Linkerlid

Linkerlid is a conceptual term used in software engineering to describe a modular layer that sits between build-time linking and runtime loading. It refers to an intermediary component that decouples static linking from the dynamic linker, enabling pluggable backends, improved traceability of dependencies, and easier experimentation with alternative linking strategies.

The word combines "linker" and "lid" to evoke its role as a covering or manager for the linking process. It is not part of a formal standard but appears in discussions and prototype architectures exploring modular linking.

A linkerlid typically defines a small API surface for symbol resolution, relocation, and versioning. It can support multiple object formats (such as ELF, Mach-O, and PE) and coordinate with package managers to ensure consistent interfaces across environments. Proponents cite better reproducibility and configurability as potential benefits.

In practice, a linkerlid would integrate with build systems and installers to cache and reuse link results, enable cross-language linking, and provide hooks for security checks and provenance verification. Its adoption raises questions about performance overhead, toolchain compatibility, debugging complexity, and maintenance burden, which must be weighed against modularity gains.

See also: linker, dynamic linker, symbol resolution, build system, binary packaging, plugin architecture.