I have questions regarding the gcc compiler and learning to program C?

Question

I have decided to attempt to learn how to program and C and downloaded the MingW compiler due to its popularity. However this compiler is indeed very confusing. After you download it they give you many options. Also I have been notified that you also have to download other things in addition. What packages do I need if I am attempting to learn C. Also are there any effective ways to learn C by yourself?

Answer 1

First of all I assume you want to learn the basic of C.

So you can download a very basic compiler Turbo C from the link given :

C compiler: http://www.comp-psyche.com/2013/06/turbo-c-compiler.html





Its for Windows xp/7/8



Secondly You can learn the basics of it from : http://www.comp-psyche.com/2013/11/learn-C.html



Another thing C is very vast so I would suggest you to learn the basics first and then once your basic concept are clear then you can procced according to your liking,



Enjoy learning C.. Its a great language.

Answer 2

there is lots of stuff here

http://www.thefreecountry.com/compilers/cpp.shtml



the compiler you choose is really determined by what application target you have in mind.



if you want a Dos application TurboC(Borland C) is very good

GNU C is also very good.

but if you want to write a windows program, then some of the Visual Compilers are much more appropriate, or a compiler that comes with a separate Development/Builder/GUI program(see below)



most compilers require YOU to realise that they make use of SYSTEM Parameters, so just copying a lot of files into a folder wont be the same as installing.

Many of the downloads assume you know this, and are not Install packages but just copies of already installed software.

This is mostly because they are DOS style command line programs that didnt come with clever install setup programs.

Instead you do the configuring from inside the development environment, ie where your source code folder will be and where you want your executables to be placed



also if you do want to use a compiler to create a windows application, it may involve using compiler directives to INCLUDE some serious extras before you even get started.



if you are learning then start with DOS

keep it simple.

there are lots of FREE DOS bootable resources, so you could put it all on a usb stick.



Borland C (Turbo C) includes a development/builder environment which is worth a look.



http://edn.embarcadero.com/article/20633



there are many educational and university sites that provide course information and documentation that is accessible by anyone, so look for .edu sites and c course work.

Answer 3

Download the Code::Blocks IDE for the easiest way to use MinGW on WIndows. Get the Windows version with MinGW bundled. You don't have to uninstall your previous MinGW (unless you need the HD space) because it will make a private installation that gets the IDE, the compiler, linker, debugger, etc. all installed and working together; in one simple install step.



http://www.codeblocks.org



Duncan's suggestion about Zed Shaw's "...the Hard Way" site is good, too. It's similar to the MinGW experience, except he uses Windows PowerShell to provide Unix-like command line tools. However, he presents things in step-by-step fashion, starting with just enough to create and compile a program (and be able to find it later) and moving from there.



Frankly, for all its simplicity, C isn't the best choice if you are just learning to program. Shaw does as good a job as you can do, I think, but two things make it non-ideal:



1. It's low-level, so you have to write a lot of code to get most things done using only the standard library.



2. It's designed for efficiency, not safety, and common errors in coding lead to mysterious behavior and/or crashes reported by the operating system.



Anything can work, though.

Answer 4

Download some Borland or Microsoft C compiler. Indeed on Windows is harder to use C because

of the Pascal naming convention on Windows API. To learn C you need to program at the low level,

because that's what the C black arcane is, hardware programming. Thus learn pointers, bitfields and trees and you're done it.

The main problem with C in Windows is that there aren't runtime libraries for C in the system you have to download them(unlike in Linux). That's because Windows keeps secret it's own programming language(perhaps Pascal) in which it was written.

Answer 5

There are effective ways to learn C by yourself but you have to understand that GCC is part of a toolchain (in fact it's an essential part of the GNU/Linux operating systems -- this machine wouldn't boot without its C libraries which the kernel uses). At very least, install all the extra programs -- just do it, You might also download Dev-C++, Code::Blocks or Eclipse CDT (It doesn't matter which). They all use it.

Answer 6

If you want to learn C you do not want to be using Windows.



"I have some bad news for users of Windows: learning C on Windows is painful. You can write C code for Windows, that's not a problem. The problem is all of the libraries, functions, and tools are just a little "off" from everyone else in the C world. C came from Unix and is much easier on a Unix platform. It's just a fact of life that you'll have to accept I'm afraid."





http://c.learncodethehardway.org/book/ex0.html





Ignore the title as that is a good place to start (and not too hard)....



http://c.learncodethehardway.org/book/

Answer 7

Download either of the following which are based on gcc toolchain



Dev C++ www.bloodshed.net

Codeblocks www.codeblocks.org