diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 01a1a3d7..a549855a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ IF(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "")
     SET(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE "Release" CACHE STRING "Build Type" FORCE)
 ENDIF()
 
+SET(ALL_TARGETS fex gvbam visualboyadvance-m vbamcore vbam)
+
 if( COMMAND cmake_policy )
     cmake_policy( SET CMP0003 NEW )
     cmake_policy( SET CMP0005 OLD )
@@ -289,8 +291,21 @@ ENDIF()
 # Compiler flags
 
 IF(CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX OR CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "Clang")
+    # common optimization flags
+    SET(MY_C_AND_CXX_OPT_FLAGS      -O2 -mtune=generic -fomit-frame-pointer -flto=10)
+    SET(MY_C_AND_CXX_OPT_FLAGS_STR "-O2 -mtune=generic -fomit-frame-pointer -flto=10")
+
+    # common debug flags
+    IF(CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX)
+        SET(MY_C_AND_CXX_DBG_FLAGS      -ggdb3 -Og)
+        SET(MY_C_AND_CXX_DBG_FLAGS_STR "-ggdb3 -Og")
+    ELSE()
+        SET(MY_C_AND_CXX_DBG_FLAGS      -g)
+        SET(MY_C_AND_CXX_DBG_FLAGS_STR "-g")
+    ENDIF()
+
     # common flags
-    SET(MY_C_AND_CXX_FLAGS -mtune=generic -pipe -fPIC -Wformat -Wformat-security -fomit-frame-pointer -fstack-protector-strong --param ssp-buffer-size=4 -fexceptions -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2 -feliminate-unused-debug-types)
+    SET(MY_C_AND_CXX_FLAGS -pipe -fPIC -Wformat -Wformat-security -fstack-protector-strong --param ssp-buffer-size=4 -fexceptions -D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2 -feliminate-unused-debug-types)
 
     SET(MY_C_FLAGS   ${MY_C_FLAGS}   ${MY_C_AND_CXX_FLAGS})
     SET(MY_CXX_FLAGS ${MY_CXX_FLAGS} ${MY_C_AND_CXX_FLAGS})
@@ -300,12 +315,12 @@ IF(CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX OR CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "Clang")
         SET(MY_CXX_FLAGS ${MY_CXX_FLAGS} -static-libgcc -static-libstdc++)
     ENDIF(MINGW)
 
-    IF(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "Debug")
-        SET(MY_C_FLAGS   ${MY_C_FLAGS}   -g2 -Wall)
-        SET(MY_CXX_FLAGS ${MY_CXX_FLAGS} -g2 -Wall)
+    IF(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL Debug)
+        SET(MY_C_FLAGS   ${MY_C_FLAGS}   ${MY_C_AND_CXX_DBG_FLAGS} -Wall)
+        SET(MY_CXX_FLAGS ${MY_CXX_FLAGS} ${MY_C_AND_CXX_DBG_FLAGS} -Wall)
     ELSE()
-        SET(MY_C_FLAGS   ${MY_C_FLAGS}   -O2 -Wno-error)
-        SET(MY_CXX_FLAGS ${MY_CXX_FLAGS} -O2 -Wno-error)
+        SET(MY_C_FLAGS   ${MY_C_FLAGS}   ${MY_C_AND_CXX_OPT_FLAGS} -Wno-error)
+        SET(MY_CXX_FLAGS ${MY_CXX_FLAGS} ${MY_C_AND_CXX_OPT_FLAGS} -Wno-error)
     ENDIF()
 
     FOREACH(C_COMPILE_FLAG ${MY_C_FLAGS})
@@ -316,11 +331,34 @@ IF(CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX OR CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "Clang")
         ADD_COMPILE_OPTIONS($<$<COMPILE_LANGUAGE:CXX>:${CXX_COMPILE_FLAG}>)
     ENDFOREACH()
 
