2.7 Compilation

Collections of SWI-Prolog source files can be compiled into an intermediate code file. An intermediate code file is a data file from which SWI-Prolog can be started. The command to compile a bundle of source files is:

The individual source files may include other files using the standard list notation, consult/1, ensure_loaded/1 and use_module/[1,2]. When the -o file option is omitted a file named a.out is created that holds the intermediate code file.

Intermediate code files start with the BSD Unix magic code #! and are executable. This implies they can be started as a command:

Alternatively, my_program can be started with

The following restrictions apply to source files that are to be compiled with `-c':

• term_expansion/2 should not use assert/1 and or retract/1 other than for local computational purposes.
• Files can only be included by the standard include directives: [...], consult/1, ensure_loaded/1 and use_module/[1,2]. User defined loading predicate invocations will not be compiled.

Directives are executed both when compiling the program and when loading the intermediate code file.