How to make an executable file from a c object file?

Question

How to make an object file to executable file?

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12122446/how-does-c-linking-work-in-practice — Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com, Nov 09 '15 at 11:03

score 18 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 04 '09 at 13:59

You need to link the object file. Your command:

gcc -c -o file.cgi file.c

compiles file.c into an object file (which would typically be called file.o). If you get rid of the '-c', it will generate the executable directly:

gcc -o file.cgi file.c

Alternatively (more useful if you have multiple files and don't want to compile all files when only one has changed), do it in two steps:

# Compile only
gcc -c -o file.o file.c
gcc -c -o file2.o file2.c
# Link
gcc -o file.cgi file.o file2.o

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 04 '09 at 13:42

4

If your file is a .o file that contains a main function you just need to link it, for example gcc file.o -o executable

answered Dec 04 '09 at 13:42

Arkaitz Jimenez

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 02 '20 at 20:51

0

Use the ld command. "ld file.o -o executable. This will give executable.

answered Oct 02 '20 at 20:51

Abdul Sidibe

1
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`ld qgb.o` qgb.cpp:16: undefined reference to `system' – CS QGB Nov 01 '22 at 07:08

How to make an executable file from a c object file?

3 Answers3

Linked