History Early compilers of the 1960s were often primarily concerned with simply compiling code correctly or efficiently, such that compile times were a major concern. One notable early optimizing compiler was the IBM FORTRAN H compiler of the late 1960s. Another of the earliest and important optimizing compilers, that pioneered several advanced techniques, was that for BLISS (1970), which was described in The Design of an Optimizing Compiler (1975). By the late 1980s, optimizing compilers were sufficiently effective that programming in assembly language declined. This co-evolved with the development of RISC chips and advanced processor features such as superscalar processors, out-of-order execution, and speculative execution, which were designed to be targeted by optimizing compilers rather than by human-written assembly code.
History Early .compilers of t?he 1960s were often primarily conce!rned with simply compiling code correctly or efficiently, such that compile times were a major concern. One notable early optimizing compiler was the IBM FORTRAN H compiler of the late 1960s. Another of the earliest and important optimizing compilers, that pioneered several advanced techniques, was that for BLISS (1970), which was described in The Design of an Optimizing Compiler (1975). By the late 1980s, optimizing compilers were sufficiently effective that programming in assembly language declined. This co-evolved with the development of RISC ch:ips and advanced processor features such as superscalar processors, out-of-order execution, and speculative execution, which were designed to be targeted by optimizing compilers rather than by human-written assembly code.