Exec size varies

[PROPAR]

I have to answer questions about compiled exec size and specifically why the compiled size varies from day to day as source code doesn't.
People from the UNIX world have trouble accepting the fact that a different exec size doesn't mean that exec capacity is different, and that Windows exec size can change even without known and reasonable causes...
What can I answer about that ?
Thank you for your help.

 

[Salem]

I've only ever seen executable files change in size between debug and release builds.

But then that's nothing new in the Unix world either.

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[cpjust]

I'm not sure about the size, but I believe the checksum changes because VC++ puts some info into the .exe like the date...

 

[mingis]

the checksum changes because VC++ puts some info into the .exe like the date...

In that case size would vary if the executable would be finally compressed.

Another suspicion - why compiler does rebuild the project at all if sources are untouched?