How to Create Your First Computer Program in C

By: Shawn R Moser

Programming can be a difficult field to get into. For those looking to breakthrough, the first step on the
path to learning programming starts with making what is called a Hello, World program, a program
that simply displays the text “Hello World” to the computer screen. This guide will show you how to
create this program, using the programming language C, a widely used programing language. The
guide will help you get through the process of writing this first program through four distinct steps:

1.) First, you will download an application on your computer called Code::Blocks, which you will
use to create the code for the program.
2.) Next, you will install the Code::Blocks software on your machine.
3.) Then, you will create a project in Code::Blocks to hold your first program.
4.) Finally, you will build and run the project that holds the code for the “Hello World” program.

Checklist before Beginning

In order to create this program, it is assumed that you currently have access to a working computer
system in which Code::Blocks can be installed to create your first C program. Please ensure the
following before beginning this guide:

□ You have prior experience navigating a computer and installing downloading software.

► It is assumed that you are aware of how to: install programs, navigate files, and use an internet
browser to download files. If you are unsure of how to perform any of these tasks; consider
looking at sources at your local bookstore on basic computer functionality.

□ You meet all the technical requirements necessary to install the Code::Blocks software.

► The system should have Windows 7/8 for the operating system.
You will be able to use any Windows operating system from Windows XP on, along with any
Linux or Mac OS distribution, but the guide assumes the use of Windows 7 or 8.
► The system should have at least 250 MBs of free hard-drive space.
This space is required to hold install Code::Blocks on the system.

□ You have permission to install software on your computer system.

► Ensure that you have administrative privileges for the system you will be writing the program on.
If not, check with your local system administrator about installing software on the computer.

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Downloading Code::Blocks
First, in order to setup the program to create your code, you will use and setup an integrated
development environment called Code::Blocks. An integrated development environment, or IDE for
short, is a program used to edit and create software all in one single package. It is akin to a word
editor or desktop publisher that would be used to create documents. To get Code::Blocks on your
system, you will need to download the binaries from the Internet.

1. Go to the Code Blocks website at

http://www.codeblocks.org

2. Find the link on the left-hand side

bar labeled Downloads.

Figure 1: (Step 2) Code::Blocks’ Homepage

3. From this page you will select

Download the binary releases.
There are other options that can
be used to download the source
code, the actual code used to
create the IDE software. There
are reasons you would want to
do this, but it is noted that this
option would require experience
in building such programs; a skill
assumed that you currently does
not have.

Figure 2: (Step 3) Code::Blocks’ Download Page

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 4. Select the codeblock-13.12 mingw-setup.exe option. To download click on the link labeled either
BerliOS or Sourceforge.net on the right side of the screen. The file should now download
automatically to your computer.

Figure 3: (Step 4) Code::Block's Binary Page

 Troubleshooting: If the application does not download from either of these links, please
check that you do not have a pop-blocked turned on, nor do you have any other program
stopping downloads from the internet. This can vary depending on system setup.

Installing Code::Blocks
After finishing downloading the Code::Blocks software, you must now install it on the local computer
system.
1. Navigate to the location that you have
downloaded the executable to. This should
be the normal location for downloads on a
Windows 7 or Windows 8 environment.

2. Right-click the file and select Run as

Administrator. This will bring up the
installation screen for the software.
Figure 4: (Step 2) Run Program As Administrator

 Troubleshooting: If you see a warning, note that this action will make a change to the
system. Simply click “Yes”. This allows the software to be installed on your system.

3. Click Next > to advance.

4. Read the license agreement and click the I

Agree button if you agree to it. If you do not
agree, you will be unable to install the
software.
Figure 5: (Step 4) License Agreement

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5. Select Standard: Core plugins,
core tools, and core lexers
option from the drop down box on
the screen and click Next >.

Figure 6: (Step 5) Component Installation Selection

6. Keep the preset destination folder

for the installation.

