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Ask HN: Benefit of Compiler Knowledge?

3 points by jdthedisciple ↗ HN
Why do I often see the importance of knowing the inner workings of compilers emphasized among senior devs when it seems like one of those things that are reasonable to abstract away as a black box for the majority of software engineers since they're not directly involved in their development?

What's the tangible benefit to the average app developer?

2 comments

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DamonHD
Knowing how they work makes it easier to use them effectively. That does not imply knowing them well enough that you could implement one. In general understanding your tools better helps use them better.
pestatije
It's important to tell your -O1 from an -O3 if that's what you mean