Printing output from a basic C script

Question

It appears that the issue is a result of Powershell but do correct me if I am wrong. Standard CMD produces the exe file.

I am new to C - moving from MATLAB and Python - and am struggling with compiling the code in windows powershell.

I have written a basic code, based on an example:

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void)
{
    printf("Hello, World!\n");
}

When i run this in windows powershell using

'gcc .\helloworld.c -o .\helloworld'

but this prints nothing and I am unsure why. I have also tried the IDEs like codelite and VisualStudio with no success.

Update

Based on the comments I have no executable file produced which appears to be the problem.

If anyone can help me that would be great!

"this prints nothing" What did you expect it to print? I'd expect an output file being generated and the compiler being like "Yeth, marthter." — Yunnosch, Sep 28 '20 at 11:48
It prints nothing because `gcc` prints nothing is nothing bad happened — klutt, Sep 28 '20 at 11:50
Ok, I assumed that it would print the statement in the compiler? It also doesn't produce an output file in the file source location. — K-Q, Sep 28 '20 at 11:50
There are two steps: (1) compile and link your program (2) Run your program. You only did step 1. This should have produced an executable named `helloworld`, which you now need to run. Windows may have some requirement that it end in `.exe` (not sure about that). — Tom Karzes, Sep 28 '20 at 11:50
Perhaps grab a good C book or tutorial? Programming by guessing is not usually very productive. — kaylum, Sep 28 '20 at 11:51
@TomKarzes So i should have a file to run but this is not in my system after i run the above suggested code. — K-Q, Sep 28 '20 at 11:53
Your comment contains the information that no file whatsoever is generated. That is an important info, please [edit] it into the question itself. — Yunnosch, Sep 28 '20 at 11:56
[The Definitive C Book Guide and List](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/562303/the-definitive-c-book-guide-and-list) — kaylum, Sep 28 '20 at 12:01
@4386427 by simpliy using 'ls' in the command line Or I can visually check in the file browser but neither have it — K-Q, Sep 28 '20 at 12:03
hmmm. Is `ls` a powershell command... anyway - have you tried a "normal" cmd window? — Support Ukraine, Sep 28 '20 at 12:07
@4386427 yes, powershell uses linux based commands (something I am more familiar with) - hence why I hadn't used the normal CMD mode. It appears that Powershell doesn't like running C for producing the exe file but cmd does! Thank you all for your help, hopefully there are no more issues on this — K-Q, Sep 28 '20 at 12:15
@TomKarzes the extension is added by the compiler, no need to add it. — anastaciu, Sep 28 '20 at 12:34

Mohit Sharma · Accepted Answer · 2020-09-28T11:58:36.787

1

Gcc is a compiler which makes an output file. You are used to python and Matlab. Python is an interpreted language so you can get outputs without making an executable file.

For C you make an output file which is an executable which you run to get the desired results. Assuming your file name is helloworld.c Run the following :

gcc helloworld.c -o helloworld

This will create a file by name of helloworld in that directory. To execute the file you need to do ./<output_filename> which in your case would be ./helloworld and then you should get your output/printing

edited Sep 28 '20 at 11:58

answered Sep 28 '20 at 11:53

Mohit Sharma

338
2
13

I think your answer overlapped with OP clarifying that no file is generated.... Please double check, I currently get the impression that this is not a solution to the described problem (if comments are included). – Yunnosch Sep 28 '20 at 11:54
Exactly, I didn't initially realise I would get an executible file to run but now it appears that is the issue. – K-Q Sep 28 '20 at 11:56
@Yunnosch I didn't realise no output file is being generated, I will modify the answer accordingly... – Mohit Sharma Sep 28 '20 at 12:00
That is why I mentioned "overlap". You cannot really be blamed. If you however update your answer you will be safe from misunderstandings.... – Yunnosch Sep 28 '20 at 12:03
@Yunnosch Can you please be kind enough to edit the answer, I can't figure out a way to write that and mention the 'overlap' in words. – Mohit Sharma Sep 28 '20 at 12:21
1

No I can't, not knowing the solution either. More debugging info is needed, but hard to tell which.... If you cannot answer the question as asked now, I recommend to delete the answer. (I cannot blame OP for a moving target question either....) – Yunnosch Sep 28 '20 at 12:23

Printing output from a basic C script

1 Answers1