[fpc-devel] 134 open merge requests - is that normal?

[J. Gareth "Kit" Moreton]

I run into the same problems since most of my merge requests are focused 
on optimisation of generated assembly language, which does require a 
very careful eye to verify, and even then edge cases can sometimes still 
get through.

Recently I've been working on compiler features, namely pure functions 
and vectorisation.  The vectorisation one has a potential code flow 
problem but I think was necessary due to how SIMD registers work on x86, 
but as a result is currently sitting in limbo.  And pure functions have 
been sitting around for 2 years, and developed over 2 years before 
that!  I would like it merged into the trunk so I can start development 
of the next stage - the ability to assign the results of pure functions 
to constants - but it itself is waiting on a merge request that 
overhauls the Currency type to be more internally consistent in the 
compiler so constant propagation works properly on it.

As much as I want to say "Just trust me, bro" and have them merged, that 
tends not to fly in software development circles!! Granted, I do wonder 
if, with some things, it's worth merging them and then fixing the 
teething problems as they arise.

Kit

On 03/04/2026 09:17, Michael Van Canneyt via fpc-devel wrote:
>
>
> On Fri, 3 Apr 2026, Graeme Geldenhuys via fpc-devel wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I don't know the FPC development process, so was wondering if 134 
>> open merge requests are considered "normal" for this project? Some 
>> MRs are as old as 5 years. 😬
>>
>> https://gitlab.com/freepascal.org/fpc/source/-/merge_requests
>
> I consider it by no means "normal".
>
> But verifying takes time and we're dramatically short on manpower.
>
> What I can judge, I try to resolve as quickly as possible.
> Compiler-related merges in general fall outside my competence zone, so 
> I seldom touch them (apart from adding the category label).
>
> Michael.
>
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