The Basics of Compiling and Executing a C
Program
Introduction
If you are new to C programming, the concept of compiling and executing a program may seem
overwhelming. In this blog, we will break down the process into manageable steps and
demonstrate how to compile and execute a program using C programming language. By the end
of this blog, you will have a solid understanding of how to get your program running
successfully.
What is Compiling?
When you write a program in C, you are writing human-readable code. Unfortunately, machines
cannot understand human-readable code. Therefore, you have to convert the program into
machine-readable code, which can be executed by the machine. The process of converting the
program's code into machine-readable code is called compiling. The compiled code is often
referred to as an executable.
How to Compile a C Program
Compiling a C program involves using a compiler to convert the program's human-readable code
into machine-readable code. The most commonly used compiler for C is gcc (GNU Compiler
Collection).
To compile a program using gcc, follow the steps below:
1. Open a terminal window on your computer.
2. Navigate to the directory where your program is stored using the cd command.
3. Type gcc <filename>.c -o <executable_name> into the terminal and press enter.
For example, if your program is named hello_world.c and you want the executable to be
named hello_world, the command would be gcc hello_world.c -o hello_world.
If there are no errors in your program's code, gcc will generate an executable file with the
specified name.
What is Executing?
Once your program is compiled into an executable, you can execute it. Executing a program
involves running it on a machine, which can process the machine-readable code and produce the
desired output.
How to Execute a C Program
To execute a C program, follow the steps below:
1. Open a terminal window on your computer.
2. Navigate to the directory where your program is stored using the cd command.
3. Type ./<executable_name> into the terminal and press enter.
For example, if your executable is named hello_world, the command would be
./hello_world.
Executing the program will produce the output specified in your program's code.
Debugging a C Program
When you compile and execute a program, you may encounter errors along the way. These
errors can be caused by a variety of factors, including syntax errors, logical errors, or missing
components in the code.
To debug a C program, you can use a debugger tool. The most commonly used debugger tool for
C is gdb (GNU Debugger).
To use gdb, follow the steps below:
1. Open a terminal window on your computer.
2. Navigate to the directory where your program is stored using the cd command.
3. Type gdb <filename> into the terminal and press enter.
For example, if your program is named hello_world.c, the command would be gdb
hello_world.
Once you have started gdb, you can use various commands to debug your program. For example,
you can set breakpoints to halt the program's execution at specific points and inspect variables to
understand how the program is functioning.
Conclusion
In this blog, we have provided an overview of the compilation and execution process for C
programs. We have also walked through how to use gcc to compile a program and how to
execute the resulting executable. Finally, we introduced gdb as a useful tool for debugging
programs. By following the steps outlined in this blog, you will have a better understanding of
how to get your C programs running. With practice, you can become proficient in
troubleshooting errors and creating well-functioning programs.
