3.3 Options Summarized by Function

In this section, the compiler options are grouped by function to provide a quick reference. For a detailed description of each option, refer to Appendix A, C++ Compiler Options.

The options apply to all platforms except as noted; features that are unique to the Oracle Solaris OS on SPARC-based systems are identified as SPARC, and the features that are unique to the Oracle Solaris OS on x86-based systems are identified as x86.

3.3.1 Code Generation Options

Table 3-2 Code Generation Options

Option	Action
`-compat`	Sets the major release compatibility mode of the compiler.
`-g`	Compiles for use with the debugger.
`-KPIC`	Produces position-independent code.
`-Kpic`	Produces position-independent code.
`-mt`	Compiles and links for multithreaded code.
`-xaddr32`	Restricts code to a 32–bit address space (x86/x64)
`-xarch`	Specifies the target architecture.
`-xcode=a`	(SPARC) Specifies the code address space.
`-xlinker`	Specify linker options.
`-xMerge`	(SPARC) Merges the data segment with the text segment.
`-xtarget`	Specifies the target system.
`-xmodel`	Modifies the form of 64-bit objects for the Solaris x86 platforms
`+w`	Identifies code that might have unintended consequences.
`+w2`	Emits all the warnings emitted by `+w` plus warnings about technical violations that are probably harmless but that might reduce the maximum portability of your program.
`-xregs`	The compiler can generate faster code if it has more registers available for temporary storage (scratch registers). This option makes available additional scratch registers that might not always be appropriate.
`-z` `arg`	Linker option.

3.3.2 Compile-Time Performance Options

Table 3-3 Compile-Time Performance Options

Option	Action
`-instlib`	Inhibits the generation of template instances that are already present in the designated library.
`-m32`\|`-m64`	Specifies the memory model for the compiled binary object.
`-xinstrument`	Compiles and instruments your program for analysis by the Thread Analyzer.
`-xjobs`	Sets the number of processes the compiler can create to complete its work.
`-xpch`	Might reduce compile time for applications whose source files share a common set of include files.
`-xpchstop`	Specifies the last include file to be considered in creating a precompiled header file with `-xpch`.
`-xprofile_ircache`	(SPARC) Reuses compilation data saved during `-xprofile=collect`.
`-xprofile_pathmap`	(SPARC) Support for multiple programs or shared libraries in a single profile directory.

3.3.3 Compile-Time and Link-Time Options

The following table lists the options that must be specified both at link-time and at compile-time.

Table 3-4 Compile-Time and Link-Time Options

Option	Action
`-fast`	Selects the optimum combination of compilation options for speed of executable code.
`-m32`\|`-m64`	Specifies the memory model for the compiled binary object.
`-mt`	Macro option that expands to `-D_REENTRANT` `-lthread`.
`-xarch`	Specifies the instruction set architecture.
`-xautopar`	Turns on automatic parallelization for multiple processors.
`-xhwcprof`	(SPARC) Enables compiler support for hardware counter-based profiling.
`-xipo`	Performs whole-program optimizations by invoking an interprocedural analysis component.
`-xlinker`	Specify linker options
`-xlinkopt`	Performs link-time optimizations on relocatable object files.
`-xmemalign`	(SPARC) Specifies the maximum assumed memory alignment and behavior of misaligned data accesses.
`-xopenmp`	Supports the OpenMP interface for explicit parallelization including a set of source code directives, runtime library routines, and environment variables
`-xpagesize`	Sets the preferred page size for the stack and the heap.
`-xpagesize_heap`	Sets the preferred page size for the heap.
`-xpagesize_stack`	Sets the preferred page size for the stack.
`-xpg`	Prepares the object code to collect data for profiling with `gprof`(1).
`-xprofile`	Collects data for a profile or uses a profile to optimize.
`-xvector=lib`	Enables automatic generation of calls to the vector library functions.

3.3.4 Debugging Options

Table 3-5 Debugging Options

Option	Action
`-###`	Equivalent to `-dryrun`
`+d`	Does not expand C++ inline functions.
`-dryrun`	Shows shows all commands that the driver would issue to all components of the compilation.
`-E`	Runs only the preprocessor on the C++ source files and sends the result to `stdout`. Does not compile.
`-g`	Compiles for use with the debugger.
`-g0`	Compiles for debugging but doesn’t disable inlining.
`-H`	Prints path names of included files.
`-keeptmp`	Retains temporary files created during compilation.
`-P`	Only preprocesses source; outputs to `.i` file.
`-Qoption`	Passes an option directly to a compilation phase.
`-s`	Strips the symbol table out of the executable file, thus preventing the ability to debug code.
`-temp=dir`	Defines the directory for temporary files.
`-verbose=vlst`	Controls compiler verbosity.
`-xcheck`	Adds a runtime check for stack overflow.
`-xdumpmacros`	Prints information about macros such as definition, location defined and undefined, and locations used.
`-xe`	Only checks for syntax and semantic errors.
`-xhelp=flags`	Displays a summary list of compiler options.
`-xport64`	Warns against common problems during a port from a 32-bit architecture to a 64-bit architecture.

