https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=96383
--- Comment #9 from Richard Biener <rguenth at gcc dot gnu.org> --- cc1 debug info increases like the following VM SIZE FILE SIZE ++++++++++++++ GROWING ++++++++++++++ [ = ] 0 .debug_info +1.63Mi +1.3% [ = ] 0 .debug_str +263Ki +3.4% [ = ] 0 .debug_abbrev +101Ki +4.9% [ = ] 0 .debug_line +5.71Ki +0.0% +44% +16 [Unmapped] +48 +1.2% -------------- SHRINKING -------------- [ = ] 0 .debug_loc -213 -0.0% -0.0% -48 .text -48 -0.0% [ = ] 0 .debug_ranges -16 -0.0% -0.0% -32 TOTAL +1.99Mi +0.6% Throwing dzw on both makes the difference VM SIZE FILE SIZE ++++++++++++++ GROWING ++++++++++++++ [ = ] 0 .debug_info +1023Ki +1.3% [ = ] 0 .debug_str +263Ki +3.4% [ = ] 0 .debug_abbrev +84.9Ki +4.6% [ = ] 0 .debug_line +5.71Ki +0.0% +44% +16 [Unmapped] +50 +1.2% -------------- SHRINKING -------------- [ = ] 0 .debug_loc -213 -0.0% -0.0% -48 .text -48 -0.0% [ = ] 0 .debug_ranges -16 -0.0% -0.0% -32 TOTAL +1.35Mi +0.5% I'm with Jakub here, having the information is useful, esp. at -O0 where we never had any of it.