okay,
As long as you do not change names of variables where is the problem?
Okay, take it back: imagine four programmers: A,B,C and D. A asks B to insert one more variable into include file because A program needs to send B more data. At same time C programmer asks D to delete variable from include file because it is no more used. Then programmer A found that he needs to replace EQU value from #4 to #5 and this value is used by both programmer B and D. At same time programmer C make his mind that value of EEPROM_BASE should be moved down because he has not enough space but he even does not know who of the rest programmers use this variable and him report to... The problems grow as lump snow and nobody knows which file is the last current one (=
Who on earth generates object files at any other time than link time a 'build' is compile everything, link everything.
It`s me and many programmers I know. Time to time, they save the work and press "compile" button just to check that all is okay (no typpos, miss-types etc). I do it many times per day; is it so bad, Eric? Oh, sorry, I am bad boy (=
fetched from the network.
it is the answer: you always is able to access ast-updated files. BTW, there are many rules, like CVS to make such projects...
There is something about your 'problem' that does not make sense there must be something you are not telling.
sorry? could you explain, please?

cu