> For example Intel's C++ compiler produces (or used to produce?) much more efficient numerical code than either gcc or clang.
I'm not an expert, but I believe that Intel could have implemented their hardware-specific optimizations in any other compiler framework (either gcc or clang). In this case multiple language implementations, while commercially viable, are not beneficial to all users.
I'm not an expert, but I believe that Intel could have implemented their hardware-specific optimizations in any other compiler framework (either gcc or clang). In this case multiple language implementations, while commercially viable, are not beneficial to all users.