Optimizing And Saving Space

From K-3D

K-3D uses the standard GNU AutoTools for its build system. By default, AutoTools builds with "-g" (generate debug symbols) and "-O2" (limited optimization) enabled. There are many ways to customize a build using AutoTools - see the info pages for autoconf, automake, and libtool. Here are some shortcuts for the most common requests:

Building binaries with debugging symbols can increase their size by an order of magnitude. To reduce disk space consumed during the build, you can turn this off:

$ CFLAGS="-O2" CXXFLAGS="-O2" ./configure

For the fastest build possible, disable both debugging and optimization:

$ CFLAGS= CXXFLAGS= ./configure

If you are a speed freak and enjoy long builds, you can complicate your life in new and interesting ways by experimenting with increased optimization:

$ CXXFLAGS="-O29 --unroll-loops --use-extra-sensory-perception" ./configure

An alternative method for reducing the installed footprint is to allow the defaults at configure-time, then use the "install-strip" target:

$ ./configure && make && make install-strip

... the advantage of doing things this way is that you end-up with debuggable binaries in your build tree, with slimmed-down binaries installed for "normal" day-to-day use.