Compilers

A matching decomp needs the original compiler, in the original version, with the original flags. Identifying them is often the first real milestone of a project.

What this page will cover

Identifying a compiler: strings left in the binary, prologue and epilogue shapes, library versions, and comparing small functions against candidate compilers.
The main families:
- Metrowerks CodeWarrior (GameCube, Wii, DS and others);
- SGI IDO (Nintendo 64);
- GCC in many old versions (N64, PS1, PS2, GBA and more);
- newer compilers on recent consoles.
Flags: optimization levels, and flags that change code generation.
Running old compilers today: wrappers such as wibo, and rebuilt compilers.
Several compilers in one game: libraries built with a different version from the game.