Writing a simple C program for Linux
In this recipe, we will be building a small C program that sums up the values that are passed to the program as arguments. The C program will contain some essential elements we need to know about when programming for Linux. These elements are return values, arguments, and help texts. As we progress through this book, these elements will show up, time and time again, along with some new ones that we'll learn about along the way.
Mastering these elements is the first step to writing great software for Linux.
Getting ready
The only thing you'll need for this recipe is the C source code, sum.c, and the GCC compiler. You can choose to type the code in yourself or download it from GitHub. Typing it in yourself gives you the benefit of learning how to write it.
How to do it…
Follow these steps to write your first program in Linux:
- Open a text editor and type in the following code, naming the file
sum.c. The program...
