alt Hacker NewsSeparate compilation is one solution to the problem of slow compilation.
Binary patching is another one. It feels a bit messy and I am sceptical that it can be maintained assuming it works at all.
I think a much better approach would be too make the compilers faster. Why does compiling 1M LOC take more than 1s in unoptimized mode for any language? My guess is part of blame lies with bloated backends and meta programming (including compile time evaluation, templates, etc.)
Ha, I did not see your post before making mine. You are correct in your assessment of the blame.
Moreover, I view optimization as an anti-pattern in general, especially for a low level language. It is better to directly write the optimal solution and not be dependent on the compiler. If there is a real hotspot that you have identified through profiling and you don't know how to optimize it, then you can run the hotspot through an optimizing compiler and copy what it does.