GCC vs Keil code generation

[alikob]

Hello, I am using Keil IDE for a while,and it is working perfect so far until, my code size gets bigger than 32K, I also decided to try GCC. I noticed GCC code size for identical example is bigger than Keil generated code size, I was hoping that GCC would be more efficient. The code I am building is ble_app_blinky by Nordic SDK-10.10. Any reason? is there anyway to make it more efficient? like -o option?

GCC code size 10368; Keil code size 7788

[endnode]

Come on, this is well known: different compiler/linker makes different product including different performance and size! Read the blog post from Nordic (and many many more on the internet).

(It's like buying Mercedes Benz and Audi cars and being surprised that their engines accelerate differently;)

[endnode]

I personally prefer GCC because of free use and openness but both Keil and IAR are very good commercial products with strengths and I've seen projects where investment into their license was justified by size or performance constrains (although GCC guys are doing a lot in past 5 years so gap is getting closer and closer). Until you fit into 32kB Keil is good option (if you can survive the IDE, it drives me absolutely crazy:) Cheers