Compilers and Experimentation

Fast iteration tools

• Compiler Explorer: inspect generated assembly, compare compilers, test optimization flags, and share minimal examples.
• Wandbox: online compiler runner with multiple compiler versions and a simple sharing workflow.
• Coliru: fast online compilation and execution for short examples and quick reproductions.

Performance-oriented experimentation

• Quick Bench: lightweight microbenchmarking for small C++ comparisons.
• Compiler Explorer Libraries: useful when you want to check whether a library call inlines cleanly or how templates instantiate under different standard libraries.

When these are most useful

• Use Compiler Explorer when the question is about code generation, inlining, optimizer behavior, or compiler differences.
• Use Quick Bench when you want a rough signal for a tiny performance comparison before building a larger benchmark harness.
• Use Wandbox or Coliru when you mainly want a quick runnable example to share.

When to start here

• you want to test a minimal example without setting up a local project first
• you need to compare compilers, standard versions, or optimization flags quickly
• you want a fast signal before investing in a larger local benchmark or debugging session

Workflow by task

1. Use Compiler Explorer to compare compiler output, flags, and inlining behavior.
2. Use Quick Bench for a very small performance hypothesis.
3. Use Wandbox or Coliru when the main goal is sharing a runnable reproduction.
4. Move to a local build once the experiment turns into a real benchmark, bug investigation, or project change.