C Get Started

C is a compiled language, which means the code you write is not run directly. Instead, a program called a compiler translates your C file into an executable that the computer can run. The most common free compiler is GCC.

The Steps to Run C

• Write your code in a plain text file that ends with .c
• Compile the file with a C compiler such as GCC.
• Run the resulting program from your terminal.
• Read the output and fix any errors the compiler reports.

Writing the File

Create a file named hello.c and type the program below. This is the traditional first program that every C learner writes.

#include <stdio.h>

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

Compiling and Running

Open a terminal in the folder where you saved the file and run these two commands. The first builds the program, and the second runs it.

gcc hello.c -o hello
./hello

If everything worked, you will see Hello, World! printed in the terminal. Here is a slightly larger program you can try next; it prints two separate messages.

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    printf("C is compiled.");
    printf(" And it is fast!");
    return 0;
}