separate compilation
<programming> A feature of most modern programming languages that allows
each program module to be compiled on its own to produce an object file which
the linker can later combine with other object files and libraries to produce
the final executable. Separate compilation avoids processing all the source code
every time the program is built, thus saving development time. The object files
are designed to require minimal processing at link time. They can also be
collected together into libraries and distributed commercially without giving
away source code (though they can be disassembled).
Examples of the output of separate compilation are C object files (extension
".o") and Java ".class" files.
(2005-02-19)
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