GNU Compiler Collection

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== GNU Compiler Collection ==

The GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) is a compiler system produced by the GNU Project supporting various programming languages. GCC is a key component of the GNU Toolchain and is used widely in software development for compiling C, C++, Objective-C, Fortran, Ada, Go, and D programs, among others.

History

GCC was originally written by Richard Stallman in 1987 as the compiler for the GNU operating system. The initial release supported the C programming language. Over time, GCC has been extended to support many other languages and architectures, becoming a cornerstone of the free software movement.

Features

GCC provides numerous features, including:

• Support for multiple programming languages.
• Cross-compilation capabilities.
• Extensive optimization options.
• A modular architecture that allows for easy extension and customization.

Supported Languages

GCC supports a wide range of programming languages, including:

• C
• C++
• Objective-C
• Fortran
• Ada
• Go
• D

Architecture

GCC is designed with a modular architecture, consisting of a front end for each language and a shared back end that generates machine code for various architectures. This design allows GCC to be easily extended to support new languages and target platforms.

Usage

GCC is commonly used in the development of operating systems, embedded systems, and application software. It is the default compiler for many Unix-like operating systems, including Linux and BSD variants.

Development

GCC is developed by the GNU Project and is maintained by a large community of developers. Contributions to GCC are managed through a rigorous review process to ensure the quality and stability of the compiler.

Related Tools

GCC is part of the larger GNU Toolchain, which includes other development tools such as:

• GNU Debugger (GDB)
• GNU Binutils
• GNU Make

See Also

• GNU Project
• GNU Toolchain
• Free Software Foundation
• Richard Stallman
• C (programming language)
• C++
• Objective-C
• Fortran
• Ada (programming language)
• Go (programming language)
• D (programming language)
• GNU Debugger
• GNU Binutils
• GNU Make