Creating a binary file on Ubuntu

Question

I want to create a binary file from a C file using ubuntu. I have done something like:

gcc -c ArrayError3.c -o ArrayError3.

This creates a file ArrayError3 on my Desktop. When I click on it, ubuntu tells me that there is no application installed for object files. I am very much a newbie to C and linux. Could anyone please advise me on how to solve this issue? Many thanks.

cnicutar · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-10 08:53:40Z

1

Just drop the -c so it won't stop after making the object file. The -c option tells gcc not to run the linker. If omit it, gcc will make a full blown executable for you.

answered Aug 10, 2012 at 8:53

cnicutar

184k26 gold badges378 silver badges399 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

E Shindler Over a year ago

Does this make a static or dynamic binary? The reason I ask is because I was told by an academic at my university to run zzuf(an application input fuzzer) on this binary. I happen to know that zzuf does not work on static binaries. A further problem is that zzuf is an application input fuzzer(the input by default being a file). The app in question though only takes user input from the console.

cnicutar Over a year ago

@EShindler You should be OK as long as you don't pass any -static arguments.

Some programmer dude · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-10 08:56:19Z

0

You need to read more about what the arguments for GCC mean. The -c option tells GCC to create an object file, not an executable file. This object file needs to be linked to create an executable file.

This is commonly used when you have several source files that needs to be linked together to form one executable. Example:

$ gcc source1.c -c -o source1.o
$ gcc source2.c -c -o source2.o
$ gcc source1.o source2.o -o exec

The solution for you it to simply not use the -c option.

answered Aug 10, 2012 at 8:56

Some programmer dude

411k36 gold badges421 silver badges655 bronze badges

Comments

user529758 · Accepted Answer · 2012-08-10 09:07:42Z

0

The problem is in

gcc -c

The -c switch makes GCC not link your code to an actual executable, only compiles it to an object file, which is not a "complete" format, it can't yet be run. Use just

gcc ArrayError3.c -o ArrayError3

instead.

answered Aug 10, 2012 at 9:07

user529758

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Creating a binary file on Ubuntu

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

2 Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related