How To Compile And Run a C/C++ Code In Linux
I
am a new Linux user and student who used to write C or C++ programs on MS-Windows. Now, I am using Ubuntu Linux. How can I compile a C or C++ program on Linux operating systems using bash Terminal application?
To compile a C or C++ program on any Linux distro such as Ubuntu, Red Hat, Fedora, Debian and other Linux distro you need to install:
GNU C and C++ compiler collection
Development tools
Development libraries
IDE or text editor to write programs
Step #1: Install C/C++ compiler and related tools
If you are using Fedora, Red Hat, CentOS, or Scientific Linux, use the following yum command to install GNU c/c++ compiler:
# yum groupinstall Development Tools
If you are using Debian or Ubuntu Linux, type the following apt-get command to install GNU c/c++ compiler:
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install build-essential manpages-dev
Step #2: Verify installation
Type the following command to display the version number and location of the compiler on Linux:
$ whereis gcc
$ which gcc
$ gcc –version
Sample outputs:
Fig. 01: GNU C/C++ compilers on Linux
How to Compile and Run C/C++ program on Linux
Create a file called demo.c using a text editor such as vi, emacs or joe:
#include<stdio.h>
/* demo.c: My first C program on a Linux */
int main(void)
{
printf( Hello! This is a test prgoram.\n );
return 0;
}
How do I compile the program on Linux?
Use any one of the following syntax to compile the program called demo.c:
cc program-source-code.c -o executable-file-name
OR
gcc program-source-code.c -o executable-file-name
OR
assuming that executable-file-name.c exists ##
make executable-file-name
In this example, compile demo.c, enter:
cc demo.c -o demo
OR
assuming demo.c exists in the current directory ##
make demo
If there is no error in your code or C program then the compiler will successfully create an executable file called demo in the current directory, otherwise you need fix the code. To verify this, type:
$ ls -l demo*
How do I run or execute the program called demo on Linux?
Simply type the the program name:
$ ./demo
OR
$ /path/to/demo
Samples session:
Animated gif 01: Compile and run C and C++ program demo
Compiling and running a simple C++ program
Create a program called demo2.C as follows:
#include iostream
// demo2.C – Sample C++ program
int main(void)
{
std::cout << Hello! This is a C++ program.\n ;
return 0;
}
To compile this program, enter:
g++ demo2.C -o demo2
or use the following syntax ##
make demo2
To run this program, type:
./demo2
How do I generate symbolic information for gdb and warning messages?
The syntax is as follows C compiler:
cc -g -Wall input.c -o executable
The syntax is as follows C++ compiler:
g++ -g -Wall input.C -o executable
How do I generate optimized code on a Linux machine?
The syntax is as follows C compiler:
cc -O input.c -o executable
The syntax is as follows C++ compiler:
g++ -O -Wall input.C -o executable
How do I compile a C program that uses math functions?
The syntax is as follows when need pass the -lm option with gcc to link with the math libraries:
cc myth1.c -o executable -lm
How do I compile a C++ program that uses Xlib graphics functions?
The syntax is as follows when need pass the -lX11 option with gcc to link with the Xlib libraries:
g++ fireworks.C -o executable -lX11
How do I compile a program with multiple source files?
The syntax is as follows if the source code is in several files (such as light.c, sky.c, fireworks.c):
cc light.c sky.c fireworks.c -o executable
C++ syntax is as follows if the source code is in several files:
g++ ac.C bc.C file3.C -o my-program-name
See gcc(1) for more information.
This entry is 7 of 13 in the Linux GNU/GCC Compilers Tutorial series. Keep reading the rest of the series:
Ubuntu Linux Install GNU GCC Compiler and Development Environment
Debian Linux Install GNU GCC Compiler and Development Environment
CentOS / RHEL 7: Install GCC (C and C++ Compiler) and Development Tools
Download and Install C, C++ Compiler on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (RHEL)
Mac OS X: Install GCC Compiler with Xcode
Where is My Linux GNU C or GCC Compilers Are Installed?
HowTo: Compile And Run a C/C++ Code In Linux
RHEL / CentOS Linux Install Core Development Tools Automake, Gcc (C/C++), Perl, Python & Debuggers
HowTo Compiling C Program And Creating Executable File Under a Linux / UNIX / *BSD
How To Install ncurses Library on a Linux
Linux Find Out What Compilers Are Installed or Available On The System
Linux Find Out GNU gcc Compiler Version Used To Compile Running Kernel
Howto see output of C program in Linux or UNIX