+    # need opt flags for link step for LTO, including -flto
+    # but don't use LTO for debug builds, too slow
+    IF(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL Debug)
+        SET(CMAKE_CXX_LINK_EXECUTABLE "${CMAKE_CXX_LINK_EXECUTABLE} ${MY_C_AND_CXX_DBG_FLAGS_STR}")
+        SET(CMAKE_C_LINK_EXECUTABLE   "${CMAKE_C_LINK_EXECUTABLE}   ${MY_C_AND_CXX_DBG_FLAGS_STR}")
+    ELSE()
+        SET(CMAKE_CXX_LINK_EXECUTABLE "${CMAKE_CXX_LINK_EXECUTABLE} ${MY_C_AND_CXX_OPT_FLAGS_STR}")
+        SET(CMAKE_C_LINK_EXECUTABLE   "${CMAKE_C_LINK_EXECUTABLE}   ${MY_C_AND_CXX_OPT_FLAGS_STR}")
+    ENDIF()
+
     # for the gcc -fstack-protector* flags we need libssp
-    # clang does not have this
+    # we also have to use the gcc- binutils for LTO to work
     IF(CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX)
-        SET(CMAKE_CXX_LINK_EXECUTABLE "${CMAKE_CXX_LINK_EXECUTABLE} -lssp")
-        SET(CMAKE_C_LINK_EXECUTABLE   "${CMAKE_C_LINK_EXECUTABLE}   -lssp")
+        INCLUDE(UseGCCBinUtilsWrappers)
+
+        IF(WIN32)
+            SET(SSP_STATIC ON)
+        ENDIF(WIN32)
+
+        FIND_PACKAGE(SSP)
+
+        IF(SSP_LIBRARY)
+            SET(CMAKE_CXX_LINK_EXECUTABLE "${CMAKE_CXX_LINK_EXECUTABLE} ${SSP_LIBRARY}")
+            SET(CMAKE_C_LINK_EXECUTABLE   "${CMAKE_C_LINK_EXECUTABLE}   ${SSP_LIBRARY}")
+        ENDIF(SSP_LIBRARY)
+
+        SET(CMAKE_CXX_LINK_EXECUTABLE "${CMAKE_CXX_LINK_EXECUTABLE} -Wl,-allow-multiple-definition")
+        SET(CMAKE_C_LINK_EXECUTABLE   "${CMAKE_C_LINK_EXECUTABLE}   -Wl,-allow-multiple-definition")
     ENDIF()
 ENDIF()
 
