I ran some more measurements using import std; with a properly built module that includes reflection.

I first created the module via:

  g++ -std=c++26 -fmodules -freflection -fsearch-include-path -fmodule-only -c bits/std.cc 

And then benchmarked with:

  hyperfine "g++ -std=c++26 -fmodules -freflection ./main.cpp"

The only "include" was import std;, nothing else.

These are the results:

- Basic struct reflection: 352.8 ms

- Barry's AoS -> SoA example: 1.077 s

Compare that with PCH:

- Basic struct reflection: 208.7 ms

- Barry's AoS -> SoA example: 1.261 s

So PCH actually wins for just <meta>, and modules are not that much better than PCH for the larger example. Very disappointing.

The hidden compile-time cost of <insert almost any C++ feature>

libstdc++'s <print> is very heavy, reflection or not. AFAIK there is no inherent reason for it to be that heavy, fmtlib compiles faster.

<meta> is another question, it depends on string_view, vector, and possibly other parts. Maybe it's possible to make it leaner with more selective internal deps.