🧠 Lecture: Compilation and Execution Process

Duration: 30 minutes
Objective: Understand how to compile and execute a C program using the Code::Blocks IDE, including what happens behind the scenes.

🛠️ 2. Setup and Interface Tour (5–10 minutes)

✅ Steps to Set Up Code::Blocks

Open Code::Blocks
Launch the IDE and ensure it includes the GCC compiler (such as MinGW).
Create a New Console Application Project
Go to File > New > Project → Select Console Application → Click Go → Choose C → Follow the wizard to name and create the project.
Explore the Interface
- Left Panel: Project files (Sources, Headers)
- Center Panel: Code editor
- Bottom Panel: Logs and output
- Top Toolbar: Build, Run, Debug buttons

🔄 3. Compilation Process in Code::Blocks (10–15 minutes)

When you click Build in Code::Blocks, it performs these steps automatically:

Preprocessing: Handles directives like #include and #define
Compilation: Converts source code into assembly language
Assembly: Converts assembly into object code (.o file)
Linking: Links object file with libraries to produce the final executable

📁 Output File Location

YourProjectFolder/
 └── bin/
     └── Debug/
         └── your_program.exe

Tip: Use "Clean" to delete old binaries before rebuilding.

🚀 4. Execution and Output (15–20 minutes)

After building the project:

Click Build and Run or press F9.
A console window opens showing output from your printf() statements.

🧨 Fix for Auto-Closing Console

Add the following to pause the output window:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main() {
    printf("Hello from Code::Blocks!\n");
    system("pause");
    return 0;
}

🔍 5. Debugging and Error Handling (20–25 minutes)

🛠️ Example of a Syntax Error

int main() {
    printf("Hello world!")  // ❌ Missing semicolon
    return 0;
}

Code::Blocks will show an error: expected ‘;’ before ‘return’

📊 Using Build Log

Go to the Build Messages tab
Double-click any error to jump to the line

🐞 Debugging with Breakpoints

Click to the left of the line number to set a breakpoint
Go to Debug > Start/Continue
Use F7 (Step Into) and F8 (Step Over)
Watch variables using the debugger console

int a = 5;
int b = 10;
int result = a + b;

📚 6. Recap and Q&A (25–30 minutes)

✅ Summary

Code::Blocks handles all the steps: Preprocessing → Compilation → Assembly → Linking → Execution
Executable files are located in the bin/Debug folder
Errors and debugging can be done directly in the IDE

🧠 Compilation Flow

main.c 
 ↓ Preprocessor
main.i 
 ↓ Compiler
main.s 
 ↓ Assembler
main.o 
 ↓ Linker
main.exe → Console Output

🗣️ Student Discussion Questions

What does "Build" actually do?
Where can you find your final executable file?
What happens if you press "Run" without building first?

⬅️ Structure of C Next: Keywords in C ➡️

Compilation and Execution Process of a C Program Using Code::Blocks