Why is protos.h file needed by the MDs?

Question

Hi,

why do you need the protos.h file in machine descriptions?. I know that it contains all the forward declarations for the functions in the C file. But cant we do without it?

Thanks, Isha.

Answer 1

The machine description files can include any C code (for example, as part of pattern conditions). Because this C code could be calling functions (and it sometimes is), you need to have correct prototypes. Hence the need to include protos.h.