what is following C terminologies???

[Rick Ng Chi Wah]

Dear all,

I am a beginner of C language.
I want to know following C terminologies:

preprocessor
complier
object code
linker
executable file

What is the functions of these terms in a C program compilation
process??

Pls help me.
Thanks!

One more question, can compile DOS and Windows C source code under
Linux without any change/modify ??

Thanks!

 

[Emmanuel Delahaye]

I am a beginner of C language.
I want to know following C terminologies:

preprocessor

The 'preprocessing directives' are the statement beginning with #

#include ...
#define ...
#if ...
#ifdef ...
etc.

A 'preprocessor' is an utility program that takes the source files and
replace the 'preprocessing directives' with their actual values. (IOW, it
expands the macros, include the files, removes the not defines code etc.

complier

It's an utily program that takes the preprocessed files and translate them to
machine code. Actually, the proprocessing opération is generally transparent.
The compiler takes the source files (.c) calls silently the preprocessor and
compiles the resultinf files to object files (machine code files).

object code

It's the binary code produced by a compiler. It contains mostly target
machine code, and some information about non-resolved references (external
calls)

linker

It's an utily program that takes the objects files of a project and build the
resulting executable file. It attempts to solve all the external links.

executable file

One more question, can compile DOS and Windows C source code under
Linux without any change/modify ??

Yes, as far as the code is portable. Not all codes are portable. The one
being written in standard C have a better chance to be portable.

 

[Malcolm]

One more question, can compile DOS and Windows C source code
under Linux without any change/modify ??

If the code is portable, yes.

This program will compile under DOS Linux or practically anything else
without modification

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void)
{
printf("Hello world\n");
return 0;
}

On the other hand, if you open a window in Windows you have to use
platform-specific code, so the program is not easy to port to other OSes.

 

[osmium]

If the code is portable, yes.

This program will compile under DOS Linux or practically anything else
without modification

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void)
{
printf("Hello world\n");
return 0;
}

On the other hand, if you open a window in Windows you have to use
platform-specific code, so the program is not easy to port to other OSes.

 

[Cael]

Dear all,

I am a beginner of C language.
I want to know following C terminologies:

preprocessor
complier
object code
linker
executable file

What is the functions of these terms in a C program compilation
process??

Pls help me.
Thanks!

One more question, can compile DOS and Windows C source code under
Linux without any change/modify ??

Thanks!

IHO, you should read your C language book and I sure you can find all of
them.