Why should I always enable compiler warnings?

Question

I often hear that when compiling C and C++ programs I should \"always enable compiler warnings\". Why is this necessary? How do I do that?

Sometimes I also hear tha

Answer 1

Not only does handling the warnings make better code, it makes you a better programmer. Warnings will tell you about things that may seem little to you today, but one day that bad habit will come back and bite your head off.

Use the correct type, return that value, evaluate that return value. Take time and reflect "Is this really the correct type in this context?" "Do I need to return this?" And the biggie; "Is this code going to be portable for the next 10 years?"

Get into the habit of writing warning-free code in the first place.