Compiling

#include <stdio.h>

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

$ gcc code.c

#include <stdio.h>

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

$ gcc code.c

#include <stdio.h>

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

$ gcc code.c

#include <stdio.h>

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

$ ./a.out
Hello World!

Compilation process

#include <stdio.h>

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

Compilation process

Preprocessor

#include <stdio.h>

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

Compilation process

Preprocessor

#include <stdio.h>

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

Compiler

Compilation process

Preprocessor

#include <stdio.h>

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

Compiler

Assembly code

Compilation process

Preprocessor

#include <stdio.h>

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

Compiler

Assembly code

Assembler

Compilation process

Preprocessor

#include <stdio.h>

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

Compiler

Assembly code

Assembler

Object code

Compilation process

Preprocessor

#include <stdio.h>

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

Compiler

Assembly code

Assembler

Object code

Linker

Libraries

Compilation process

Preprocessor

#include <stdio.h>

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

Compiler

Assembly code

Assembler

Object code

Linker

Libraries

Executable

Preprocessor

#include <stdio.h>

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

/*
    actual code of 
    the <stdio.h> header
*/

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

Compiler

/*
    actual code of 
    the <stdio.h> header
*/

void main() {
    printf("Hello World!\n");
}

	.file	"code.c"
	.text
	.section	.rodata
.LC0:
	.string	"Hello World!"
	.text
	.globl	main
	.type	main, @function
main:
.LFB0:
	.cfi_startproc
	pushq	%rbp
	.cfi_def_cfa_offset 16
	.cfi_offset 6, -16
	movq	%rsp, %rbp
	.cfi_def_cfa_register 6
	leaq	.LC0(%rip), %rdi
	call	puts@PLT
	nop
	popq	%rbp
	.cfi_def_cfa 7, 8
	ret
	.cfi_endproc

Assembler

	.file	"code.c"
	.text
	.section	.rodata
.LC0:
	.string	"Hello World!"
	.text
	.globl	main
	.type	main, @function
main:
.LFB0:
	.cfi_startproc
	pushq	%rbp
	.cfi_def_cfa_offset 16
	.cfi_offset 6, -16
	movq	%rsp, %rbp
	.cfi_def_cfa_register 6
	leaq	.LC0(%rip), %rdi
	call	puts@PLT
	nop
	popq	%rbp
	.cfi_def_cfa 7, 8
	ret
	.cfi_endproc