diff --git a/db/config.cc b/db/config.cc
index 15407650a8..0c8de58739 100644
--- a/db/config.cc
+++ b/db/config.cc
@@ -273,6 +273,34 @@ const config_type& config_type_for<std::vector<enum_option<db::consistency_level
     return ct;
 }
 
+template <>
+const config_type& config_type_for<enum_option<db::experimental_features_t>>() {
+    static config_type ct(
+        "experimental feature", printable_to_json<enum_option<db::experimental_features_t>>);
+    return ct;
+}
+
+template <>
+const config_type& config_type_for<enum_option<db::replication_strategy_restriction_t>>() {
+    static config_type ct(
+        "replication strategy", printable_to_json<enum_option<db::replication_strategy_restriction_t>>);
+    return ct;
+}
+
+template <>
+const config_type& config_type_for<enum_option<db::consistency_level_restriction_t>>() {
+    static config_type ct(
+        "consistency level", printable_to_json<enum_option<db::consistency_level_restriction_t>>);
+    return ct;
+}
+
+template <>
+const config_type& config_type_for<db::error_injection_at_startup>() {
+    static config_type ct(
+        "error injection", printable_to_json<db::error_injection_at_startup>);
+    return ct;
+}
+
 template <>
 const config_type& config_type_for<enum_option<db::tri_mode_restriction_t>>() {
     static config_type ct(
@@ -1942,6 +1970,47 @@ std::unordered_map<sstring, db::tablets_mode_t::mode> db::tablets_mode_t::map()
 
 template struct utils::config_file::named_value<seastar::log_level>;
 
+// Explicit instantiation definitions for all named_value<T> specializations
+// declared extern in config_file.hh and config.hh.  This file is the only
+// translation unit that includes config_file_impl.hh (which contains the
+// full template bodies), so all the heavy boost / yaml-cpp machinery is
+// compiled exactly once here instead of in every TU that includes config.hh.
+
+// Primitive / standard types (extern-declared in utils/config_file.hh):
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<bool>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<uint16_t>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<uint32_t>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<uint64_t>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<int32_t>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<int64_t>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<float>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<double>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<sstring>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::string>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<utils::config_file::string_map>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<utils::config_file::string_list>;
+
+// db-specific types (extern-declared in db/config.hh):
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<db::tri_mode_restriction>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<db::seed_provider_type>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<db::hints::host_filter>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<utils::UUID>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<db::error_injection_at_startup>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<compression_parameters>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<enum_option<db::experimental_features_t>>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<enum_option<db::replication_strategy_restriction_t>>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<enum_option<db::consistency_level_restriction_t>>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<enum_option<db::tablets_mode_t>>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<enum_option<netw::dict_training_loop::when>>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<netw::advanced_rpc_compressor::tracker::algo_config>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::vector<enum_option<db::experimental_features_t>>>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::vector<enum_option<db::replication_strategy_restriction_t>>>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::vector<enum_option<db::consistency_level_restriction_t>>>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::vector<db::error_injection_at_startup>>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::vector<std::unordered_map<sstring, sstring>>>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::unordered_map<sstring, seastar::log_level>>;
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::vector<db::object_storage_endpoint_param>>;
+
 namespace utils {
 
 sstring
diff --git a/db/config.hh b/db/config.hh
index 4c4d5884af..e3a57e7ec5 100644
--- a/db/config.hh
+++ b/db/config.hh
@@ -689,3 +689,42 @@ future<> update_relabel_config_from_file(const std::string& name);
 std::vector<sstring> split_comma_separated_list(std::string_view comma_separated_list);
 
