cplusplus

How to Setup Linux (Kubuntu) for compiling and executing C++

To compile and execute C++ code on kubuntu linux we need some tools and software.

1. GNU C and C++ compiler collection
2. Development tools
3. Development libraries
4. IDE or text editor for coding purposes

Step1: Install C/C++ compiler 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`

or

`$ sudo apt-get install build-essential manpages-dev`

Step2: 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:

How to Compile and Run C/C++ programm 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:

Compiling and running a simple C++ program

Create a program called demo2.C as follows:

#include "iostream"
// demo2.C - Sample C++ prgoram 
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

These are all basics steps needed to compile software made in C/C++.