diff --git a/CMakeScripts/FindSSP.cmake b/CMakeScripts/FindSSP.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3008f3a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CMakeScripts/FindSSP.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+# FindSSP.cmake
+#
+# Find libssp necessary when using gcc with e.g. -fstack-protector=strong
+#
+# See: http://wiki.osdev.org/Stack_Smashing_Protector
+#
+# To use:
+#
+# put a copy into your <project_root>/CMakeScripts/
+#
+# In your main CMakeLists.txt do something like this:
+#
+# IF(WIN32)
+#     SET(SSP_STATIC ON)
+# ENDIF(WIN32)
+#
+# FIND_PACKAGE(SSP)
+#
+# IF(SSP_LIBRARY)
+#     SET(CMAKE_CXX_LINK_EXECUTABLE "${CMAKE_CXX_LINK_EXECUTABLE} ${SSP_LIBRARY}")
+#     SET(CMAKE_C_LINK_EXECUTABLE   "${CMAKE_C_LINK_EXECUTABLE}   ${SSP_LIBRARY}")
+# ENDIF(SSP_LIBRARY)
+#
+# BSD 2-Clause License
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2016, Rafael Kitover
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+#
+# * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
+#   list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#
+# * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+#   this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+#   and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+# DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+# FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+# DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
+# SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
+# CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+# OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+# OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+# only do this when compiling with gcc/g++
+IF(NOT (CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX OR CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUC))
+    RETURN()
+ENDIF()
+
+GET_FILENAME_COMPONENT(GCC_DIRNAME ${CMAKE_C_COMPILER} DIRECTORY)
+
+EXECUTE_PROCESS(COMMAND ${CMAKE_C_COMPILER} --print-libgcc-file-name OUTPUT_VARIABLE LIBGCC_FILE OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE)
+
+GET_FILENAME_COMPONENT(LIBGCC_DIRNAME ${LIBGCC_FILE} DIRECTORY)
+
+SET(SSP_SEARCH_PATHS ${GCC_DIRNAME} ${LIBGCC_DIRNAME})
+
+SET(CURRENT_FIND_LIBRARY_SUFFIXES ${CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_SUFFIXES})
+
+IF(SSP_STATIC)
+    IF(WIN32)
+        SET(CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_SUFFIXES .lib .a)
+    ELSE(WIN32)
+        SET(CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_SUFFIXES .a)
+    ENDIF(WIN32)
+ENDIF(SSP_STATIC)
+
+FIND_LIBRARY(SSP_LIBRARY
+    NAMES ssp libssp
+    HINTS ${SSP_SEARCH_PATHS}
+    PATH_SUFFIXES lib64 lib lib/x64 lib/x86
+)
+
+SET(CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_SUFFIXES ${CURRENT_FIND_LIBRARY_SUFFIXES})
+
+FOREACH(VAR GCC_DIRNAME LIBGCC_FILE LIBGCC_DIRNAME SSP_SEARCH_PATHS CURRENT_FIND_LIBRARY_SUFFIXES)
+    UNSET(${VAR})
+ENDFOREACH()
+
+INCLUDE(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+
+FIND_PACKAGE_HANDLE_STANDARD_ARGS(SSP REQUIRED_VARS SSP_LIBRARY)
diff --git a/CMakeScripts/UseGCCBinUtilsWrappers.cmake b/CMakeScripts/UseGCCBinUtilsWrappers.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bae1a24b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CMakeScripts/UseGCCBinUtilsWrappers.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+# UseGCCBinUtilsWrappers.cmake
+#
+# Use gcc binutils wrappers such as gcc-ar, this may be necessary for LTO.
+#
+# To use:
+#
+# put a copy into your <project_root>/CMakeScripts/
+#
+# In your main CMakeLists.txt add the command:
+#
+# INCLUDE(UseGCCBinUtilsWrappers)
+#
+# BSD 2-Clause License
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2016, Rafael Kitover
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+#
+# * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
+#   list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#
+# * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+#   this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+#   and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+# DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+# FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+# DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
+# SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
+# CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+# OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+# OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+# only do this when compiling with gcc/g++
+IF(NOT (CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUCXX OR CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNUC))
+    RETURN()
+ENDIF()
+
+# first try appending -util to basename of compiler
+STRING(REGEX MATCH   "\\.(exe|EXE)$"    GCC_EXE_SUFFIX ${CMAKE_C_COMPILER})
+STRING(REGEX REPLACE "\\.(exe|EXE)$" "" GCC_BASENAME   ${CMAKE_C_COMPILER})
+
+SET(GCC_AR      "${GCC_BASENAME}-ar${GCC_EXE_SUFFIX}")
+SET(GCC_NM      "${GCC_BASENAME}-nm${GCC_EXE_SUFFIX}")
+SET(GCC_RANLIB  "${GCC_BASENAME}-ranlib${GCC_EXE_SUFFIX}")
+
+# if that does not work, try looking for gcc-util in the compiler directory,
+# and failing that in the PATH
+
+GET_FILENAME_COMPONENT(GCC_DIRNAME ${CMAKE_C_COMPILER} DIRECTORY)
+
+IF(NOT EXISTS ${GCC_AR})
+    UNSET(GCC_AR)
+
+    FIND_PROGRAM(GCC_AR NAMES gcc-ar gcc-ar.exe GCC-AR.EXE HINTS ${GCC_DIRNAME})
+ENDIF()
+
+IF(NOT EXISTS ${GCC_NM})
+    UNSET(GCC_NM)
+
+    FIND_PROGRAM(GCC_NM NAMES gcc-nm gcc-nm.exe GCC-NM.EXE HINTS ${GCC_DIRNAME})
+ENDIF()
+
+IF(NOT EXISTS ${GCC_RANLIB})
+    UNSET(GCC_RANLIB)
+
+    FIND_PROGRAM(GCC_RANLIB NAMES gcc-ranlib gcc-ranlib.exe GCC-RANLIB.EXE HINTS ${GCC_DIRNAME})
+ENDIF()
+
+IF(EXISTS ${GCC_AR})
+    SET(CMAKE_AR ${GCC_AR})
+    MESSAGE("-- Found gcc-ar: ${CMAKE_AR}")
+ENDIF()
+
+IF(EXISTS ${GCC_NM})
+    SET(CMAKE_NM ${GCC_NM})
+    MESSAGE("-- Found gcc-nm: ${CMAKE_NM}")
+ENDIF()
+
+IF(EXISTS ${GCC_RANLIB})
+    SET(CMAKE_RANLIB ${GCC_RANLIB})
+    MESSAGE("-- Found gcc-ranlib: ${CMAKE_RANLIB}")
+ENDIF()
+
+FOREACH(VAR "GCC_AR" "GCC_NM" "GCC_RANLIB" "GCC_DIRNAME" "GCC_BASENAME" "GCC_EXE_SUFFIX")
+    UNSET(${VAR})
+ENDFOREACH()