# Switching between compiled master + branches

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/switching-between-compiled-master-branches/12025>\
**Category:** Internals & Design\
**Tags:** question, workflow\
**Created:** [June 28, 2018, 7:52am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/switching-between-compiled-master-branches/12025 "2018-06-28T07:52:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tamas\_Papp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/tamas_papp/32/25949_2.png) [@Tamas\_Papp](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Tamas_Papp)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2018, 7:52am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/switching-between-compiled-master-branches/12025/1 "2018-06-28T07:52:20Z")

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If I modify the code in the Julia repo and `make` the binary, the Julia processes using it currently stop working until it is finished, and I can’t start new ones. This is a minor interruption to my workflow since (incremental) compilation takes 5-10min on my machine.

Is there a trick to keep a working binary while I make changes, or should I just maintain a separate clone of the repo for the two purposes? It is around 5GB, which is feasible but seems wasteful.

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**Author:** ![Tamas\_Papp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/tamas_papp/32/25949_2.png) [@Tamas\_Papp](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Tamas_Papp)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 11:35am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/switching-between-compiled-master-branches/12025/2 "2018-07-03T11:35:05Z")

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I guess the best solution is to keep a separate repo then. BTW, it is only about 3.6GB.

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**Author:** ![marius311](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/marius311/32/3953_2.png) [@marius311](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/marius311)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2018, 12:10pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/switching-between-compiled-master-branches/12025/3 "2018-07-03T12:10:48Z")

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The solution based on `git worktree` suggested by @yuyichao in this thread [Building multiple versions of Julia](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/building-multiple-versions-of-julia/4224) works well for me, particularly if you can use lots of system libraries.