Compiling .cpp files as C with GCC
When it comes to compiling C++ programs, the go-to compiler for many developers is GCC (GNU Compiler Collection). However, did you know that GCC can also be used to compile .cpp files as C? In this article, we will explore the benefits and process of using GCC to compile .cpp files as C.
Firstly, let's understand the need for compiling .cpp files as C. Although C++ is a superset of C, there may be instances where you want to compile a C++ program as a C program. This could be to make use of legacy C libraries, to improve performance, or to ensure compatibility with older systems that may not support C++.
Now, let's look at the steps involved in compiling .cpp files as C with GCC.
Step 1: Create a .cpp file
The first step is to create a .cpp file containing your C++ code. For the purpose of this article, let's assume we have a simple Hello World program in a file named hello.cpp.
Step 2: Compile as C
To compile the .cpp file as C, we need to pass the -x c option to GCC. This tells GCC to treat the file as a C program rather than a C++ program. So the command would look like this:
gcc -x c hello.cpp
Step 3: Execute the program
Once the compilation is successful, you can execute the program as you would any other C program. For example, if the output file is named a.out, you can run it with the command:
./a.out
And voila! You have successfully compiled and executed a .cpp file as a C program using GCC.
But what about the code itself? How does GCC handle the C++ code when compiling as C?
GCC follows a few rules when compiling .cpp files as C. Firstly, it will ignore all C++ specific keywords and features such as namespaces, classes, and templates. Any C++ code that is not supported by C will result in a compilation error.
Secondly, GCC will not link any C++ libraries by default. This means that you will need to explicitly link any C++ libraries your program may be using.
Lastly, GCC will use C89 standard by default when compiling .cpp files as C. This means that any C++ code that uses features introduced after C89, such as bool or // comments, will need to be modified to be compatible with the C89 standard.
So why use GCC to compile .cpp files as C instead of just writing the code in C to begin with? The answer lies in the simplicity and familiarity of the C++ language. By using GCC to compile .cpp files as C, developers can continue to use the C++ syntax they are familiar with, while still being able to compile and run their code as a C program.
In conclusion, GCC offers the flexibility to compile .cpp files as C, making it a versatile tool for developers who may need to work with both languages. So the next time you find yourself in a situation where you need to compile a .cpp file as a C program, remember that you can rely on GCC to get the job done.