3.3.5 Floating-Point Options

Table 3-6 Floating-Point Options

Option	Action
`-fma`	(SPARC) Enables automatic generation of floating-point, fused, and multiply-add instructions.
`-fns[={no\|yes`}]	(SPARC) Disables or enables the SPARC nonstandard floating-point mode.
`-fprecision=p`	x86: Sets floating-point precision mode.
`-fround=r`	Sets IEEE rounding mode in effect at startup.
`-fsimple=n`	Sets floating-point optimization preferences.
`-fstore`	x86: Forces precision of floating-point expressions.
`-ftrap=tlst`	Sets the IEEE trapping mode in effect at startup.
`-nofstore`	x86: Disables forced precision of expression.
`-xlibmieee`	Causes `libm` to return IEEE 754 values for math routines in exceptional cases.

3.3.6 Language Options

Table 3-7 Language Options

Option	Action
`-compat`	Sets the major release compatibility mode of the compiler.
`-features=alst`	Enables or disables various C++ language features.
`-xchar`	Eases the migration of code from systems where the char type is defined as unsigned.
`-xldscope`	Controls the default linker scope of variable and function definitions to create faster and safer shared libraries.
`-xthreadvar`	(SPARC) Changes the default thread-local storage access mode.
`-xtrigraphs`	Enables recognition of trigraph sequences.
`-xustr`	Enables recognition of string literals composed of sixteen-bit characters.

3.3.7 Library Options

Table 3-8 Library Options

Option	Action
`-Bbinding`	Requests symbolic, dynamic, or static library linking.
`-d{y\|n}`	Allows or disallows dynamic libraries for the entire executable.
`-G`	Builds a dynamic shared library instead of an executable file.
`-hname`	Assigns an internal name to the generated dynamic shared library.
`-i`	Tells `ld`(1) to ignore any `LD_LIBRARY_PATH` setting.
`-Ldir`	Adds dir to the list of directories to be searched for libraries.
`-llib`	Adds `lib`lib`.a` or `lib`lib`.so` to the linker’s library search list.
`-library=llst`	Forces inclusion of specific libraries and associated files into compilation and linking.
`-mt`	Compiles and links for multithreaded code.
`-norunpath`	Does not build the path for libraries into the executable file.
`-Rplst`	Builds dynamic library search paths into the executable file.
`-staticlib=llst`	Indicates which C++ libraries are to be linked statically.
`-xar`	Creates archive libraries.
`-xbuiltin`[`=opt`]	Enables or disables better optimization of standard library calls
`-xia`	(Solaris) Links the appropriate interval arithmetic libraries and sets a suitable floating-point environment.
`-xlang=l`[,`l`]	Includes the appropriate runtime libraries and ensures the proper runtime environment for the specified language.
`-xlibmieee`	Causes `libm` to return IEEE 754 values for math routines in exceptional cases.
`-xlibmil`	Inlines selected `libm` library routines for optimization.
`-xlibmopt`	Uses a library of optimized math routines.
`-xnolib`	Disables linking with default system libraries.
`-xnolibmil`	Cancels`– xlibmil` on the command line.
`-xnolibmopt`	Does not use the math routine library.

3.3.8 Obsolete Options

Note - The following options are either currently obsolete and so no longer accepted by the compiler, or are likely to be removed in a future release.

Table 3-9 Obsolete Options

Option	Action
`-features=`[`%all`\|`%none`]	Obsolete suboptions `%all` and `%none`.
`-library=%all`	Obsolete suboption that is likely to be removed in a future release.
`-xlic_lib=sunperf`	Use `—library=sunperf` to link to the Sun Performance Library.
`-xlicinfo`	Deprecated.
`-xnativeconnect`	Obsolete, there is no alternative option.
`-xprefetch=yes`	Use `-xprefetch=auto,explicit` instead.
`-xprefetch=no`	Use `-xprefetch=no%auto,no%explicit` instead.
`-xvector=yes`	Use `-xvector=lib` instead.
`-xvector=no`	Use `-xvector=none` instead.

3.3.9 Output Options

Table 3-10 Output Options

Option	Action
`-c`	Compiles only; produces object (`.o`) files, but suppresses linking.
`-dryrun`	Shows all the command lines issued by the driver to the compiler but does not compile.
`-E`	Runs only the preprocessor on the C++ source files and sends the result to `stdout`. Does not compile.
`-erroff`	Suppresses compiler warning messages.
`-errtags`	Displays the message tag for each warning message.
`-errwarn`	If the indicated warning message is issued, compiler exits with a failure status.
`-filt`	Suppresses the filtering that the compiler applies to linker error messages.
`–G`	Builds a dynamic shared library instead of an executable file.
`–H`	Prints the path names of included files.
`–migration`	Explains where to get information about migrating from earlier compilers.
`–o` `filename`	Sets name of the output or executable file to `filename`.
`–P`	Only preprocesses source; outputs to `.i` file.
`–Qproduce` `sourcetype`	Causes the `CC` driver to produce output of the type `sourcetype`.
`–s`	Strips the symbol table out of the executable file.
`–verbose=vlst`	Controls compiler verbosity.
`+w`	Prints extra warnings where necessary.
`+w2`	Prints still more warnings where appropriate.
`–w`	Suppresses warning messages.
`-xdumpmacros`	Prints information about macros such as definition, location defined and undefined, and locations used.
`-xe`	Performs only syntax and semantic checking on the source file but does not produce any object or executable code.
`–xhelp=flags`	Displays a summary list of compiler options
`–xM`	Outputs makefile dependency information.
`–xM1`	Generates dependency information, but excludes `/usr/include`
`–xtime`	Reports execution time for each compilation phase.
`–xwe`	Converts all warnings to errors.
`-z` `arg`	Linker option.

