A distributed make command is used when compiling a computer program in order to allow non-dependent processes in the compiling be performed in parallel, such as with different resources, in order to speed compile time. The distributed make command is typically executed by a user who also specifies a maximum number of resources to allocate to the compiling. The present invention dynamically adjusts this maximum number of resources to allocate if the resources become overloaded during the compiling, which has the effect of optimizing the efficiency of the compiling, either by reducing the number of resources utilized or by reducing the amount of time the compiling takes (or both).