Optimizing compiler

An optimizing compiler is a compiler designed to generate code that is optimized in aspects such as minimizing program execution time, memory usage, storage size, and power consumption.^[1] Optimization is generally implemented as a sequence of optimizing transformations, a.k.a. compiler optimizations – algorithms that transform code to produce semantically equivalent code optimized for some aspect.

Optimization is limited by a number of factors. Theoretical analysis indicates that some optimization problems are NP-complete, or even undecidable.^[2] Also, producing perfectly optimal code is not possible since optimizing for one aspect often degrades performance for another. Optimization is a collection of heuristic methods for improving resource usage in typical programs.^[3]: 585