g++ TUTORIAL
g++ is known as a compiler, a program that will take your C++
source code and compile it into a binary file that can be executed to actually
run your program. This page will give you the basics on how to take a source
code file and compile it into an executable, as well as show you some of the
options you have when you compile a source code file.
HOW TO COMPILE A SOURCE CODE FILE
To compile your source code, you must first reside in the directory that your
source code files are in. For example, if you wanted to compile the file
~/projects/proj2/proj2.cc, you must first change directories to
~/projects/proj2 using the cd command. (If you need more
information on basic Linux commands, go to the Linux Commands
tutorial.)
Once you are in the correct directory, compile the source code in the file
proj2.cc by typing the following command at the xterm prompt:
g++ proj2.cc
This is the most basic way to compile your source code. After you type this
command, 1 of 2 things will happen. Either your source code will be without
error and the exectuable will be written, returning you back to the command
prompt:
OR your code will have a few errors in it and a display of the errors will be
shown:
in which case no executable file will be written and you will be returned to
your command prompt.
For now, let's assume that your source code had no errors in it. Using the
command above, an executable file will be created in the current directory
called a.out. To actually run the program, simply type at the command
prompt ./a.out:
(Note that if you have "." added to your PATH
environment you do not need the ./ in front of a.out.)
g++ FLAG OPTIONS
g++ allows for options to be flagged when you compile your source
code. This discussion will show how to use 3 of them: -g,
-Wall, and -o .
-g
To use the -g flag, simply type it in after g++ and before
your source code file:
g++ -g source_file.cc
What the -g option will do is allow the executable file to be
"debugged" using the GDB debugger. For a
quick tutorial on the GDB debugger, click on the GDB link to the left.
-Wall
To use the -Wall flag, type it in just as you did with -g
flag:
g++ -Wall source_file.cc
What the -Wall flag will do is show ALL the warning messages you may
get that describe possible errors in your source code. If warnings are the only
messages you receive when you compile your source code, and executable will
still be created. Only if there are ERROR messages will an executable not be
created. However, many professors in the Department will deduct points if your
source code produces warnings when compiled.
-o
The -o flag is one of the more useful ones. This flag will allow you
to rename the executable file from something other than a.out. To use
the -o option, place it after the source code file, followed by the
name you wish to give the executable. For example, to compile a source code
file named proj2.cc into an executable file called proj2.exe,
type the following command:
g++ proj2.cc -o proj2.exe
Doing so will create the executable proj2.exe that you would type at
the command prompt to run your program.
It is possible to use more than one flag at once when you compile. For example,
let's say you entered the following g++ command:
g++ -g -Wall proj2.cc -o proj2
This command will compile the source code file proj2.cc such that the
executable will be able to be used with the GDB debugger (-g), will
show all warning messages when compiled (-Wall), and will create the
executable into a file called proj2 (-o proj2).
COMPILING MUTLIPLE-FILE PROGRAMS
g++ also allows you to compile a program that is contained in multiple
files and create a single executable. To do so, simply list all the source code
files one after the other, like so:
g++ source_file_1 source_file_2 source_file_3...
For example, let's say that you have a program contained in 3 files:
proj2.cc contains the main() function and is the backbone of
your program, functions.h contains the prototypes for functions that
your program uses, and functions.cc contains the implementations for
those functions. To compile these 3 files into one executable, type at the
prompt:
g++ functions.cc proj2.cc
The above command will then compile the two source files and create one
executable a.out.
NOTE - YOU DO NOT PUT ANY .h FILES IN THE g++ COMMAND! DOING
SO WILL GIVE ERRORS!
Also, just like you would with single-file programs, you can add options flags
when you compile:
g++ -g -Wall functions.cc proj2.cc -o proj2
This command will compile the two source files functions.cc and
proj2.cc so that the executable can be used with the GDB debugger
(-g), all compilation warnings will be displayed (-Wall), and
the executable file will be called proj2 (-o proj2).
Of course, g++ has more functionality than what is described in this
tutorial. To see a full listing of g++ commands, type at the command
prompt:
man g++
to load up the "man" (manual) page for g++.