How to Choose a Win64 C++ Toolchain
Go Up to C++ Toolchains
A toolchain is a set of tools intended to build your project, such as a compiler, linker, and assembler. Additional tools, such as debuggers, are associated with a toolchain.
Keep in mind that several toolchains can be available, depending on the compilers installed on your system.
RAD Studio allows you to choose between two Win64 C++ toolchains:
- Windows 64-bit C++.
- Windows 64-bit Modern C++ - our recommended toolchain.
Our recommendation is to always use Windows 64-bit Modern C++.
During the 12.x version lifecycle, the Modern toolchain was introduced incrementally, and it was valid to choose the old and new one. From version 12.2 onwards, the Modern toolchain is complete, and we strongly recommend using it.
Planning
RAD Studio plans to remove the older Windows 64-bit C++ toolchain soon, leaving only the ‘Modern’ toolchain. Currently, both are installed side by side to help you update.
| Choose the old Windows 64-bit C++ toolchain when | Choose the new Windows 64-bit C++ toolchain when |
|---|---|
| You are beginning a new application. | |
| You want a much more standards-compatible STL. | |
| You link large applications or have previously run into linker memory limits with the other toolchain. | |
| You want fast compilation: the previous --jobs feature has been updated to be even more efficient, and on by default. | |
| You want to use the PDB debug info format (for example, to use other debuggers or profilers). | |
| You want to use CMake | |
| You want to use external C++ libraries | |
| You are building packages | |
| Your code is still on the old Win64 toolchain. | We recommend migrating to the new toolchain since they are installed side by side, and the old toolchain will be removed in the future.
To do so, right-click the platforms node in the Projects view, select Add Platform, and rebuild. |
Related Topics
If you are eager to learn more about this new feature, please visit the following pages in our blog.
- Introducing Amazing CMake Support in C++Builder 12.2
- Dynamic Packages in C++Builder 12.2
- The new Clang toolchain in C++Builder 12.1
- My code used to work but crashes! Easily Solving Incorrect Code with bcc64x on how the new toolchain prevents bugs