Experiments with a post-link optimization pass (for rearranging symbols in the binary for optimal access patterns, e.g. BOLT) have suggested another 5% speedup is possible. If LLD ever gets enabled by default that could be another 25-50% off when compared to the system linker (e.g. https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/issues/39915#issuecomment-... ). And so far Cranelift ( https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/pull/77975 ) shows about 20-30% improvement on debug builds, keeping in mind that what it's gaining from doing less optimizations is being partially offset by giving the linker more to chew on; using Cranelift in conjunction with LLD can give much better results ( https://github.com/bjorn3/rustc_codegen_cranelift/issues/878... ).
I look forward to when Rust toolchains can compete with Delphi/Eiffel/.NET/Java in what concerns debug builds, I can let the CI/CD take care of release ones.
On a positive note, congratulations to everyone involved doing this work.
