Compile c on windows command line

This article covers 4 simple steps to compile and run a C program in command prompt on Windows. Before you move ahead with the steps, you must complete below 2 prerequisites in order to facilitate smooth execution of these 4 steps. At the end of this article, you will be able to execute your C program successfully using command prompt without any error. To compile any program, you need to have a suitable compiler installed on your development environment.

For different programming languages, different compilers are available in the market. You need to choose the compiler based on the programming language you are using.

Some of them are free and to use and some are paid. You must download and Install gcc compiler on your computer by clicking here. You must save your C program with. When used with no arguments, vcvarsall. You can add arguments to configure the environment to use any of the native or cross compiler tools. If architecture isn't specified, the default build environment is used. These arguments are supported:. By default, the environment is set to build desktop or console apps. By default, the latest installed Windows SDK is used.

By default, the environment is set to use the current Visual Studio compiler toolset. Use the value spectre to use libraries with Spectre mitigations. At the command prompt, use the CD command to change to the Visual Studio installation directory. Then, use CD again to change to the subdirectory that contains the configuration-specific command files. For Visual Studio , use the VC subdirectory.

Enter the command for your preferred developer environment. Open the Properties dialog for a developer command prompt shortcut to see the command target used. The architecture-specific batch files set the architecture parameter and call vcvarsall.

You can pass the same options to these batch files as you would pass to vcvarsall. To specify parameters for your own command shortcut, add them to the end of the command in double-quotes. To use an earlier compiler toolset, specify the version number. Use something like this command target in your shortcut:. Adjust the path to reflect your Visual Studio installation directory. CL Use the compiler cl. Link Use the linker link. When you build on the command line, the F1 command isn't available for instant help.

Instead, you can use a search engine to get information about warnings, errors, and messages. You can also download and use the offline help files. To use the search in docs. You can also use the devenv command to use Visual Studio to build projects and solutions. You don't have to install the full IDE on all your build servers and build pipelines. You avoid the extra overhead of the IDE. MSBuild runs in containerized build environments, and supports a binary logger.

CMake CMake cmake. Real world programs usually have header files, more source files, and link to libraries. You can put your source code and build your apps in any writeable directory. To compile a program that has additional source code files, enter them all on the command line, like:. Without it, thrown exceptions can result in undestroyed objects and resource leaks. When you supply additional source files, the compiler uses the first input file to create the program name.

In this case, it outputs a program called file1. To change the name to program1. The compiler, cl. You can apply them to build, optimize, debug, and analyze your code. You can also compile and link separately and apply linker options in more complex build scenarios. The MSVC compiler uses a simple rule to determine which language to use when it compiles your code.

By default, the MSVC compiler treats files that end in. Portable code generally compiles and runs as expected. The functions are supported, but the preferred names have changed. Skip to main content. This browser is no longer supported. Download Microsoft Edge More info. Contents Exit focus mode. Kai Steffes Kai Steffes 23 1 1 silver badge 4 4 bronze badges. Feyisayo Sonubi Feyisayo Sonubi 1, 5 5 gold badges 15 15 silver badges 26 26 bronze badges.

Where is your gcc? Amir Amir 1, 15 15 silver badges 24 24 bronze badges. I am quite late answering this question 5 years to be exact but I hope this helps someone. In Windows 10, similar steps can be followed in other versions of windows. Mayur Naravani Mayur Naravani 1 2 2 bronze badges.

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