Commit logic and precise exceptions in explicit dataflow graph execution architectures

A method of operating a processor executing a block-based instruction set architecture, the method comprising:

• with the processor:
• executing at least one instruction encoded for an instruction block;
• responsive to determining that an individual instruction of the instruction block can commit, advancing a commit frontier for the instruction block to include all instructions in the instruction block that can commit;
• and
• committing one or more instructions inside the advanced commit frontier.

A method of operating a processor executing a block-based instruction set architecture, the method comprising:

• with the processor:
• executing a portion of instructions of a first instruction block;
• receiving an exception event;
• storing transient state for the first instruction block, the transient state comprising an indication of a current commit frontier of the first instruction block;
• and
• responsive to the exception event, processing the exception event by transferring control of the processor to a second instruction block;
• and
• resuming execution of the first instruction block by restoring the stored transient state for the first instruction block and executing at least one unexecuted instruction of the first instruction block.