[SOLVED] Compiling A 'C' Program

swamprat · 04-13-2011, 10:32 AM

I issue the following command to put me into the proper directory where the C source code is located:
cd /home/myname/My?Documents

Then issue the following command and the compile works.
gcc –o cprog01 cprog01.c

The second time I try this I’m in root and I try to run the compile command as follows:
gcc –o /home/myname/My?Documents/cprog01 cprog01.c

The compile doesn’t work. States that it can’t find the source file.

Am I defining the path correctly?

Thanks (newbie)

dugan · 04-13-2011, 10:34 AM

Why the question mark?

Shouldn't it be My\ Documents?

TobiSGD · 04-13-2011, 10:52 AM

You specified tha path for the output file (-o option), but not for the source file.
If you want your compiled program in the source folder, your command should look like this:

Code:

gcc -o /path/to/source/output-file /path/to/source/source-file.c

If you want the output in your current directory then it should like this:

Code:

gcc -o output-file /path/to/source/source-file.c

MTK358 · 04-13-2011, 10:53 AM

The question mark matches 0 or 1 of any character.

And to the OP: Why do you have a directory called My Documents (not to mention the fact that it's a bad idea to have spaces in filenames in Linux)? You should be storing things right in your home directory. Forget about the Windows way.

swamprat · 04-13-2011, 10:58 AM

I have a directory defined as ‘My Document’ and I couldn’t gain access to it.

So I placed a post about how to gain access to it as the following didn’t work;

cd /home/myname/My Documents

I was told to do the following,

cd /home/myname/My?Documents/ and this worked.

swamprat · 04-13-2011, 11:06 AM

Thanks all,

I’m going to change the ‘My Document’ directory to ‘MyDocuments’ using the Move command such as ‘mv My?Documents MyDocuments’ no quot marks.

I think this will work and clear up things.

BTW, how can I mark this question complete and closed?

TobiSGD · 04-13-2011, 11:11 AM

Just for clarification: If you have a name of a file/folder that contains spaces the correct way would be to escape the spaces, in your way the command to change the name of your 'My Documents' folder should be

Code:

mv My\ Documents MyDocuments

The code you are using (My?Documents) would also match folders like MycDocuments, My1Documents and so on.

MTK358 · 04-13-2011, 11:11 AM

I just wonder: Do you keep all your stuff in $HOME/MyDocuments instead of directly in $HOME?

swamprat · 04-13-2011, 11:19 AM

MTK358,

No not all, mostly used for word processor documents...

MTK358 · 04-13-2011, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swamprat

MTK358,

No not all, mostly used for word processor documents...

Why are you storing source code, then? I hope you're not editing it with a word processor (especially with all the great text editors available, including gedit, kate, vim, etc.).

swamprat · 04-13-2011, 11:49 AM

I'm running Centos 5.3.

I generally use Kedit, Kwrite or VI to do the editing of the source file.

Being a newbie I would need time to try some of the others you suggest.

Thanks

MTK358 · 04-13-2011, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swamprat

I'm running Centos 5.3.

I generally use Kedit, Kwrite or VI to do the editing of the source file.

Being a newbie I would need time to try some of the others you suggest.

Thanks

GEdit is just bretty basic, but has syntax highlighting.

Kate (my favorite for now) is basically KWrite but with support for multiple documents, split windows, and the abitily to have plugins. Plugins are available for compiling and finding errors, debugging your program, etc.. It can also be made to act like Vi.

Vim is a Vi clone with many added features.

swamprat · 04-13-2011, 04:54 PM

Thanks, yes VI is a pain in the neck that's why I've been using something Kwrite or Kedit.

I'll look into Gedit.

MTK358 · 04-13-2011, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swamprat

Thanks, yes VI is a pain in the neck that's why I've been using something Kwrite or Kedit.

I'll look into Gedit.

If you use KWrite, then I'd more strongly suggest that you look at Kate. I think it's better for seroius programmers because even though it's just a simple multi-document text editor at its core, it comes with lots of programming-oriented plugins that can pretty much turn it into a fully functional, minimalistic IDE.