Product Documentation
Abstract
Decimal floating-point support for IBM XL C/C++ for Linux, V12.1 allows you to develop programs that can use the arithmetical operation type that is specified at compile or run time, regardless of the hardware platform on which it is running.
You can also start developing and testing programs in anticipation of hardware upgrades.
If you use IBM XL C/C++ for Linux, V12.1, you can preview IBM extensions that support decimal floating-point operations on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.7, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 Service Pack 4, or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 2. This document tells you how to do it.
Content
Decimal floating-point arithmetic offers greater computational precision in business and financial applications where numeric data computation and I/O is usually performed in decimal form.
The technology preview includes support for decimal floating-point arithmetic in two ways:
- Directly in hardware on POWER6 and POWER7 processors.
- Emulated in software through the Advance Toolchain 4.0 on all supported hardware. Information about the supported hardware is available under "System prerequisites" in IBM XL C/C++ for Linux, V12.1 Installation Guide.
Original Publication Date
08 May 2012
Was this topic helpful?
Document Information
Modified date:
08 August 2018
UID
swg27024804