US Patent 8190587 In-place image promotion

To promote an image, an identification of at least one of an symbol name and an existing symbol value associated with the symbol name is received. An identification of a new symbol value is also received. It is then determined that a binary file that is a component of an unpromoted image is to be modified, wherein the image has previously been compiled and linked. The binary file is read to find occurrences of at least one of the symbol name or the existing symbol value in the binary file. The existing symbol value is replaced with the new symbol value to promote the image. The image is promoted without recompiling or relinking the binary file.