[fpc-devel] MIPS big-endian program starts but does nothing

[Marco van de Voort]

In our previous episode, Mark Morgan Lloyd said:
> > In addition, what is the supposed difference between an "empty program"
> > and program "built with only minimal RTL initialisation"?
> 
> I don't see why something like this
> 
> program test;
> begin
> end.
> 
> should use anything other than the absolute minimum that's needed to 
> terminate in good order. 

Well, first you must realize that that program is equal to 

program test;
Uses System;
begin
  FPC_INITIALIZEUNITS;
  // nothing
  FPC_FINALIZEUNITS;
end.

The FPC_* routines walk tables  and call the all units' initialization
and finalization sections. In this case System's.

Your observation reduces to letting the compiler figuring out that in the
system unit initialization the FPU Initialization can be safely skipped, and
that possible state (like the FPU control word) is not important.

This is nearly impossible.