Open data folder where you’re .mq5 files are. Double-click the file you want to compile. MetaEditor will open the file and you just need to press “compile”. Repeat for all EAs and that’s it!
I personally like that the bots come in an open-source kind of way.
Note: The “drop and refresh” process you mention is still possible with MT4. It’s just that MT4 will compile the files for you automatically.