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Asked: 2024-09-25T02:44:52+05:30 In:

What is the procedure to compile and execute C programs using the command line in Ubuntu?

I’ve been diving into C programming lately and hit a bit of a snag when it comes to compiling and executing my code on Ubuntu. It’s kind of embarrassing to admit, but the whole command line thing can be a bit overwhelming for me. I know a lot of folks find comfort in text editors with built-in compilers, but I really want to nail down my command line skills, especially with Ubuntu being so popular for programming.

So here’s where I’m stuck: I’ve written a simple C program and saved it as `hello.c`. Now, I know I need to compile it before running, but I’m a little lost on the exact steps to do this using the terminal. I’ve seen snippets of information here and there, but they weren’t super clear. Do I need to navigate to the directory where I saved my file? I think I’ve heard of `gcc`, but I’m not sure how to use it properly.

Also, after compiling, what’s the command to actually run the program? Do I need to do something special? Like, do I need to change permissions or something? I’ve read that there are different flags you can use with `gcc`, and I’m a bit curious which ones are essential and what they do.

If anyone can break down the steps for me in a chilled-out way, that would be amazing. I’m really just looking for a simple guide—something that doesn’t assume I know a ton about command line operations. For instance, what commands do I type from the moment I open the terminal until I see my program run? If you’ve got any cool tips, like shortcuts or tricks to make this process smoother, I’m all ears!

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help a newbie out. I’m just eager to get my feet wet with C programming in the terminal without feeling totally lost. Would love to hear your experiences and any advice you have!

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    2 Answers


    1. Awesome that you’re diving into C programming! Let’s break down the steps to compile and run your `hello.c` program in Ubuntu using the terminal.

      Step 1: Open the Terminal

      First, you need to open the terminal. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T or searching for “Terminal” in your applications.

      Step 2: Navigate to Your Directory

      You need to go to the directory where you saved your `hello.c` file. Use the cd command (which stands for “change directory”) followed by the path to your file. For example:

      cd /path/to/your/file

      Replace /path/to/your/file with the actual path. If your file is in your home directory, you may just need to type:

      cd ~/

      Step 3: Compile Your Code

      Now that you’re in the right directory, it’s time to compile your program using gcc. Type the following command:

      gcc hello.c -o hello

      This command tells gcc to take hello.c as the source file and create an executable named hello (the -o flag specifies the output file name). If there are no errors in your code, nothing will happen, and you’ll just get your prompt back.

      Step 4: Run Your Program

      Once you’ve successfully compiled your program, you can run it by typing:

      ./hello

      The ./ indicates that you’re running an executable from the current directory. If you forget it, the terminal won’t find your program.

      Step 5: Check Permissions (if needed)

      If you get a permission denied error while trying to run your program, you may need to make it executable. You can do that with:

      chmod +x hello

      After that, try running ./hello again.

      Extra Tips

      • To get help with gcc, you can type man gcc in the terminal. It opens the manual with all the options.
      • You can add the -Wall flag when compiling (like this: gcc -Wall hello.c -o hello) to show warnings about your code. It’s super helpful as a newbie!
      • If you ever need to go back to the home directory, you can just type cd ~.

      With these steps, you should be able to compile and run your C program! Don’t hesitate to practice and play around with it. You’ll get the hang of command line pretty quickly!



    2. To compile and execute your `hello.c` program in Ubuntu using the command line, start by opening the terminal. First, you need to navigate to the directory where your `hello.c` file is saved. You can use the `cd` command for this. For example, if your file is in a folder named “CProjects” located in your home directory, you would type cd ~/CProjects and hit Enter. Once you are in the correct directory, you can compile your C program using the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) by entering gcc hello.c -o hello into the terminal. This command tells GCC to take your source code file (`hello.c`) and produce an executable file named `hello`. The -o flag is optional but very useful as it specifies the name of the output file.

      After successfully compiling your code, you can run your program by typing ./hello into the terminal. The ./ before the executable name indicates that the file is in the current directory. If you encounter a “permission denied” error, you might need to give execution permissions to your program. You can do this by running chmod +x hello. This command allows you to execute the file. As for additional GCC flags, the -Wall option enables all compiler’s warning messages, helping you catch potential issues early in your coding process. If you keep these steps and tips in mind, you’ll navigate compiling and executing C programs in the terminal like a pro in no time!


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