GNU C compiler (GCC)

The GNU C compiler (GCC) is a C compiler which offers portability to a great number of systems and fairly good optimization. There is also a C++ front end, sometimes called g++, which is often distributed with GCC. Because the GCC back end is used for multiple languages, the term GCC is often used to encompass those compilers as well. We have separate pages for Ada, Pascal, and Fortran, but this page is for the C and C++ compilers.

GCC is customarily distributed along the other tools needed for compilation (an assembler and linker), and with the GNU debugger (GDB).

Getting help, GCC discussions, &c.

Getting GCC

Most free unix distributions include GCC, including Debian, Red Hat, and FreeBSD.

CVS is also distributed with GNUPro for Linux.

For more information on GCC

Our GCC reference card lists the most commonly used GCC options and extensions.

The book Programming with GNU Software contains a chapter introducing GCC, a chapter introducing the debugger, and also covers related topics like building and profiling.

Using and porting the GNU C Compiler is the user manual for GCC. The manual is also typically distributed in electronic form along with GCC.

Debugging with GDB is the user manual for GDB. It covers the command line options, GDB commands, and in general tells you how to use the debugger. The manual is also typically distributed in electronic form along with GDB.

A Practical Guide to Linux is a large book covering many aspects of linux. The chapter on Programming Tools contains an introduction to programming in C and using GCC and GDB (pages 537-558). Part II of the book includes a reference manual for the most common options to the gcc command.

Our C/C++ page contains information about C and C++ programming in general, rather than GCC in particular.

The g++ FAQ answers questions concerning g++.

For more information about GCC for Windows, see the gnu-win32 site.

Cygnus's GDB page has documentation, release information, information aimed at people who are helping to develop GDB, and more. Likewise the binutils page concerns the assembler and linker which are often used with GCC.

Development of GCC

The "official" (whatever that means) site for GCC development is the EGCS project; note that EGCS is no longer a separate project from GNU GCC; EGCS now is the official development group for GNU GCC. Once you are duly impressed with the coolness of EGCS, then you can buy our EGCS coffee mug.