Why Languages Should Preserve Load-Store Order

Explore the complexities of memory models and load-store reordering in programming languages through this 22-minute conference talk from ACM SIGPLAN's FOWM'24. Delve into Stephen Dolan's argument against allowing load-store reordering in language specifications. Examine the challenges in defining "independent" operations and eliminating out-of-thin-air behaviors. Discover how banning load-store reordering could simplify language models and potentially improve single-threaded code optimization. Learn about reasonable program transformations and compiler optimizations that become permissible when load-store reordering is prohibited. Gain insights into the intricate balance between hardware optimizations, compiler behavior, and programmer expectations in language design.