An execution trace of building blocks of computer code includes a head building block at which the execution trace starts, and a tail building block at which the execution trace ends. The building blocks are executable in a sequence from the head building block to the tail building block. The execution trace is truncated at a particular building block of the execution trace, which becomes the tail building block. The particular building block can correspond to a head building block of an additional execution trace, and/or to a loop header building block of a loop within the execution trace and at which the loop is entered. The execution trace is a compilation unit on which basis a trace-based compiler computer program generates an executable version of the code at least by compiling these units.