[Issue 18009] New: DMD's backend doesn't produce optimal init code for smaller types

[d-bugmail at puremagic.com]

https://issues.dlang.org/show_bug.cgi?id=18009

          Issue ID: 18009
           Summary: DMD's backend doesn't produce optimal init code for
                    smaller types
           Product: D
           Version: D2
          Hardware: All
                OS: All
            Status: NEW
          Severity: enhancement
          Priority: P1
         Component: dmd
          Assignee: nobody at puremagic.com
          Reporter: slavo5150 at yahoo.com

An enhancement to DMD's frontend was submitted at
https://github.com/dlang/dmd/pull/2146 for smaller types' init to elicit better
code gen in the backend.

The argument for the code change in the frontend was one of expediency rather
than due diligence.

Some participants in the discussion suggested that such an optimization should
be done in the backend.  GDC already optimizes such code in its backend
demonstrating feasibility and establishing precedent.  

See https://github.com/dlang/dmd/pull/2146 for context

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