Release Mode vs Debug = "false"

Question

I'm trying to find a definite explanation of what effect compiling in release mode has on a .Net 3.5 web application versus debug="false". So far it looks like setting debug="false" has the same effect and compiling in release mode has been depreciated but I can't find any firm evidence this is the case.

This question looked promising but seems to be answering what's the difference between debug and release builds rather than release mode and debug="true": http://stackoverflow.com/questions/939634/whats-the-difference-between-compilation-debugfalse-and-release-mode

However it does link to this article: http://odetocode.com/blogs/scott/archive/2005/11/15/debug-and-release-builds-in-asp-net-2-0.aspx

"This new compilation model makes the Configuration Manager for a web site obsolete. The only option appearing in a Visual Studio 2005 web site “project” is a Debug configuration. Don’t fret – it means nothing. The web.config file now rules the school."

Now that is the closest I've had to an answer and it does seem to imply that release mode has been depreciated in favor of debug="false" but I can't find any confirmation of this on MSDN or any other source.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Update

Sorry; to clarify this is a "Web Application Project" I am referring to.

To rephrase my question slightly, if I have the following setting in web.config:

<compilation defaultLanguage="c#" debug="false">

What effect (if any) does release and debug mode compile have?

Answer 1

You have to be careful of your word choice. There are "Web Application" and "Web Site" projects.

There is no "Release" configuration for "Web Site" projects. Web sites only use the debug setting in the compilation section of web.config. If you open a "Web Site", notice the only listed configuration in the "Configuration Manager" is "Debug". You can control compilation from the project's "MSBuild Options" property page or through the "Publish Web Site" dialog.

The configurations "Release" and "Debug" work as expected for "Web Application" projects.

Answer 2

The idea behind 'Release' mode & 'Debug' mode is that, in debug mode, the compilation contains debug symbols which is useful for debugging but not for production, as it slows down the process.

However, 'Release' mode removes these debug symbols therefore the process runs fine without any issue.

Now, Microsoft has implemented the above model in web application projects while website project is slightly different. Hope this helps.