When running a script in the current shell instead of a separate process, what is this process called?

When a script is run in the current shell rather than in a separate subshell or process, it is referred to as "sourcing" the script. This process allows any variables, functions, or changes made by the script to affect the current shell environment directly.

Sourcing a script is typically done using the dot command (.) or the source command in the shell. This is particularly useful when the script is intended to set environment variables or define functions that you want to use in the current session.

In contrast, executing a script normally creates a new subshell. Changes made to environment variables or shell options within that subshell do not affect the parent shell. Compiling scripts is a term associated with converting source code into executable code, and simply running commands does not encapsulate the specific action of loading a script into the current shell context.