Exception Handling Costing Test

Introduction

This program performs a minimal comparative test of executable size and performance with C++ exception handling and run-time type information enabled and disabled. It is intended to test the assertion that C++ supports only zero-cost abstractions with whatever compiler is installed on the host system (using the c++ command). It runs a simple program that calls a destructor multiple times. The aim of the program is to create a situation where a thrown exception would require a separate code path.

Notes:

1. With exceptions disabled, the program is not ISO C++ compliant; this tests a non-standard implementation feature.
2. This program makes no used of exceptions. The suggestion is that if it produces a larger executable or runs more slowly with your tool chain when exceptions are enabled, then you are paying for a feature -- even when you don't use it.

Requirements

• A UN*X-like command line interpreter and tools
• C++ compiler:
  • GCC
  • Clang
• cmake
• time

Instructions

The bash script, [test.sh], builds and runs the sample program and prints out:

• The toolchain used to build the program (using the c++ command)
• For the program built with EH/RTTI enabled:
  • the size in bytes
  • the time result of running the executable
• For the program built without EH/RTTI enabled:
  • the size in bytes
  • the time result of running the executable

It should be run from an empty directory to avoid deleting any existing files:

cd /tmp
mkdir ehct
cd ehct
/some/path/ehct/test.sh