 } // namespace utils
+
+namespace utils {
+
+// Declaration of the explicit specialization for seed_provider_type's
+// add_command_line_option must appear before the extern template declaration
+// below, to satisfy [temp.expl.spec]: a member specialization must be
+// declared before any explicit instantiation (including extern template) of
+// the enclosing class template.
+template <>
+void config_file::named_value<db::config::seed_provider_type>::add_command_line_option(
+        boost::program_options::options_description_easy_init&);
+
+} // namespace utils
+
+// Explicit instantiation declarations for named_value<T> specializations
+// that use db-specific types. The definitions live in db/config.cc.
+// Together with the declarations in utils/config_file.hh (for primitive
+// types), this ensures the heavy template bodies from config_file_impl.hh
+// (boost::program_options, boost::lexical_cast, boost::regex, yaml-cpp)
+// are compiled only once.
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<db::tri_mode_restriction>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<db::seed_provider_type>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<db::hints::host_filter>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<utils::UUID>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<db::error_injection_at_startup>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<compression_parameters>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<enum_option<db::experimental_features_t>>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<enum_option<db::replication_strategy_restriction_t>>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<enum_option<db::consistency_level_restriction_t>>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<enum_option<db::tablets_mode_t>>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<enum_option<netw::dict_training_loop::when>>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<netw::advanced_rpc_compressor::tracker::algo_config>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::vector<enum_option<db::experimental_features_t>>>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::vector<enum_option<db::replication_strategy_restriction_t>>>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::vector<enum_option<db::consistency_level_restriction_t>>>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::vector<db::error_injection_at_startup>>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::vector<std::unordered_map<sstring, sstring>>>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::unordered_map<sstring, seastar::log_level>>;
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<std::vector<db::object_storage_endpoint_param>>;
diff --git a/ent/encryption/encryption_config.cc b/ent/encryption/encryption_config.cc
index 6978efdd0a..549a440d01 100644
--- a/ent/encryption/encryption_config.cc
+++ b/ent/encryption/encryption_config.cc
@@ -175,3 +175,5 @@ public:
         };
     }
 } cfg;
+
+template struct utils::config_file::named_value<encryption::encryption_config::string_string_map>;
diff --git a/ent/encryption/encryption_config.hh b/ent/encryption/encryption_config.hh
index 5975cc4faf..86fd892b95 100644
--- a/ent/encryption/encryption_config.hh
+++ b/ent/encryption/encryption_config.hh
@@ -32,3 +32,5 @@ public:
 };
 
 }
+
+extern template struct utils::config_file::named_value<encryption::encryption_config::string_string_map>;
diff --git a/utils/config_file.hh b/utils/config_file.hh
index 9a99ebf3da..9d70ec47c0 100644
--- a/utils/config_file.hh
+++ b/utils/config_file.hh
@@ -168,96 +168,40 @@ public:
         config_source _source = config_source::None;
         value_status _value_status;
         struct the_value_type final : any_value {
-            the_value_type(T value) : value(std::move(value)) {}
+            the_value_type(T value);
             utils::updateable_value_source<T> value;
-            virtual std::unique_ptr<any_value> clone() const override {
-                return std::make_unique<the_value_type>(value());
-            }
-            virtual void update_from(const any_value* source) override {
-                auto typed_source = static_cast<const the_value_type*>(source);
-                value.set(typed_source->value());
-            }
+            std::unique_ptr<any_value> clone() const override;
+            void update_from(const any_value* source) override;
         };
         liveness _liveness;
         std::vector<T> _allowed_values;
     protected:
-        updateable_value_source<T>& the_value() {
-            any_value* av = _cf->_per_shard_values[_cf->s_shard_id][_per_shard_values_offset].get();
-            return static_cast<the_value_type*>(av)->value;
-        }
-        const updateable_value_source<T>& the_value() const {
-            return const_cast<named_value*>(this)->the_value();
-        }
-        virtual const void* current_value() const override {
-            return &the_value().get();
-        }
+        updateable_value_source<T>& the_value();
+        const updateable_value_source<T>& the_value() const;
+        const void* current_value() const override;
     public:
         typedef T type;
         typedef named_value<T> MyType;
 
