Compiler Options Listed by Category

  • Article

|  Overview |  How Do I

Optimization:

/O1 Creates small code
/O2 Creates fast code
/Oa Assumes no aliasing
/Ob Controls inline expansion
/Od Disables optimization
/Og Uses global optimizations
/Oi Generates intrinsic functions
/Op Improves floating-point consistency
/Os Favors small code
/Ot Favors fast code
/Ow Assumes aliasing across function calls
/Ox Uses maximum optimization (/Ob1gity /Gs)
/Oy Omits frame pointer

Code Generation:

/EH{s|a}[c][-] Specifies the model of exception handling
/G3 Optimizes code to favor the 386 processor. Phased out in Visual C++ 5.0, the compiler will ignore this option
/G4 Optimizes code to favor the 486 processor. Phased out in Visual C++ 5.0, the compiler will ignore this option
/G5 Optimizes code to favor the Pentium
/G6 Optimizes code to favor the Pentium Pro
/GA Optimizes code for Windows application
/GB Optimizes code to favor the Pentium processor. Blends optimizations for the 80386 (/G3), 80486 (/G4), Pentium (/G5), and Pentium Pro (/G6) options.
/Gd Uses the __cdecl calling convention
/Ge Activates stack probes
/GF
/Gf		 Enable string pooling
/Gh Calls hook function, __penter
/Gi Enables incremental compilation
/Gm Enables minimal rebuild
/GR Enables run-time type information (RTTI)
/Gr Uses the __fastcall calling convention
/Gssize Controls stack probes
/GT Supports fiber safety for data allocated using static thread-local storage
/GX[–] Enables synchronous exception handling
/Gy Enables function-level linking
/Gz Uses the __stdcall calling convention
/MD Creates a multithreaded DLL, using MSVCRT.LIB
/MDd Creates a debug multithreaded DLL, using MSVCRTD.LIB
/ML Creates a single-threaded executable file, using LIBC.LIB
/MLd Creates a debug single-threaded executable file, using LIBCD.LIB
/MT Creates a multithreaded executable file, using LIBCMT.LIB
/MTd Creates a debug multithreaded executable file, using LIBCMTD.LIB

Output Files:

/FA[c|s]
/Fa		 Creates a listing file
Sets listing file name
/Fdfilename Renames program database file
/FD Generate file dependencies
/Fefilename Renames the executable file
/Fm[filename] Creates a map file
/Fofilename Creates an object file
/Fpfilename Specifies a precompiled header file name
/FR[filename]
/Fr[filename]		 Generate browser files

Debugging:

/Qlf Generates additional debugging information for kernal-mode device drivers.
/GZ Catch release-build errors in debug build
/Yd Places complete debugging information in all object files
/Z7 Generates C 7.0–compatible debugging information
/Zd Generates line numbers
/Zi Generates complete debugging information

Preprocessor:

/C Preserves comments during preprocessing
/Dname[= | # [{string | number}] ] Defines constants and macros
/E Copies preprocessor output to standard output
/EP Copies preprocessor output to standard output
/Flfilename Preprocesses the specified include file
/Idirectory Searches a directory for include files
/P Writes preprocessor output to a file
/Usymbol Removes a predefined macro
/u Removes all predefined macros
/X Ignores the standard include directory
/ZI Includes debug information in a program database compatible with Edit and Continue.

Language:

/vd{0|1} Suppresses or enables hidden vtordisp class members
/vmb Uses best base for pointers to members
/vmg Uses full generality for pointers to members
/vmm Declares multiple inheritance
/vms Declares single inheritance
/vmv Declares virtual inheritance
/Za Disables language extensions
/Ze Enables language extensions
/Zg Generates function prototypes
/Zl Removes default library name from .OBJ file
/Zpn Packs structure members
/Zs Checks syntax only

Linking:

/Fnumber Sets stack size
/LD Creates a dynamic-link library
/LDd Creates a debug dynamic-link library
/linkoption Passes the specified option to LINK
/MD Compiles to create a multithreaded DLL, using MSVCRT.LIB
/MDd Compiles to create a debug multithreaded DLL, using MSVCRTD.LIB
/ML Compiles to create a single-threaded executable file, using LIBC.LIB
/MLd Compiles to create a debug single-threaded executable file, using LIBCD.LIB
/MT Compiles to create a multithreaded executable file, using LIBCMT.LIB
/MTd Compiles to create a debug multithreaded executable file, using LIBCMTD.LIB

Precompiled Header Files:

/Yc[filename] Creates a precompiled header file
/Yd Places complete debugging information in all object files
/Yu[filename] Uses a precompiled header file during build
/YX Automates precompiled header

Miscellaneous:

/c Compiles without linking
/Hnumber Restricts the length of external (public) names
/HELP Lists the compiler options
/J Changes the default char type
/nologo Suppresses display of sign-on banner
/Tcfilename
/TC		 Specifies a C source file
/Tpfilename
/TP		 Specifies a C++ source file
/V Sets the version string
/Wlevel
/w		 Sets warning level
/Zmnumber Sets the compiler's memory allocation limit
/Zn Turns off SBRPACK for .SBR files