strict aliasing and memory alignment

Question

I have performance critical code and there is a huge function that allocates like 40 arrays of different size on the stack at the beginning of the function. Most of these arrays

Answer 1

Just disable alias-based optimization and call it a day

If your problems are in fact caused by optimizations related to strict aliasing, then -fno-strict-aliasing will solve the problem. Additionally, in that case, you don't need to worry about losing optimization because, by definition, those optimizations are unsafe for your code and you can't use them.

Good point by Praetorian. I recall one developer's hysteria prompted by the introduction of alias analysis in gcc. A certain Linux kernel author wanted to (A) alias things, and (B) still get that optimization. (That's an oversimplification but it seems like -fno-strict-aliasing would solve the problem, not cost much, and they all must have had other fish to fry.)