Is there any side effect to compile production code with gcc debug options?

Question

For gcc flags like --coverage, do they have any side effect, for example run time performance penalty?

If not then can I just leave them in the common makefile and use them to build production code?

Gcc document doesn't say anything about this.

explains -g, but how about --coverage？I guess the answer is yes, the added instrument code must cost quite a bit at runtime

Maybe you should go and ask this on a gentoo-user forum. Ok, I'll show myself out now... — Dirk Eddelbuettel, Apr 08 '15 at 19:00
Coverage code costs space and time. You probably don't want them in production code. — Jonathan Leffler, Apr 08 '15 at 21:01

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 12 '15 at 07:24

^{Transferring a succinct comment as an answer so maybe there can be closure on the question.}

Coverage code costs space and time. You probably don't want them in production code.

Debug information isn't loaded normally; the cost is much smaller (basically, zero).

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