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I am new to C. What is the most simple way to execute a C program without an IDE?

I created my first C program und it runs flawlessly using my IDE Netbeans on Mac OS X. Now I need to make that program be "executable without IDE on Windows".

Also the requirement is only "Windows", no specific version. Which means I might have to support XP, Vista, 7, 8.

What is the most simple way to do so?

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  • Do you mean to compile it without an IDE? Once it's compiled, you can run it on any computer just by double-clicking the .exe file. Commented May 28, 2014 at 13:00
  • Yes then I mean compile it. How can I compile my program to .exe? Commented May 28, 2014 at 13:01
  • Your IDE compiles the program (producing an .exe file) every time you click the Build button or run the program from within the IDE. Commented May 28, 2014 at 13:02
  • I found a unix executable under dist/Debug/GNU-MacOSX/bfs that runs in Terminal. How can I create a .exe for Windows? Commented May 28, 2014 at 13:10
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    So, do I understand right, you want to cross-compile on Mac, with Windows XP as cross compilation target (so it should run on later Windowses as well)? Commented May 28, 2014 at 13:17

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As soon as you have built your app, it is a program you can run outside the IDE. You just need to find it. :) In NetBeans this will usually be under your project directory in a subdirectory called "dist". There will be an executable file in there which you can copy out to wherever you want.

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I have just build it, but I cannot find a .exe file. I am using Mac OS, do I have to build on Windows?
No, sorry I said exe when I should have said executable. You should be able to find the program NetBeans built by looking in the Project Properties, perhaps under Linker settings.
Yes I found it dist/Debug/GNU-MacOSX/bfs but that does not run under Windows, as I built under Mac OS right?
Right, so if you want to run on Windows you need to build on Windows. You can't (at least, not easily) build C programs for Windows machines where the build machine runs Mac OS. If you really want to try, it's called cross-compiling and some tools are here: crossgcc.rts-software.org/doku.php?id=compiling_for_win32
Thanks, I will try to build on Windows, hoping my Mac OS C code does not break.
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Download MinGW here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/mingw/files/latest/download?source=files and install it. Then go to cmd (In Windows 8 - Windows key+R and type cmd in the window opened. In Windows 7 - search >> run >> cmd). After installing it and entering cmd type in the Command Prompt window (CMD) cd C:/MinGW/bin (when MinGW is on C drive which is the default path). After doing so type the following command: gcc -o X.exe Y.c when X is the name of the output file (what name you want the .exe file to be and Y is the name of the C file that must be inside of the BIN folder (C:/MinGW/bin by default). It should be compiled smoothly if it compiled in your IDE and then the .exe file would be in the BIN folder named X.exe (when X is what you typed in the CMD). Afterwards, you can close your CMD and do with the .exe file whatever you like.

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