OCaml -bin-annot flag configuration for minimizing binary size in low‑traffic services

OCaml -bin-annot flag configuration for minimizing binary size in low‑traffic services

The goal is to reduce deployment artifact size and compilation overhead by omitting the -bin-annot flag, which otherwise generates .annot files that increase binary footprint and build time.

However, it is uncertain whether removing these source‑level annotations affects runtime characteristics such as execution speed, memory allocation patterns, or the ability of standard profiling and debugging tools to locate source locations.

• Does disabling -bin-annot change the runtime performance of the produced native binary?
• Will common OCaml profiling tools (e.g., ocamlprof, gdb with DWARF) still function correctly without the annotation files?
• Are there any scenarios where retaining -bin-annot is required for correct operation of certain libraries or runtime reflection features?