Tools for Analyzing C++ Class Code Generation?

Milo_Mindbender submits this query: "I've got a midsize Linux project which uses a lot of STL and other C++ template code. Even considering this, I end up with a lot bigger text (generated code) segment than expected. I know the information about the amount of code generated for each class is in the objdump, but prying it out by hand is a problem when you get five line long template invocations and hundreds of methods to wade through. Can anyone can recommend some tools that analyze binary or objdump output and summarize the amount of code generated for each class, including each unique template or STL class?"

Comments

Reducing template bloat

[mattgreen]

Enough uninformed comments already. Most STL code bloat can be controlled pretty easily. What you do is make a wrapper over an STL class. For example if you're using std::vector you'd make a Vector class:

template<typename T>
class Vector
{
public:
//ctors as necessary
Vector();

T get(size_t i)
{
return static_cast<T>(vec[i]);
}

void insert(T item)
{
vec.push_back(static_cast<void*>(item));
}

pri vate:
std::vector<void*> vec;
};

You may wish to provide the exact functionality of the container you're wrapping, or you may wish to change the semantics. It's up to you.

It is kinda ugly for what it does but it works. Only one instantiation of std::vector is made, it is void*. Putting the member function definitions in the header file ensures they will be inlined if necessary.

I think Scott Meyers came up with this tip first.