Source: How to Compile a C Program Using the Gnu Compiler (Gcc)

This updated guide examines Source: How to Compile a C Program Using the Gnu Compiler (Gcc) and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1

Using GCC for Unix

1. Open up a terminal window on your Unix system. Its icon usually is a black screen with some white characters on it.
2. Typegcc --versionand press?Enter. This should return the version number of the C compiler. If the command is not found, it is likely that GCC isn't installed.^{[1]XResearch source}
   • If it's not installed, consult the documentation for your Linux distribution to learn how to get the correct package.
   • If you're compiling a C++ program, use 'g++' instead of 'gcc.'
3. Navigate to the directory where your source code is saved.
   • For example, if your source code file, 'main.c', is located in /usr/wikiHow/source, typecd /usr/wikiHow/source.
4. Typegcc main.c –o HelloWorld. Replace 'main.c' with the name of your source code file, and 'HelloWorld' with the name of your finished program. The program will now compile.
   • If you see errors and want to information about them, usegcc -Wall -o errorlog file1.c. Then, view the 'errorlog' file in the current directory withcat errorlog.
   • To compile one program from multiple source code files, usegcc -o outputfile file1.c file2.c file3.c.
   • To compile multiple programs at once with multiple source code files, usegcc -c file1.c file2.c file3.c.
5. Run your newly-compiled program. Type./HelloWorldbut replace 'HelloWorld' with the name of your program.

Method 2

Using MinGW for Windows

1. Download Minimalist GNU for Windows (MinGW). This is an easy-to-install version of GCC for Windows. You can download the installer from https://sourceforge.net/projects/mingw/.^{[2]XResearch source}
2. Run the MinGW installer.
   • If the file doesn't open by itself, double-click it in your downloads folder, then click Install.
3. Select your install preferences and clickContinue.
   • MinGW recommends using the default installation folder (C:MinGW). If you must change the folder, don't use a folder with spaces in the name (e.g. 'Program Files').^{[3]XResearch source}
4. Select which compilers to install.
   • At the minimum, choose Basic Setup on the left panel, then place check marks next to all of the listed compilers in the right main panel.
   • More advanced users can choose All Packages and select additional compilers.
5. Click theInstallationmenu. It's at the top left corner of MinGW.
6. ClickApply Changes.
7. ClickApply. The compilers will now download and install.
8. Add the path to MinGW to system environment variables. Here's how:
   • Press?Win+Sto launch search, then typeenvironment.
   • Click Edit the system environment variables in the search results.
   • Click Environment Variables
   • Click Edit beneath the top box (under 'User Variables')
   • Scroll to the end of the 'Variable Value' box.
   • Type;C:MinGWbinright after the last letter in the box. Note that if you installed MinGW to a different directory, enter;C:path-to-that-directorybin.
   • Click OK , and then OK again. Click the one remaining OK button to close the window.
9. Open the command prompt as an administrator. To do this:
   • Press?Win+Sand typecmd.
   • Right-click Command Prompt in the search results, then select Run As Administrator .
   • Click Yes to allow changes.
10. Navigate to the folder where your source code is saved.
    • For example, if your source code file called helloworld.c is located in C:SourcePrograms, typecd C:SourcePrograms.
11. Typegcc helloworld.c –o helloworld.exe. Replace 'helloworld' with the name of your source code and application. Once the program is compiled, you'll return to the command prompt without errors.^{[4]XResearch source}
    • Any coding errors that appear must be corrected before the program will compile.
12. Type the name of your program to run it. If it's called helloworld.exe, type that to start your program.