Your Optimized Code Can Be Debugged - Here's How With MSVC C++ Dynamic Debugging

Learn how to effectively debug optimized C++ code using Visual Studio 2022's Dynamic Debugging feature in this 33-minute conference talk from CppCon 2025. Discover solutions to common debugging challenges like "variable was optimized away" messages, erratic stepping behavior, and missed breakpoints that plague developers working with optimized code. Explore how C++ Dynamic Debugging enables you to run optimized code at full performance while debugging unoptimized versions, eliminating the need for compiler flag compromises or pragma optimize workarounds. Master practical techniques for leveraging this tooling to maintain both code performance and debugging ease. Gain insights into the underlying technical architecture that makes Dynamic Debugging powerful, user-friendly, and fast to build, presented by Eric Brumer, an engineering manager on Microsoft's C++ compiler back-end team.