Setting up an environment for C

To set up the environment for C programming with easy steps, follow this simplified guide based on your operating system:

For Windows:

1. Install MinGW (C Compiler):

  • Go to the MinGW website: MinGW Downloads.
  • Download and install MinGW, making sure you select mingw32-gcc-g++ package during installation.

2. Add MinGW to PATH:

  • After installation, navigate to the folder where MinGW is installed (e.g., C:\MinGW\bin).
  • Copy the path (e.g., C:\MinGW\bin).
  • Right-click on This PC > Properties > Advanced system settings > Environment Variables.
  • Under System variables, find Path, click Edit, and paste the copied path at the end.

3. Install a Text Editor:

  • Download Visual Studio Code from here.
  • Install and launch VS Code.

For macOS

1. Install Xcode Command Line Tools:

Open Terminal and run:


xcode-select --install

This installs the necessary tools including clang (C compiler).

2. Install a Text Editor:

  1. Download Visual Studio Code from here.
  2. Install and launch VS Code.

For Linux (Ubuntu/Debian-based):

1. Install GCC (C Compiler):


sudo apt update
sudo apt install build-essential

This installs GCC and necessary tools.

2. Install a Text Editor:

  • Download and install Visual Studio Code from here.