Why does Visual Studio generate these additional files?

Question

In the output directory where Visual Studio places the compiled executable, there are three additional files of the types *.exp, *.lib, .pdb. I do not need those files and I would like to prevent the compiler from creating them.

This is how my build output directory looks like. I only need the *.exe file.

What are these additional files for? How can I disable that they are generated? If they are needed for the build process, is there a way to automatically remove them after the executable is created?

I am using Visual Studio 2012. If you need additional details, please comment.

Answer 1

EXP and LIB files But I don't want that .lib or .exp file for my COM library! . You could probably set the location of these files in the "Intermediate Output" setting and not have them in your release folder

Answer 2

I'm assuming you are looking to have only the dll and exe files in your final release directory and the *.exp, *.lib, .pdb files left in your intermediate directory as to not clutter the directory you are working in.

Visual Studio 2017

Open properties (Right click on the project in the solution explorer): change settings as shown:

Import Library will define where the .lib and .exp files are created.

Generate Program Database File defines where the .pdb file is created.

Debug information format -- None will prevent pdb file from being created. Select this option for Release builds.