How to Compile and Run a C Program on Ubuntu Linux

Keld Helsgaun Roskilde University, February 2013

This document shows how to compile and run a C program on Ubuntu Linux using the gcc compiler. Step 1. Open up a terminal Search for the terminal application in the Dash tool (located as the topmost item in the Launcher). Open up a terminal by clicking on the icon.

For ease of future access to the terminal application, right click its icon in the Launcher and select Lock to Launcher.

Step 2. Use a text editor to create the C source code. Type the command
gedit hello.c

and enter the C source code below:

#include <stdio.h> main() { printf("Hello World\n"); }

Close the editor window.

Step 3. Compile the program. Type the command

gcc -o hello hello.c

This command will invoke the GNU C compiler to compile the file hello.c and output (-o) the result to an executable called hello.

Step 4. Execute the program. Type the command

./hello

This should result in the output

Hello World

Optional step In order to avoid the./ prefix each time a program is to be executed, insert the following as the last line in the file .profile (located in your home folder):
export PATH=.:$PATH

This step needs only to be done once.