The 'optimization' is for space in the executable file, not for run time.
.. cmdoption:: -O
- Turn on basic optimizations. See also :envvar:`PYTHONOPTIMIZE`.
+ Remove assert statements and any code conditional on the value of
+ :const:`__debug__`. Augment the filename for compiled
+ (:term:`bytecode`) files by adding ``.opt-1`` before the ``.pyc``
+ extension (see :pep:`488`). See also :envvar:`PYTHONOPTIMIZE`.
+
+ .. versionchanged:: 3.5
+ Modify ``.pyc`` filenames according to :pep:`488`.
.. cmdoption:: -OO
- Discard docstrings in addition to the :option:`-O` optimizations.
+ Do :option:`-O` and also discard docstrings. Augment the filename
+ for compiled (:term:`bytecode`) files by adding ``.opt-2`` before the
+ ``.pyc`` extension (see :pep:`488`).
+
+ .. versionchanged:: 3.5
+ Modify ``.pyc`` filenames according to :pep:`488`.
.. cmdoption:: -q
--- /dev/null
+Clarify docs for -O and -OO. Patch by Terry Reedy.
file as a script.
.TP
.B \-O
-Turn on basic optimizations. Given twice, causes docstrings to be discarded.
+Remove assert statements and any code conditional on the value of
+__debug__; augment the filename for compiled (bytecode) files by
+adding .opt-1 before the .pyc extension.
.TP
.B \-OO
-Discard docstrings in addition to the \fB-O\fP optimizations.
+Do \fB-O\fP and also discard docstrings; change the filename for
+compiled (bytecode) files by adding .opt-2 before the .pyc extension.
.TP
.B \-q
Do not print the version and copyright messages. These messages are
if stdin does not appear to be a terminal; also PYTHONINSPECT=x\n\
-I : isolate Python from the user's environment (implies -E and -s)\n\
-m mod : run library module as a script (terminates option list)\n\
--O : optimize generated bytecode slightly; also PYTHONOPTIMIZE=x\n\
--OO : remove doc-strings in addition to the -O optimizations\n\
+-O : remove assert and __debug__-dependent statements; add .opt-1 before\n\
+ .pyc extension; also PYTHONOPTIMIZE=x\n\
+-OO : do -O changes and also discard docstrings; add .opt-2 before\n\
+ .pyc extension\n\
-q : don't print version and copyright messages on interactive startup\n\
-s : don't add user site directory to sys.path; also PYTHONNOUSERSITE\n\
-S : don't imply 'import site' on initialization\n\