What is the 'optimizing compiler' ?

[Mike Pliam]

I have been trying C++.NET (Standard Edition) to try and get the feel for the new interface. I program mostly in Windows C++, so I wanted to try it out before I updated the whole Visual Studio.

I notice in the BuildLog.htm, there is the line:

'This edition of Visual C++ does not support the optimizing compiler.'

What exactly does this mean. Will my code not compile as fast, or will the resulting code be more bloated (a complaint voiced in this forum regarding C++.NET code), or both ?

Any comments greatly appreciated.

[mgb_cpp]

An optimizing compiler makes the resulting code (hopefully) run faster.

In simple terms the compiler re-writes your program in a more efficient form. Examples include removing unnecessary operations and replacing for() loops with a list of statements.

The resulting executable can be slightly larger but not much.
The actual process of compiling can take longer as the complier has these extra steps.

Martin