C++ Advanced Edition V7.0 for Linux is available for a free 60-day trial, here.

 
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