         named_value(config_file* file, std::string_view name, std::string_view alias, liveness liveness_, value_status vs, const T& t = T(), std::string_view desc = {},
-                std::initializer_list<T> allowed_values = {})
-            : config_src(file, name, alias, &config_type_for<T>(), desc)
-            , _value_status(vs)
-            , _liveness(liveness_)
-            , _allowed_values(std::move(allowed_values)) {
-            file->add(*this, std::make_unique<the_value_type>(std::move(t)));
-        }
+                std::initializer_list<T> allowed_values = {});
         named_value(config_file* file, std::string_view name, liveness liveness_, value_status vs, const T& t = T(), std::string_view desc = {},
-                std::initializer_list<T> allowed_values = {})
-            : named_value(file, name, {}, liveness_, vs, t, desc, std::move(allowed_values)) {
-        }
+                std::initializer_list<T> allowed_values = {});
         named_value(config_file* file, std::string_view name, std::string_view alias, value_status vs, const T& t = T(), std::string_view desc = {},
-                std::initializer_list<T> allowed_values = {})
-                : named_value(file, name, alias, liveness::MustRestart, vs, t, desc, allowed_values) {
-        }
+                std::initializer_list<T> allowed_values = {});
         named_value(config_file* file, std::string_view name, value_status vs, const T& t = T(), std::string_view desc = {},
-                std::initializer_list<T> allowed_values = {})
-                : named_value(file, name, {}, liveness::MustRestart, vs, t, desc, allowed_values) {
-        }
-        value_status status() const noexcept override {
-            return _value_status;
-        }
-        config_source source() const noexcept override {
-            return _source;
-        }
-        bool is_set() const {
-            return _source > config_source::None;
-        }
-        MyType & operator()(const T& t, config_source src = config_source::Internal) {
-            if (!_allowed_values.empty() && std::find(_allowed_values.begin(), _allowed_values.end(), t) == _allowed_values.end()) {
-                throw std::invalid_argument(fmt::format("Invalid value for {}: got {} which is not inside the set of allowed values {}", name(), t, _allowed_values));
-            }
-            the_value().set(t);
-            if (src > config_source::None) {
-                _source = src;
-            }
-            return *this;
-        }
-        MyType & operator()(T&& t, config_source src = config_source::Internal) {
-            if (!_allowed_values.empty() && std::find(_allowed_values.begin(), _allowed_values.end(), t) == _allowed_values.end()) {
-                throw std::invalid_argument(fmt::format("Invalid value for {}: got {} which is not inside the set of allowed values {}", name(), t, _allowed_values));
-            }
-            the_value().set(std::move(t));
-            if (src > config_source::None) {
-                _source = src;
-            }
-            return *this;
-        }
-        void set(T&& t, config_source src = config_source::None) {
-            operator()(std::move(t), src);
-        }
-        const T& operator()() const {
-            return the_value().get();
-        }
+                std::initializer_list<T> allowed_values = {});
+        value_status status() const noexcept override;
+        config_source source() const noexcept override;
+        bool is_set() const;
+        MyType & operator()(const T& t, config_source src = config_source::Internal);
+        MyType & operator()(T&& t, config_source src = config_source::Internal);
+        void set(T&& t, config_source src = config_source::None);
+        const T& operator()() const;
 
-        operator updateable_value<T>() const & {
-            return updateable_value<T>(the_value());
-        }
+        operator updateable_value<T>() const &;
 
-        observer<T> observe(std::function<void (const T&)> callback) const {
-            return the_value().observe(std::move(callback));
-        }
+        observer<T> observe(std::function<void (const T&)> callback) const;
 
         void add_command_line_option(bpo::options_description_easy_init&) override;
         void set_value(const YAML::Node&, config_source) override;
@@ -336,5 +280,24 @@ const config_file::named_value<T>& operator||(const config_file::named_value<T>&
 
 extern template struct config_file::named_value<seastar::log_level>;
 
+// Explicit instantiation declarations for the most common named_value<T>
+// specializations. The definitions are in db/config.cc (which is the only
+// TU that includes config_file_impl.hh and therefore has the full template
+// bodies). This avoids re-compiling the heavy boost::program_options /
+// boost::lexical_cast / yaml-cpp machinery in every TU that includes
+// config.hh.
+extern template struct config_file::named_value<bool>;
+extern template struct config_file::named_value<uint16_t>;
+extern template struct config_file::named_value<uint32_t>;
+extern template struct config_file::named_value<uint64_t>;
+extern template struct config_file::named_value<int32_t>;
+extern template struct config_file::named_value<int64_t>;
+extern template struct config_file::named_value<float>;
+extern template struct config_file::named_value<double>;
+extern template struct config_file::named_value<sstring>;
+extern template struct config_file::named_value<std::string>;
+extern template struct config_file::named_value<config_file::string_map>;
+extern template struct config_file::named_value<config_file::string_list>;
+
 }
 
diff --git a/utils/config_file_impl.hh b/utils/config_file_impl.hh
index e5841d8473..bd9fe23a10 100644
--- a/utils/config_file_impl.hh
+++ b/utils/config_file_impl.hh
@@ -186,6 +186,125 @@ sstring hyphenate(const std::string_view&);
 
