Running C Code on Windows Command Prompt: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Windows Command Prompt is a powerful tool that can be used for a wide variety of commands and scripts. One of its lesser-known but still valuable functions is the ability to compile and run C programs. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up and using the Command Prompt to run C code on a Windows system.

Prerequisites

To follow this guide, you need a Windows computer with the following prerequisites:

A text editor (such as Notepad) A C compiler (such as MinGW)

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Install a C Compiler

The first step in running C code on Windows Command Prompt is to install a C compiler. One of the most popular options is MinGW (Minimalist GNU for Windows), which includes the GCC (GNU Compiler Collection).

1.1 Download MinGW

Visit the MinGW website and download the installer.

1.2 Install MinGW

Run the installer. Select the components you want to install, making sure to include the C compiler. Note the installation directory, which is usually C:MinGW.

Step 2: Write Your C Program

Open a text editor (such as Notepad) and write your C code. Here's a simple example:

#include stdio.h
int main() {
    printf("Hello, World!
"); 
    return 0;
}

Save the file with a .c extension, for example, hello.c.

Step 3: Open Command Prompt

Press Win R, type cmd, and hit Enter to open the Command Prompt.

Step 4: Navigate to Your Program Directory

Use the cd command to change to the directory where your C file is saved. For example:

cd C:pathtoyourprogramdirectory

Step 5: Compile the C Program

Use the GCC compiler to compile your C program by running the following command:

gcc hello.c -o hello

This command tells GCC to compile hello.c and output an executable named hello.exe.

Step 6: Run the Compiled Program

After compiling, you can run your program by typing:

hello

Or if you specify the extension:

hello.exe

Summary

The process described above allows you to compile and run C programs directly from the Windows Command Prompt. Here's a summary of the steps:

Install MinGW and set up the PATH. Write your C code and save it with a .c extension. Open Command Prompt and navigate to the directory of your code. Compile with gcc yourfile.c -o yourfile. Run with yourfile or yourfile.exe.

Conclusion

Running C code on the Windows Command Prompt is a great way to leverage the power of the Command Prompt for C programming. With a few simple steps, you can set up and use MinGW to compile and run your own C programs.