Getting started 


 

The basic cycle

 

 

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  • Edit your program (new or already existing) by an editor. We recommend using the emacs editor. This is how you can run emacs:
    emacs myprog.c &
    

    (Note that the ampersand in the last command was not necessary, but is helpful in the sense that it runs emacs in the background and the shell is free to listen to your other commands.)

     

  • Write your program in the editor and save it.

     

  • Go to the shell and compile your program:
    cc myprog.c
    

    If compilation is successful, an executable called a.out will be created.

     

  • Run your program:
    a.out
    

    You may have to give the command ./a.out in case you are issued a message like a.out: Command not found.

     

  • Continue your edit-compile-debug-run-debug-print work.

    ...

    Finally, it's pretty late. It's time to pack up. Wait! You still have some more things to do, before you rush for your lunch.

     

  • Close all the windows you opened.

     

  • Logout from your window manager. This leaves you again in the login console.

     

  • Select the item to shut down the machine. Wait till the machine completely shuts down.

     

  • Switch off your monitor.

     

  • You can now leave. Don't remember later that you have forgot to sign the attendance sheet. You may not rely on our memory to certify in the next week that you were present in this lab session.
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    Some useful Unix commands

    Here is a short list of useful commands that you can use from your shell (in addition to running emacs and compiling and running your program).