Monthly archives: November 2014


Superoptimization and Supercomputing

The BCS OSSG is hosting two talks which look at “super” themes.

Venue: The Prince Philip room, Royal Society of Arts, 8 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6EZ (N.B. Note the change of venue to the RSA)
Date: Wednesday 26 November
Time: 6:00pm for 6:30pm start

This event is free to attend for both BCS Members and non-members but booking is required.

Superoptimization: How fast can your code go

Speaker: James Pallister, University of Bristol

Super TuxModern compiler optimization can take almost any code and produce a reasonably efficient binary at the end. However compiler “optimization” doesn’t make your code “optimal”, just better.

In contrast, superoptimization can produce perfect code – the fastest, the smallest or the most energy efficient code. The technique, first introduced in the late 80s found in some cases it could do 25% better than the best assembly programmer, and 40% better than the best compiler at the time.

Free software has always played a central role in superoptimization research, with the GNU Superoptimizer being one of the very first tools constructed.

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OpenCon 2014 – London 26/11/2014

OpenCon 2014

OpenCon 2014 is the student and early career researcher conference on Open Access, Open Education, and Open Data.

OpenCon 2014 London will feature leading speakers from across the Open Access, Open Education, and Open Data movements, including a combination of live speakers and videos from the OpenCon 2014 Washington event.

The talks will be interspersed with interactive group discussions themed around the session topic.

OpenCon 2014 London is a half-day event hosted by Imperial College London (at the Huxley building on 180 Queen’s Gate) with discussions continuing at a nearby pub/restaurant in the evening.

For more details, and to register for a free place, please see the eventbrite page at: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/opencon-2014-london-tickets-13952172323

Interested but not able to make it to London? Attend a satellite event near you (or the OpenCon2014 conference itself in Washington, USA) here: http://opencon2014.org/takepart