C Programming: A Modern Approach

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C Fundamentals

// pun.c

#include<stdio.h>

int main(void)
{
    printf("To C, or not to C: that is the question.\n");
    return 0;
}

#include<stdio> necessary to "include" information about C's standard I/O (input/output) library
program's executable code goes inside main, which represents the "main" program
printf is a function from the standard I/O library that produces a nicely formatted output
\n tells printf to advance to the next line after printing the message
return 0; indicates the program "returns" the value 0 to the operating system when it terminates

create a file name pun.c containing the program
convert the program to a form that the machine can executable
1. Preprocessing. the program is given to a preprocessor which obeys commands that begin with # (known as * directives*)
2. Compiling. modified program now goes to a compiler, which translates it into machine instructions (* object code*)
3. Linking. a linker combines the object code produced by the compiler with any additional code needed to yield a complete executable program. This additional code includes library functions (like printf) that are used in the program

All this is usually automated. In fact, the preprocessor is usually integrated with the compiler.

The commands necessary to compile and link are:

gcc -o pun pun.

Last modified: 10 March 2024