Linux cpp Command with Practical Examples

Introduction

In this lab, you will learn how to compile and run C++ programs in a Linux environment using the g++ compiler. You will start by creating a simple C++ program, then use the g++ compiler to build the executable, and finally run the program. Additionally, you will explore more advanced C++ development tasks, such as compiling multiple source files, using compiler flags, and managing C++ project structures. This lab covers essential skills for C++ development on the Linux platform.

The lab provides step-by-step guidance on utilizing the g++ compiler for C++ development, including managing C++ code within the Linux file system. This hands-on experience will equip you with the necessary knowledge to effectively compile and run C++ programs in a Linux environment.

Linux Commands Cheat Sheet

Skills Graph

Compile and Run C++ Programs in Linux

In this step, you will learn how to compile and run C++ programs in a Linux environment. We will start by creating a simple C++ program, then use the g++ compiler to build the executable, and finally run the program.

First, let's create a new C++ file named hello.cpp in the ~/project directory:

cd ~/project
nano hello.cpp

In the nano editor, add the following C++ code:

#include <iostream>

int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello, World!" << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

Save the file and exit the nano editor.

Next, we will use the g++ compiler to build the executable from the hello.cpp file:

g++ -o hello hello.cpp

This command compiles the hello.cpp file and generates an executable named hello.

Example output:

Now, let's run the compiled program:

./hello

This will execute the hello program and output the message "Hello, World!".

Example output:

Hello, World!

Congratulations! You have successfully compiled and run a C++ program in a Linux environment.

Utilize the g++ Compiler for C++ Development

In this step, you will learn how to utilize the g++ compiler for more advanced C++ development tasks, such as compiling multiple source files, using compiler flags, and managing C++ project structures.

Let's start by creating a simple C++ project with multiple source files. First, create a new directory for the project:

cd ~/project
mkdir cpp-project
cd cpp-project

Now, create two C++ source files, main.cpp and utils.cpp, in the cpp-project directory:

nano main.cpp

In the main.cpp file, add the following code:

#include "utils.h"
int main() {
    printMessage();
    return 0;
}

Next, create the utils.cpp file:

nano utils.cpp

In the utils.cpp file, add the following code:

#include "utils.h"
void printMessage() {
    std::cout << "This is a utility function." << std::endl;
}

Finally, create the utils.h header file:

nano utils.h

In the utils.h file, add the following code:

#ifndef UTILS_H
#define UTILS_H
#include <iostream>
void printMessage();
#endif

Now, let's compile the project using the g++ compiler:

g++ -o app main.cpp utils.cpp

This command compiles the main.cpp and utils.cpp files and generates an executable named app.

Example output:

To run the compiled program, use the following command:

./app

This will execute the app program and output the message "This is a utility function."

Example output:

This is a utility function.

In this step, you learned how to:

• Create a simple C++ project with multiple source files
• Use the g++ compiler to compile the project
• Run the compiled C++ program

Manage C++ Code with the Linux File System

In this step, you will learn how to manage your C++ code using the Linux file system. We will explore various file operations, such as creating, moving, and deleting files and directories, which are essential for organizing and maintaining your C++ projects.

Let's start by creating a new directory for your C++ project:

cd ~/project
mkdir cpp-project
cd cpp-project

Now, let's create a new C++ file named main.cpp in the cpp-project directory:

nano main.cpp

In the main.cpp file, add the following code:

#include <iostream>

int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello, C++ on Linux!" << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

Save the file and exit the nano editor.

Next, let's compile the main.cpp file using the g++ compiler:

g++ -o app main.cpp

This command compiles the main.cpp file and generates an executable named app.

Example output:

Now, let's run the compiled program:

./app

This will execute the app program and output the message "Hello, C++ on Linux!".

Example output:

Hello, C++ on Linux!

To demonstrate file management, let's create a new directory for our project's source files:

mkdir src
mv main.cpp src/

This creates a new src directory and moves the main.cpp file into it.

Let's also create a new directory for our project's build artifacts:

mkdir build
mv app build/

This creates a new build directory and moves the app executable into it.

Finally, let's delete the build directory and its contents:

rm -rf build

This command removes the build directory and all its contents.

In this step, you learned how to:

• Create and navigate directories in the Linux file system
• Create, move, and delete C++ source files
• Compile C++ code and manage the generated executable files
• Organize your C++ project structure using directories

Summary

In this lab, you learned how to compile and run C++ programs in a Linux environment using the g++ compiler. You created a simple C++ program, compiled it, and executed the resulting executable. Additionally, you explored more advanced C++ development tasks, such as compiling multiple source files, using compiler flags, and managing C++ project structures. These skills are essential for developing and maintaining complex C++ applications in a Linux environment.

Linux Commands Cheat Sheet