Method and apparatus for building executable computer programs using compiled program libraries

A computer program product for building computer software, comprising:

• a plurality of executable instructions recorded on signal-bearing media, wherein said instructions, when executed by at least one processor of a digital computing device, cause the device to perform the steps of:
• executing a first build process, said first build process binding a referencing program to a referenced program and recording a first signature of said referenced program at the time of said binding step in said referencing program;
• subsequently executing a second build process, said second build process:
• (a) comparing said first signature to a plurality of supported signatures associated with said referenced program, each of said plurality of supported signatures corresponding to a different respective supported version of said referenced program;
• and
• (b) re-building said referencing program if said first signature does not match any of said plurality of supported signatures associated with said referenced program.