> There's a world of difference between code that's dead because of a static define, and code that's dead because of an inference the compiler made.
Not really, that’s the problem. After many passes of transforming the code through optimization it is hard for the compiler to tell why a given piece of code is dead. Compiler writers aren’t just malicious as a lot of people seem to think when discussions like this come up.
Yeah, I know the compiler writers aren't being deliberately malicious. But I can understand why people perceive the end result - the compiler itself - as having become "lawful evil" - an adversary rather than an ally.
Not really, that’s the problem. After many passes of transforming the code through optimization it is hard for the compiler to tell why a given piece of code is dead. Compiler writers aren’t just malicious as a lot of people seem to think when discussions like this come up.