syntax error near unexpected token -what does this mean?

rmnature · 02-12-2009, 09:48 AM

Hi all,

I tried running the simplest c-programme(filename is firstc.c)
as follows

#include<stdio.h>

main()

{ printf("abcd");
}

and I compiled it using command gcc -o firstc firstc.c,it gets compiled and when i run it i get the following error,i don't understand,how could a simple programme such as this be erraneous,someone help sort this out.

The Error Message is:
./firstc.c: line 5: syntax error near unexpected token `"abcd"'
./firstc.c: line 5: `{ printf("abcd");'

colucix · 02-12-2009, 10:05 AM

Such a simple code cannot have errors! You are trying to execute the source code, not the executable. The error message is a typical error of the SHELL not of the C programming language. You have to do

Code:

./first

and not

Code:

./first.c

Anyway... welcome to LQ!

rmnature · 02-13-2009, 02:25 AM

Thanks,now it works,but could you explain what that error message actually conveys,what does it mean?

colucix · 02-13-2009, 02:32 AM

Code:

syntax error near unexpected token `"abcd"'

Due to the syntax rules of BASH your program is interpreted in the following way:

Code:

#include<stdio.h>       <----- This is a comment in bash

main()                  <----- This is a function definition

{ printf("abcd");       <----- This is the printf command with erroneous syntax
                               since you cannot put parentheses
}

The shell expected something after printf, but found a parenthesis followed by "abcd"... that is an unexpected token.

rmnature · 02-14-2009, 07:58 AM

Thanks,but you told me that there is no problem with the code,and how could putting parantheses near printf cause syntax error?

theNbomr · 02-14-2009, 08:19 AM

If you read the answer from colucix, you will see that he has explained that when you tried to execute a C source file with BASH, it was unable to accept the syntax. That is because C source files are not intended to be interpreted by BASH, but by a C compiler. The C compiler converts the source code into binary object code which BASH loads and passes execution to. When you compile the source code, the C compiler accepts the syntax without complaint because it is valid C code.
--- rod.