What is the method of compilation that only recompiles altered modules in a project?

Incremental compilation is a method that focuses on efficiency by recompiling only the modified modules of a project rather than recompiling the entire codebase. This approach significantly reduces the time required for compilation, especially in larger projects where changes might occur in only a small portion of the code. By only focusing on changes, developers can quickly see the effects of their updates, leading to a more efficient development process.

In contrast, complete compilation recompiles the entire project regardless of whether parts of the code have changed, making it more time-consuming. Batch compilation, while it can carry out multiple compilation tasks, does not focus specifically on recompiling only altered modules. Static compilation refers to compiling the source code into machine code before execution and does not involve considerations for incremental changes. This highlights why incremental compilation is advantageous for maintaining workflow efficiency in software development.