execution time, IDE (debug) directory vs exe

[jimmylovesni]

Im without a C++ IDE right now.
This should be a simple question though.

If I compile a program and run it in the VS IDE, it generally compiles to and exe which runs under the debug directory in the project directory.

Now If the same program is built into an installable exe and run, will there be any improvment in execution speed and why? linking or no linking ?

thanks
Jim

[writetonsharma]

Do you mean the release binary?

[jimmylovesni]

yes, release binary is another term.

is having th exe linked into the debug invironment slowing it down the progrma comared to a release binary? is it compiled the same way? anyone know or can do quick test?

[writetonsharma]

yes debug binary is always slow due to lot of debugging information contained in the final executable. The whole process is the same, it does link to the libraries too but is fast. In the compile or c++ settings in the VS IDE, you can set what kind of optimization you need for the compilation.

[jimmylovesni]

thank you.

[Athar]

Debugging information doesn't actually slow the program down, but the lack of optimization in debug mode certainly does.