Compiler Determinism: Computer Science Theory vs. Engineering Reality
By
fragmede
The kind of bagel that ruins lesser bagels for you.
Summary
The article explores whether compilers are deterministic, presenting both computer science and engineering perspectives. The computer science answer is that compilers are deterministic as a function of their full input state, while the engineering reality is that most real builds don't control the full input state, leading to output drift. The author draws from experience at Ksplice in the 2000s, where they patched running Linux kernels, highlighting practical implications of compiler determinism for security updates and system reliability.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledThe computer science answer: a compiler is deterministic as a function of its full input state.
Engineering answer: most real builds do not control the full input state, so outputs drift.
Betteridge says 'no,' and for normal developer experience that answer is mostly right.
I worked at Ksplice back in the 2000s, where we patched running Linux kernels in RAM so you could take security updates without rebooting.
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