Setting Up a C Development Environment

The tutorial will guide you through setting up a complete development environment on Windows, macOS, and Linux — including compilers, editors, and IDEs.

Requirements to install C

To write and run C programs, you need:

1. A text editor or IDE (like VS Code or Code::Blocks)
2. A C compiler (like GCC or Clang)

Windows Setup

Option 1: Code::Blocks (Recommended for Beginners)

1. Go to www.codeblocks.org

2. Download “codeblocks-XXmingw-setup.exe”

   Includes the GCC compiler.

3. Install and launch Code::Blocks.

4. Start a new C project and run your first program.

Option 2: GCC via MinGW

1. Download MinGW from: https://osdn.net/projects/mingw/

2. Install the base system and C compiler.

3. Add the bin folder (e.g., C:\MinGW\bin) to your System PATH.

4. Use any text editor (e.g., Notepad++, VS Code) and compile using Command Prompt:

   gcc hello.c -o hello.exe
   hello.exe
   

macOS Setup

1. Open Terminal.

2. Install Xcode Command Line Tools:

   xcode-select --install
   

3. Use a text editor like VS Code, or the Xcode IDE.

4. Compile and run in Terminal:

   gcc hello.c -o hello
   ./hello
   

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian) Setup

1. Open Terminal.

2. Install GCC:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install build-essential
   

3. Write code in any editor (e.g., Gedit, VS Code, Nano).

4. Compile and run:

   gcc hello.c -o hello
   ./hello
   

Recommended IDEs and Editors

Tips

• Use VS Code if you want a modern, flexible editor with extensions.
• For school projects, Code::Blocks is often the easiest to start with.
• Always test with a simple program after setup to ensure everything works.