Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for implementing interprocedural analysis using a standard compilation user interface. The present invention stores an intermediate representation of the source code, associated interprocedural summary information, and compilation options into an extended object format file. Interprocedural analysis functions are then performed on each of the extended object format files, resulting in IPA output files which preserve the compilation options. A compiler back end is invoked for each IPA output file to produce a standard format binary object file. The standard format binary object files are finally linked together to produce a final output, such that the final output can be either an executable program or a dynamic shared object. The present invention executes the interprocedural analysis functions, the compiler back end, and the linking under the control of a linkage editor.