C/C++ Compilation Basics

Key Word(s): C++, compiling

Key: :large_orange_diamond: - Code Example :large_blue_diamond: - Code Exercise :red_circle: - Code Warning
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Compilation Basics

(We will have more on this topic later in the semester.)

Within this track, we will need to compile our codes.
C and C++ are compiled programming languages contrasting Python which is an interpreted language.
Compiled languages are usually much faster than interpreted languages.

• Compiled languages pass the source code to a compiler, which is translated directly to machine code.
• Interpreted languages pass the source code to a separate program called an interpreter, which reads each line of code and then executes it on the processor.

Compiling Hello, World!

Let's take a look at the canonical Hello, World! to learn the basics of compiling programs from source files.

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void) {
  printf("Hello, World!\n");
  return 0;
}

Compiling on the command line:

gcc -o hello hello.c

• gcc: the GNU C compiler
• -o hello: output a program named hello
• hello.c: source file to compile

We can also compile the single file using make.

make hello

Executing on the command line:

./hello
>>> Hello, World!

:large_orange_diamond: Sandbox Example: Hello World!

Next: Source & Header Files