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How do I create, compile, and run a C program?

- 1 -

At the command line, pick a directory to save you program to, and enter:

vi firstprog.c

Note:

All C source code files must have a .c file extension.

- 2 -

Enter the following program, then save and exit Vi:

#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
	int n;
	for (n = 0; n < 7; n++)
		printf ("Hello, World!\n");
	return 0;
}

- 3 -

Enter:

gcc -o myprog firstprog.c

...to, using the GNU C Compiler (gcc), compile and output (-o) an executable file, called myprog, from the source code, firstprog.c.

- 4 -

To run the program, enter:

./myprog

Code example explained

Here's an explanation of the above program:

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