`const`/`constexpr` INFINITY can cause clang to make a different result from `inf/inf` or `inf-inf`
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Description
_Title_.
The usual result from `inf/inf` or `inf-inf` is a negative NaN, but when I use a `const` infinity clang calculates it in compile-time and saves a positive NaN for runtime use
`Ubuntu GCC 13.3.0`(`gcc -std=gnu2x minimal.c -lm`) didn't have the issue but `Ubuntu clang 18` and `Ubuntu clang 20` showed the symptom.
The CPU I use is Haswell.
I think you can reproduce the symptom with the code below ( `clang minimal.c -std=gnu23 -lm` )
```c
#include
#include
#include
/*
* \brief for little endian systems
*/
union ieee754_binary32 {
struct {
uint32_t fraction: 23;
uint16_t exponent: 8;
uint8_t sign: 1;
};
float whole;
};
int main(int argc, char * argv[])
{
float inf = INFINITY;
float nan = NAN;
#if __clang_major__ <= 18
const float cinf = INFINITY;
const float cnan = NAN;
#else
constexpr float cinf = INFINITY;
constexpr float cnan = NAN;
#endif
fprintf( stdout, "inf - inf = %f\n", (inf - inf) );
fprintf( stdout, "const_inf - const_inf = %f\n", (cinf - cinf) );
union ieee754_binary32 inspector = {.whole=(cinf - cinf)};
fprintf( stdout, "inspector = {.whole=(const_inf - const_inf)}; inspector.sign = %u\n", inspector.sign );
fprintf( stdout, "inf / inf = %f\n", (inf / inf) );
inspector.whole = (inf / inf);
fprintf( stdout, "inspector = {.whole=(inf / inf)}; inspector.sign = %u\n", inspector.sign );
fprintf( stdout, "const_inf / const_inf = %f\n", (cinf / cinf) );
inspector.whole = (cinf / cinf);
fprintf( stdout, "inspector = {.whole=(const_inf / const_inf)}; inspector.sign = %u\n", inspector.sign );
return 0;
}
```
The output from clang-built binaries:
```c
inf - inf = -nan
const_inf - const_inf = nan
inspector = {.whole=(const_inf - const_inf)}; inspector.sign = 0
inf / inf = -nan
inspector = {.whole=(inf / inf)}; inspector.sign = 1
const_inf / const_inf = nan
inspector = {.whole=(const_inf / const_inf)}; inspector.sign = 0
```
The output from a GCC-built binary:
```c
inf - inf = -nan
const_inf - const_inf = -nan
inspector = {.whole=(const_inf - const_inf)}; inspector.sign = 1
inf / inf = -nan
inspector = {.whole=(inf / inf)}; inspector.sign = 1
const_inf / const_inf = -nan
inspector = {.whole=(const_inf / const_inf)}; inspector.sign = 1
```
Thank you so much!
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by compiling the provided minimal.c reproducer with Ubuntu clang 18 or 20 using the shown clang -std=gnu23 -lm command, then compare its const/constexpr results with runtime inf-inf and inf/inf. The issue is resolved when the relevant constant-folded results match the expected IEEE sign behavior demonstrated by the GCC output.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- c
- Domain
- compilers
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100