Summary

Compiler-based sanitizers and Valgrind bring distinct advantages and challenges to the debugging and profiling process.

Compiler-based tools such as ASan, TSan, and UBSan are generally more accessible and easier to integrate into the development workflow. They are “cheaper” in terms of the performance overhead they introduce and are relatively straightforward to configure and use. These sanitizers are integrated directly into the compilation process, making them convenient for developers to employ regularly. Their primary advantage lies in their ability to provide immediate feedback during the development phase, catching errors and issues as the code is being written and tested. However, since these tools perform analysis during runtime, their effectiveness is directly tied to the extent of the test coverage. The more comprehensive the tests, the more effective the dynamic analysis, as only the executed code paths are analyzed. This aspect highlights the importance...