If you want to run your code, is important to compile it into machine code.

Installing and configuring a compiler may vary in different operating systems. Here’s a detailed guide for Linux, Windows, and macOS (This guide will focus on GCC (GNU Compiler Collection)):

Linux

1. Installing a Compiler

Most Linux distributions come with GCC pre-installed. If it’s not installed, you can install the package gcc using the package manager specific to your distribution.

Examples:

# Arch Linux
pacman -Syu gcc

# Debian
apt install gcc

# Fedora
dnf install gcc

2. Verifying Installation

Check if GCC is installed and verify the version:

gcc --version

3. Configuring the Compiler

GCC typically doesn’t require much configuration. However, you might want to set environment variables for custom configurations.

~/.profile or /etc/environment

export CC=gcc

Windows

1. Installing a Compiler

Windows does not come with a native compiler, so you need to install one. The most common choice is MinGW-w64.

• Installing MinGW-w64:
  • Download the MinGW-w64 installer from MinGW-w64.
  • Run the installer and follow the instructions to install the base tools.
  • Ensure you add the installation path (e.g., C:\mingw-w64\bin) to your system’s PATH environment variable.

Alternatively, you can use Microsoft Visual Studio, which comes with its own compiler:

• Installing Visual Studio:
  • Download and install Visual Studio from Visual Studio Downloads.
  • During installation, select the “Desktop development with C++” workload.

2. Verifying Installation

Open Command Prompt and check the GCC version (if using MinGW-w64):

gcc --version

Or for Visual Studio, open the “Developer Command Prompt for Visual Studio” and check the MSVC version:

cl

3. Configuring the Compiler

For MinGW-w64, set environment variables if needed:

setx PATH "%PATH%;C:\mingw-w64\bin"

For Visual Studio, configuration is handled through the IDE settings.

macOS

1. Installing a Compiler

macOS comes with Clang, an LLVM-based compiler, as part of the Xcode Command Line Tools.

Installing Xcode Command Line Tools:

xcode-select --install

Alternatively, you can install the full Xcode IDE from the App Store, which includes additional tools and a GUI.

2. Verifying Installation

Check if Clang is installed and verify the version:

clang --version

3. Configuring the Compiler

Similar to GCC on Linux, Clang usually requires minimal configuration. However, you can set environment variables as needed:

Setting Environment Variables:

export CC=clang
export CXX=clang++

Add these lines to your shell initialization file (E.G. ~/.bash_profile on Bash or ~/.zshrc on Zsh) to make the changes permanent.

Summary

• Linux: Use the package manager to install GCC, and set environment variables if needed.
• Windows: Use MinGW-w64 or Visual Studio, and ensure the PATH environment variable includes the compiler’s binary path.
• macOS: Install Xcode Command Line Tools or Xcode, and configure Clang through environment variables if necessary.

By following these steps, you can successfully install and configure a compiler on your respective operating system, enabling you to compile and build applications efficiently.