Setting up GCC, MinGW, and VS Code for C Development0%

Structure of a C Program & The main() Function

Setting up GCC, MinGW, and VS Code for C Development

Beginner10 min read•Updated: 2026-10-22

Study Materials

💻 Setting up GCC, MinGW, and VS Code for C Development

Introduction

To write, compile, and debug C programs on your computer, you need two fundamental tools:

1
A C Compiler (such as GCC via MinGW-w64 on Windows, or Clang/GCC on Linux/macOS).
2
A Code Editor (such as Visual Studio Code).

🛠️ Step 1: Installing the GCC Compiler on Windows

1
Download MinGW-w64 (via MSYS2 or standalone WinLibs).
2
Extract the package to C:\mingw64.
3
Add C:\mingw64\bin to your Windows System Environment PATH:

Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, press Enter.
Go to Advanced tab ➔ Click Environment Variables.
Under System Variables, select Path ➔ Click Edit ➔ Click New ➔ Paste C:\mingw64\bin.
Click OK to save all dialogs.

1
Open a new Command Prompt or PowerShell window and verify:

1gcc --version

If installed correctly, you will see output like:

1gcc (Rev2, Built by MSYS2 project) 13.2.0

🎨 Step 2: Configuring Visual Studio Code

1
Download and install VS Code from code.visualstudio.com.
2
Open the Extensions View (Ctrl + Shift + X) and install:

C/C++ (by Microsoft)
Code Runner (by Jun Han)
C/C++ Extension Pack

🚀 Step 3: Writing & Compiling Your First Test Script

Create a new file named hello.c:

1#include <stdio.h>
2 
3int main(void) {
4    printf("Hello from MSK Institute! C is working.\n");
5    return 0;
6}

Compile and run via terminal:

1gcc hello.c -o hello.exe
2.\hello.exe

Output:

1Hello from MSK Institute! C is working.

📝 Practice Quiz

1
Which command checks the installed version of GCC?

- A) gcc -test - B) gcc --version (Correct) - C) gcc -v -run - D) c --version

1
What environment variable must be updated on Windows so terminal commands find gcc?

- A) CLASSPATH - B) TEMP - C) PATH (Correct) - D) ROOT

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Structure of a C Program & The main() Function

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C Compilation Architecture: Preprocessor, Compiler, Assembler, Linker	Structure of a C Program & The main() Function

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Test your understanding of this lesson with 1 questions. Each question has one correct answer.

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🛠️ Step 1: Installing the GCC Compiler on Windows

Download MinGW-w64 (via MSYS2 or standalone WinLibs).

Extract the package to C:\mingw64.

Add C:\mingw64\bin to your Windows System Environment PATH:

Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, press Enter.

Go to Advanced tab ➔ Click Environment Variables.

Under System Variables, select Path ➔ Click Edit ➔ Click New ➔ Paste C:\mingw64\bin.

Click OK to save all dialogs.

Open a new Command Prompt or PowerShell window and verify:

1gcc --version

If installed correctly, you will see output like:

1gcc (Rev2, Built by MSYS2 project) 13.2.0

Previous Lesson

Next Lesson

C Compilation Architecture: Preprocessor, Compiler, Assembler, Linker

Structure of a C Program & The main() Function