The QBE compiler back‑end reaches version 1.3, the most substantial update since 1.0. The release adds roughly 7 k lines of new code, drops 1.5 k old lines, and introduces an original IL‑matching algorithm. Contributors include Roland Paterson‑Jones, Scott Graham and Michael Forney, whose plan enables position‑independent code generation.

Performance gains dominate the notes. Using the CoreMark benchmark, the team closed the gap from 40% to over 70% of gcc ‑O2 speed by adding GVN/GCM, loop optimizations, if‑elimination and CFG simplification. Inlining remains excluded, but a patched CoreMark test hits the 70% target, and the Hare suite runs 33% faster than with 1.2.

The update also brings a new OCaml tool, mgen, to compile lispy IL patterns into idiomatic C, streamlining instruction selection. Scott Graham upstreamed support for the Windows ABI, allowing compilation with `-t amd64_win`. Position‑independent code now works via a dynamic‑constant flag, enabling shared‑object creation on most targets. QBE 1.3 delivers tangible speed and portability improvements.