7. Select Install and Code::Blocks

will now install.

Figure 7: (Step 6 & 7) Installation Destination Selection

 Troubleshooting: This installation will require at least 250 MBs of space on the system the
software will be installed on. Ensure that there is sufficient space for this on the computer
system.

8. Once the IDE installs you will see a screen listing complier auto-detection. Double check that the GNU
GCC Compiler is detected. If it is selected, press OK to continue.
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 9. Next you will see the options for file associations of C/C++ source files. If you plan to continue
programming and using the particular IDE, then select the Yes, associate Code::Blocks with C/C++
file types. If not, then simply select No, leave everything as it is.

 Troubleshooting: If you are not the administrator for the computer you are performing the
installation on, please check with the appropriate authority before changing the file-type
association of the system.

10. When you see the text says Completed

on the screen, click Next >.

11. Click Finish to complete the installation

and start the Code::Blocks program.

Figure 8: (Step 10) Installation Completion Screen

Creating a Project in Code::Blocks

The Code::Block IDE is now installed on your computer. The next step to creating your first “Hello
World” program will be to create a new project that will be used to hold the code for your program.
With the IDE now opened from the previous step, perform the following:

1. Select Create a new project from the

center screen.

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 Figure 9: (Step 1) Code::Blocks Opening Screen
2. Click the option Console application
from the template set.

3. Select Go on the right-hand side of the

window.

Figure 10: (Step 2 & 3) Application Type Selection Screen

4. Select the option for C to select that as the

language to use.

5. Select Next > to continue.

Figure 11: (Step 4 & 5) Language Type Selection Screen

6. Give the project a name to be referred to later

on. For this first program simply type in
helloworld.

7. Pick a destination directory to create the

project in. It does not matter where on your
computer you put this folder, in this example
the directory C:\Users\Shawn\Desktop\ was
selected as the root directory.

8. Select Next >.

Figure 12: (Step 6, 7, & 8) Project Title Selection Screen

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 9. In the drop-down box labeled Complier,
select the option GNU GCC Compiler. Keep
the rest of the settings to their default.

10. Select Finish to complete the setup of the

project.

Figure 13: (Step 9 & 10) Complier Selection Screen

Building the “Hello World” Program

You have now successfully setup a project in which to place the code for your first C program to be
run in. Next, you will be checking the template code that the Code::Block IDE has created and build
the program to run.

1. In the upper-left hand corner of the screen you should

now see a little folder labeled Source. This is a
directory that holds all of the files. Click on the
directory to see the files within the directory. You
should now see a file labeled main.c.

2. Double click the main.c to open it in the IDE. You

should now see the code to your first program listed in
the center screen of the IDE.

Figure 14: (Step 1 & 2) Project Tree

3. Look over the code that appears in the

center screen. It should match what is
shown in figure 15.

Figure 15: (Step 3) “Hello World” Code

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 4. Click on the button that resembles a small
gear above where the code is. This will build
the project, and display the message Process
terminated with status 0 (0 minute(s), 0
second(s)) on the screen.

5. Click on the button that resembles a small

green arrow, to the right of the gear-shaped
button. This will run the program. You should
now see a black screen displaying the
message “Hello world!” on the screen, as
shown on figure 17.

Figure 16: (Step 4) Build the “Hello World” Code

 Troubleshooting: If you are having trouble building the code. Please check that that PATH
system variable on your system was correctly setup during installation. Information on this can
be found by searching PATH environment variable online. It should point to C:\Program Files
(x86)\CodeBlocks\MinGW\libexec\gcc\mingw32\4.7.1 if you used the default installation
settings.

Figure 17: “Hello World” Program Successfully Run

Congratulations! You have successfully created your first C program. Now with the IDE setup and
your first program created, you are now ready to venture further into the world of programming. There
are many sources for C-related programming guides, and with a simple search can find many that
can start you on a path to building more powerful and creative programs.
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