inline
(Or "unfold") To replace a {function} call with an instance of the function's body. {Actual argument}
expressions are substituted for {formal parameters} as in
{beta reduction}. Inlining is usually done as a
{compile-time} transformation.
If done recklessly (e.g. attempting to inline a {recursive}
function) the {compiler} will fail to terminate. If done
over-enthusiastically the code size may increase
exponentially, e.g. if function f calls g twice, and g calls h
twice and h is inlined in g which is inlined in f (in either
order) then there will be four copies of h's body in f.
See also {linear argument}, {unfold/fold}.
(1994-11-03)