Configurations

In general, two standard configurations are used: 'Release' and 'Debug', although on some platforms (such as the Xbox 360) a standard set of platform configurations is preferred.

A description of the two standard configurations follows:

'Release'

In this configuration all components are built with optimisation and compiled against a release version of the C runtime library.
Most assertions are turned off under this configuration, but some 'release build assertions' are left on.
Interface checking is enabled under this configuration.

'Debug'

In this configuration all components are built without optimisation and compiled against a debug version of the C runtime library.
All assertions are turned on under this configuration.
Interface checking is enabled under this configuration.

Runtime library linkage

The PC platform Visual Studio configuration files also add 'ReleaseDLL' and 'DebugDLL' configurations, which are basically identical to the Release and Debug configurations, but with DLL runtime linkage.
(The standard Release and Debug configurations on this platform use static runtime linkage.)

Changing build settings

With the full source archive, it is straightforward to modify the standard configurations, or to add other configurations, as desired.

See Preprocessor Defines for information about the preprocess defines set for each of these builds, and for possibilities to modify the build (e.g. for a maximum speed build).