Setting Up the Development Environment

Chapter 2: Setting Up the Development Environment

 

2.1
Installing a C Compiler:

To write and compile C programs, you need a C
compiler. One popular compiler is GCC (GNU Compiler Collection), which is
available for various platforms.

 

For
Windows:

·        
Download the MinGW-w64 installer from
the official website (https://mingw-w64.org/doku.php).

·        
Run the installer and follow the
installation instructions, selecting the appropriate options for your system.

 

For
macOS:

·        
Install Xcode, which includes the Clang
compiler, from the Mac App Store or Apple's developer website.

 

For
Linux:

·        
GCC is often preinstalled on Linux
distributions. To verify if it's installed, open a terminal and enter the
command: `gcc --version`.

·        
If GCC is not installed, use your
distribution's package manager (e.g., apt, yum, dnf) to install it. For
example, on Ubuntu, run: `sudo apt install gcc`.

 

2.2
Configuring the Compiler and Text Editor:

Once you have a C compiler installed, you need a
text editor to write your code. You can use any text editor of your choice,
such as Notepad++, Sublime Text, Visual Studio Code, or Atom.

 

To
configure the compiler and text editor:

·        
Set the system's PATH environment
variable to include the directory where the C compiler is installed. This
allows you to execute the compiler from any location in the command prompt or
terminal.

·        
Install any necessary plugins or
extensions in your text editor to enable C language support, syntax
highlighting, and code formatting.