Windows CE Compiler Overview (Windows CE 5.0)

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You can use Windows CE compiler drivers to compile specified source files into an object file.

You can also compile and link specified source files, object files, and libraries into an executable file or a dynamic-link library (DLL).

The compilers produce Common Object File Format object files. The linkers produce executable files or DLLs.

The compiler programs compile each source file and, unless otherwise specified, create an object file for each compile. The compilers include the options listed at the command line (CL), in the CL environment variable, and any specified response files.

The compiler-driver programs invoke the linker after compiling, unless you specify otherwise.

The compiler provides the names of the object files and libraries to the linker.

The linker uses options listed in the LINK environment variable together with any linker options provided on the command line.

If conflicts occur, options from the command line override those in the LINK environment variable.

The following table shows some special characteristics of the compilers.

Compiler characteristic Description
Fast compile by default If you do not specify optimization options, the compiler disables the optimization option.

This option allows you to quickly compile code that is under development and to reserve use of the optimizing compiler until needed.

Object file creation without linking You can use the /c - Compile Without Linking to create only an object file.

The option stops the compiler before it invokes LINK.

Precompiled headers The command line option /Yc - Create Precompiled Header generates precompiled header options to speed compilation.

In addition, the compiler optimizes for size by default.

If you use the _CAP_Start_Profiling and _CAP_End_Profiling functions with an x86 hardware platform, turn off the incremental linker, which is set by default. This does not affect complier-instrumented profiling.

See Also

Compiler and Linker Build Options

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