 }
 
+template<typename T>
+utils::config_file::named_value<T>::the_value_type::the_value_type(T value)
+    : value(std::move(value)) {}
+
+template<typename T>
+std::unique_ptr<utils::config_file::any_value>
+utils::config_file::named_value<T>::the_value_type::clone() const {
+    return std::make_unique<the_value_type>(value());
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+void utils::config_file::named_value<T>::the_value_type::update_from(const any_value* source) {
+    auto typed_source = static_cast<const the_value_type*>(source);
+    value.set(typed_source->value());
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+utils::updateable_value_source<T>& utils::config_file::named_value<T>::the_value() {
+    any_value* av = _cf->_per_shard_values[_cf->s_shard_id][_per_shard_values_offset].get();
+    return static_cast<the_value_type*>(av)->value;
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+const utils::updateable_value_source<T>& utils::config_file::named_value<T>::the_value() const {
+    return const_cast<named_value*>(this)->the_value();
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+const void* utils::config_file::named_value<T>::current_value() const {
+    return &the_value().get();
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+utils::config_file::named_value<T>::named_value(config_file* file, std::string_view name, std::string_view alias, liveness liveness_, value_status vs, const T& t, std::string_view desc,
+        std::initializer_list<T> allowed_values)
+    : config_src(file, name, alias, &config_type_for<T>(), desc)
+    , _value_status(vs)
+    , _liveness(liveness_)
+    , _allowed_values(std::move(allowed_values)) {
+    file->add(*this, std::make_unique<the_value_type>(std::move(t)));
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+utils::config_file::named_value<T>::named_value(config_file* file, std::string_view name, liveness liveness_, value_status vs, const T& t, std::string_view desc,
+        std::initializer_list<T> allowed_values)
+    : named_value(file, name, {}, liveness_, vs, t, desc, std::move(allowed_values)) {
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+utils::config_file::named_value<T>::named_value(config_file* file, std::string_view name, std::string_view alias, value_status vs, const T& t, std::string_view desc,
+        std::initializer_list<T> allowed_values)
+    : named_value(file, name, alias, liveness::MustRestart, vs, t, desc, allowed_values) {
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+utils::config_file::named_value<T>::named_value(config_file* file, std::string_view name, value_status vs, const T& t, std::string_view desc,
+        std::initializer_list<T> allowed_values)
+    : named_value(file, name, {}, liveness::MustRestart, vs, t, desc, allowed_values) {
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+utils::config_file::value_status utils::config_file::named_value<T>::status() const noexcept {
+    return _value_status;
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+utils::config_file::config_source utils::config_file::named_value<T>::source() const noexcept {
+    return _source;
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+bool utils::config_file::named_value<T>::is_set() const {
+    return _source > config_source::None;
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+utils::config_file::named_value<T>& utils::config_file::named_value<T>::operator()(const T& t, config_source src) {
+    if (!_allowed_values.empty() && std::find(_allowed_values.begin(), _allowed_values.end(), t) == _allowed_values.end()) {
+        throw std::invalid_argument(fmt::format("Invalid value for {}: got {} which is not inside the set of allowed values {}", name(), t, _allowed_values));
+    }
+    the_value().set(t);
+    if (src > config_source::None) {
+        _source = src;
+    }
+    return *this;
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+utils::config_file::named_value<T>& utils::config_file::named_value<T>::operator()(T&& t, config_source src) {
+    if (!_allowed_values.empty() && std::find(_allowed_values.begin(), _allowed_values.end(), t) == _allowed_values.end()) {
+        throw std::invalid_argument(fmt::format("Invalid value for {}: got {} which is not inside the set of allowed values {}", name(), t, _allowed_values));
+    }
+    the_value().set(std::move(t));
+    if (src > config_source::None) {
+        _source = src;
+    }
+    return *this;
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+void utils::config_file::named_value<T>::set(T&& t, config_source src) {
+    operator()(std::move(t), src);
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+const T& utils::config_file::named_value<T>::operator()() const {
+    return the_value().get();
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+utils::config_file::named_value<T>::operator utils::updateable_value<T>() const & {
+    return updateable_value<T>(the_value());
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+utils::observer<T> utils::config_file::named_value<T>::observe(std::function<void (const T&)> callback) const {
+    return the_value().observe(std::move(callback));
+}
+
 template<typename T>
 void utils::config_file::named_value<T>::add_command_line_option(boost::program_options::options_description_easy_init& init) {
     const auto hyphenated_name = hyphenate(name());