from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
compile time
<programming> The period of time during which a program's
{source code} is being translated into executable code, as
opposed to {run time} when the program is being executed. As
well as the work done by the {compiler}, this may include
macro preprocessing as done by {cpp} for example. The final
stage of program construction, performed by the {linker},
would generally also be classed as compile time but might be
distinguished as {link time}.
For example, {static data} in a {C} program is allocated at
compile time whereas non-static data is allocated at {run
time}, probably on the {stack}.
(2004-09-28)