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An automated software build turns declared source inputs and dependencies into outputs through repeatable tool steps, such as code generation, compilation, linking and packaging. A build description defines those steps and their dependencies; a build system decides their order and may reuse outputs whose relevant inputs have not changed.

For example, changing a header can require recompiling several source files before relinking a computer program. Omitting that dependency can produce a stale executable even when every individual compiler invocation succeeds. In continuous integration, the automated build provides a repeatable check of the integrated revision, often combined with tests.^[ref] Repeatability requires identifying tool versions, generated inputs and configuration as well as the main source files.

A build system executes declared transformations from source files and other inputs to build outputs, respecting their dependency graph. Common steps include code generation, compilation, linking and packaging. CMake describes builds through targets such as executables and software libraries, with dependencies between them.^[ref]

For example, main.o and math.o must exist before they can be linked into an executable. If only the source for math.o changes, an incremental build can reuse main.o, rebuild math.o and relink. Reuse is valid only when every relevant requirement has been tracked: a changed header, tool option or generated input can invalidate an apparently unchanged output. Correct dependency declarations are part of build correctness.

An implementation module supplies the executable procedures and private declarations behind a Modula-2 module interface. Its associated definition module determines which declarations clients may import. This separation lets clients depend on an interface while the implementation selects a representation.

For example, a counter module can export a procedure Next while storing a private running count. Its implementation module defines how Next updates and returns that count; clients need not know the private variable's name. Replacing the storage mechanism is possible when the exported behavior remains compatible. The GNU Modula-2 manual illustrates separate definition and implementation source files, then compiles implementation modules before linking them into a software library.^[ref]

Linking combines separately produced program components and resolves references between them. A linker (computing) reads object files and library archives, assigns or adjusts locations through relocation (computing), and connects references to their definitions. GNU ld describes these as its central operations.^[ref]

For example, one object file contains a call to a procedure defined in a second object file. The first compiler invocation can leave a symbolic reference; linking supplies the connection once both components are available. A missing definition or conflicting definitions can cause an error even when both source files compiled separately. Depending on the toolchain, some connections are completed before execution and others when a shared software library is loaded.

Relocation (computing) adjusts references in program components to match the addresses assigned during linking or loading. A relocation record identifies a place to patch, a target symbol and an architecture-dependent rule for computing the replacement. Moving a section changes the addresses associated with its contents, even when their relative arrangement stays fixed.^[ref]

In an illustrative absolute-address rule, a symbol address $S$ and addend $A$ produce $S+A$. In a relative rule defined using reference address $P$, they may produce $S+A-P$. If $S=4176$, $P=4096$ and $A=0$, the latter gives an offset of $80$. Actual instruction encodings specify the precise reference point, scaling and allowed range, so a linker (computing) must apply the relocation type's rule rather than blindly adding one constant everywhere.