Set up your computer

Run C on your own computer

• This playground is great for learning — your code is built and run for you.
• For your own projects, it helps to set C up on your computer.
• It takes about 15 minutes, and you only do it once.

Step 1 — Install a compiler

• A compiler turns your C code into a program the computer can run.
• Windows: install MSYS2 from msys2.org — it gives you gcc.
• macOS: open Terminal and run the command below to get clang.
• Linux: install build-essential, which includes gcc.

xcode-select --install

Step 2 — Install VS Code

• VS Code (Visual Studio Code) is a free, popular code editor from Microsoft.
• Get it from code.visualstudio.com and install it.
• This is where you will write your code.

Step 3 — Add the C/C++ extension

• Open VS Code and click the Extensions icon on the left.
• Search for C/C++ (the one by Microsoft) and click Install.
• It adds colours, error hints, and a debugger for C.

Step 4 — Check the compiler works

• Open a terminal (in VS Code: Terminal → New Terminal) and type:

gcc --version

• You should see a version line. If you do, your compiler is ready.

Step 5 — Compile and run your first file

• Make a new file called hello.c and type this in:

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void) {
    printf("Hello from my own computer!\n");
    return 0;
}

• In the terminal, build it and then run it:

gcc hello.c -o hello
./hello

• You just compiled and ran C outside the browser.