C programming is a fundamental skill for many software developers, and Windows provides a robust environment for writing, compiling, and executing C programs. This article will guide you through the steps to set up a C development environment on Windows, write a simple C program, and execute it using the Command Prompt (CMD).

Setting Up Your Environment

1. Install a C Compiler:

   • The most common compiler for C on Windows is MinGW (Minimalist GNU for Windows), which provides a port of the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC).
   • Download the MinGW installer from the official website and follow the installation instructions. Make sure to select the "mingw32-gcc-g++" package for installation.

2. Set Environment Variables:

   • After installation, you need to add the MinGW bin directory to your system's PATH environment variable. This allows you to use the gcc command from any Command Prompt window.
   • To do this, search for "Environment Variables" in the Windows search bar, open "Edit the system environment variables," and click "Environment Variables."
   • Under "System variables," find the "Path" variable, click "Edit," and add the path to the MinGW bin directory (e.g., C:\MinGW\bin).

Writing a Simple C Program

1. Create a C Source File:
   • Open a text editor like Notepad or Visual Studio Code.
   • Write the following simple C program and save it as hello.c:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    printf("Hello, World!\n");
    return 0;
}

Compiling and Executing the C Program

1. Open Command Prompt:

   • Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.

2. Navigate to the Directory:

   • Use the cd command to navigate to the directory where you saved hello.c. For example:

     cd C:\Users\YourUsername\Documents

3. Compile the Program:

   • Use the gcc command to compile the C program. This command will generate an executable file named hello.exe:

     gcc hello.c -o hello.exe

4. Execute the Program:

   • Run the compiled program by typing its name:

     hello.exe

   • You should see the output: Hello, World!

Troubleshooting Tips

• If you encounter an error stating that gcc is not recognized, ensure that the MinGW bin directory is correctly added to your PATH environment variable.
• Ensure that all files are in the correct directory and that you have navigated to that directory in the Command Prompt before compiling and executing.