This compiler has a certain restraint (7)
I believe the answer is:
measure
'restraint' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'this compiler has a certain' is the wordplay.
'this compiler' becomes 'me' (the person who is writing these clues).
'has' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'certain' becomes 'sure' ('sure' can be a synonym of 'certain').
'me'+'a'+'sure'='MEASURE'
(Other definitions for measure that I've seen before include "Show something's dimensions" , "Unit of verse" , "bar of music" , "The size of a dance" , "of specified size" .)