3.3.10 Run-Time Performance Options

Table 3-11 Run-Time Performance Options

Option	Action
`–fast`	Selects a combination of compilation options for optimum execution speed for some programs.
`-fma`	(SPARC) Enables automatic generation of floating-point, fused, multiply-add instructions.
`-g`	Instructs both the compiler and the linker to prepare the program for performance analysis (and for debugging).
`-s`	Strips the symbol table out of the executable.
`-m32`\|`-m64`	Specifies the memory model for the compiled binary object.
`-xalias_level`	Enables the compiler to perform type-based alias analysis and optimizations.
`-xarch=isa`	Specifies target architecture instruction set.
`-xbinopt`	Prepares the binary for later optimizations, transformations, and analysis.
`-xbuiltin`[`=opt`]	Enables or disables better optimization of standard library calls
`-xcache=c`	(SPARC) Defines target cache properties for the optimizer.
`-xchip=c`	Specifies target processor chip.
`-xF`	Enables linker reordering of functions and variables.
`-xinline=flst`	Specifies which user-written routines can be inlined by the optimizer
`-xipo`	Performs interprocedural optimizations.
`-xlibmil`	Inlines selected `libm` library routines for optimization.
`-xlibmopt`	Uses a library of optimized math routines.
`-xlinkopt`	(SPARC) Performs link-time optimization on the resulting executable or dynamic library in addition to any optimizations in the object files.
`-xmemalign=`ab	(SPARC) Specifies maximum assumed memory alignment and behavior of misaligned data accesses.
`-xnolibmil`	Cancels`– xlibmil` on the command line.
`-xnolibmopt`	Does not use the math routine library.
`-xOlevel`	Specifies optimization level to level.
`-xpagesize`	Sets the preferred page size for the stack and the heap.
`-xpagesize_heap`	Sets the preferred page size for the heap.
`-xpagesize_stack`	Sets the preferred page size for the stack.
`-xprefetch`[`=lst`]	Enables prefetch instructions on architectures that support prefetch.
`-xprefetch_level`	Control the aggressiveness of automatic insertion of prefetch instructions as set by `-xprefetch=auto`
`-xprofile`	Collects or optimizes using runtime profiling data.
`-xregs=rlst`	Controls scratch register use.
`-xsafe=mem`	(SPARC) Allows no memory-based traps.
`-xspace`	(SPARC) Does not allow optimizations that increase code size.
`-xtarget=t`	Specifies a target instruction set and optimization system.
`-xthreadvar`	Changes the default thread-local storage access mode.
`-xunroll=n`	Enables unrolling of loops where possible.
`-xvis`	(SPARC) Enables compiler recognition of the assembly-language templates defined in the VIS instruction set

3.3.11 Preprocessor Options

Table 3-12 Preprocessor Options

Option	Action
`-Dname[=def]`	Defines symbol `name` to the preprocessor.
`-E`	Runs only the preprocessor on the C++ source files and sends the result to `stdout`. Does not compile.
`-H`	Prints the path names of included files.
`-P`	Only preprocesses source; outputs to `.i` file.
`-Uname`	Deletes initial definition of preprocessor symbol `name`.
`-xM`	Outputs makefile dependency information.
`-xM1`	Generates dependency information but excludes `/usr/include`.

3.3.12 Profiling Options

Table 3-13 Profiling Options

Option	Action
`-p`	Prepares the object code to collect data for profiling using `prof`.
`-xpg`	Compiles for profiling with the `gprof` profiler.
`-xprofile`	Collects or optimizes using runtime profiling data.

3.3.13 Reference Options

Table 3-14 Reference Options

Option	Action
`-xhelp=flags`	Displays a summary list of compiler options.

3.3.14 Source Options

Table 3-15 Source Options

Option	Action
`-H`	Prints the path names of included files.
`-Ipathname`	Adds `pathname` to the `include` file search path.
`-I-`	Changes the include-file search rules
`-xM`	Outputs makefile dependency information.
`-xM1`	Generates dependency information but excludes `/usr/include`.

3.3.15 Template Options

Table 3-16 Template Options

Option	Action
`-instances=a`	Controls the placement and linkage of template instances.
`-template=wlst`	Enables or disables various template options.

3.3.16 Thread Options

Table 3-17 Thread Options

Option	Action
`-mt`	Compiles and links for multithreaded code.
`-xsafe=mem`	(SPARC) Allows no memory-based traps.
`-xthreadvar`	(SPARC) Changes the default thread-local storage access mode.

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