15.2. Creating Optimized Code

The gcc compiler can be used to create optimized assembly language code for you from C and C++ programs. By default, the optimized code is compiled into object code files and linked into executable files. If you want to analyze the optimized code and either learn from it or even improve on it, you must intercept the generated assembly language code before it is compiled.

This section describes the steps to take to create and view the optimized assembly language code generated from the compiled C or C++ source code, and how to assemble it back into the normal executable application.