DebugBuilds

Debug builds are versions of software compiled with debugging information enabled. This means that during the compilation process, extra metadata is included in the executable file that helps developers understand the program's execution flow and identify errors. This metadata typically includes symbol tables, which map memory addresses to source code line numbers and variable names.

The primary purpose of debug builds is to facilitate the process of finding and fixing bugs. When a program crashes or behaves unexpectedly, a debug build allows developers to use a debugger tool. A debugger can then step through the code line by line, inspect the values of variables, and set breakpoints to pause execution at specific points. This level of insight is crucial for diagnosing complex issues.

Debug builds are generally larger and slower than release builds. This is because the additional debugging information increases the file size, and the compiler may have made optimizations that would otherwise improve performance, but hinder debugging. Consequently, debug builds are not intended for end-user distribution. They are used exclusively during the development and testing phases. Once a bug is fixed and the software is ready for release, it is compiled into a release build, which is optimized for performance and stripped of debugging information.