> i've found that zig tends to extend my vectors to the native width of the platform and then operate on them there
replyoh interesting. though i suspect that isn't zig and thats llvm.
looks like it – compiled as debug (native linux x64 backend) gives me the vector type i've asked for. release modes extend to the "native" width.
replythis is testing in isolation as well, could be that in the midst of other vector code it changes things. llvm definitely does a great job optimising tightly-written vector code to be even faster.