Graeme Lufkin wrote: <snip>

When I compile code that declares a variable of this variant type, the compilation takes unreasonably long (like, 1.5 hours on a 2Ghz machine). For fewer types it goes much quicker, the transition to unreasonably long happens around 14 types in the mpl::vector. <snip> Something else I've noticed: the Intel compiler doesn't have the compilation problem! I've attached sample case code that uses 16 types, which takes less than 5 seconds to compile with Intel 8.0 and almost 200 with GCC 3.2.2 (both on linux). When I try the full 20 types I need, GCC chugs for several hours, which is unacceptable for my project. Is there anything I can do, or is this a GCC shortcoming that I need to wait for?

I suggest you try newer versions of GCC (3.3 and 3.4 beta); if those still have the problem then report this as a bug at http://gcc.gnu.org/bugs.html with the keyword "compile-time-hog". Also check whether the poor performance is due to swapping, which indicates excessive use of memory and not necessarily excessive use of CPU time.