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What is the use of .map files VC++ linker produces when /MAP parameter or "Generate map file" project setting is used? When do I need them and how do I benefit from them?
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You can use map files for debugging tools. You mean like opening the disassembly of the process and inspecting raw addresses? That is a possibility. Like I said, you need them rarely, but if you need them, you are glad they are available.
A linker map is a file produced by the linker. The file shows the symbols and sections contained in a binary. The linker also provides the memory address and size for each symbol.
The linker listing file or map file contains an abundance of information about the link/locate process and is composed of a number of sections, each of which is described below in the order in which they appear in the map file.
A nice article on how to use map files for finding crashes.
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/debug/mapfile.aspx
Manually doing all this is very uninteresting.
I am not aware of any tools which can read map file and help in finding the crash location. If anybody knows please update us.
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For embedded systems, map files are a lot more useful. (Although you wouldn't be using Visual C++ for that ;)
Things like knowing how close you are to running out of program/data memory, and what location a particular variable resides in, are important.
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