Install and configure gcc on IBM i and create Hello World App

If you ever wanted to get started learning gcc C for creating IBM i PASE apps in less than 5 minutes, then here you go.

Installing gcc

Install gcc yum packages from IBM i ACS Open Source Package Management

Package list:
gcc-aix
gcc-cplusplus-aix
gcc-cpp-aix

Open a SSH/bash terminal window and run the following commands to create the empty hello.c file

PATH=/QOpenSys/pkgs/bin:/QOpenSys/usr/sbin:/QOpenSys/usr/bin
export PATH
cd /
mkdir gccsamples
cd /gccsamples
touch hello.c

From your favorite bash or IFS editor, create and edit the hello.c file in /gccsamples/hello.c and add the following code

#include <stdio.h>
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
  printf("Hello World\n");
}

Save the source member and compile the hello program with the following commands

cd /gccsamples
gcc -o hello hello.c

Now run the program by typing the following

hello    <press enter>

You should see

Hello World

Congratulations you're on your way to learning gcc

Let me know if you have a favorite gcc sample or documentation link.