How to Write and Run Your First C Program in Eclipse IDE
If you’re ready to start coding in C using Eclipse IDE, this beginner-friendly tutorial will guide you through the process step by step. In just a few minutes, you’ll learn how to create a basic C project, compile it, and run your first program successfully.
By the end of this guide, your first C program will be up and running — giving you a solid starting point for deeper learning.
About This Tutorial
Welcome to the PicoBit-Tech channel.
My name is Behnam Jafari, and in this session, I demonstrate how to write and execute your first C program using Eclipse IDE.
This tutorial is ideal for learners who have already installed:
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MinGW (GCC compiler for Windows)
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Eclipse IDE for C/C++
If you have not installed these tools yet, you can find step-by-step installation guides linked at the top of this page.
Step-by-Step Project Creation in Eclipse
1️⃣ Launch Eclipse
When Eclipse starts, you will be prompted to choose a workspace directory.
If you check the option to use this as the default workspace, the dialog will not appear in future launches.
2️⃣ Create a New C Project
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Go to File → New → Project
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Select C Project
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Click Next
Under Executable, choose:
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Hello World ANSI C Project
Under Toolchains, select:
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MinGW GCC
Enter your desired Project Name, then click Next.
3️⃣ Configure Project Details
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Author: Displays project creator information
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Hello World Greeting: Customize the message printed in the console
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Source Folder: Default location for source files (no changes required)
Click Next, then Finish.
4️⃣ Edit and Build the Program
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Open the project and locate the main file inside the src folder
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Make any necessary modifications
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Save the file
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Click Build to compile the project
Ensure there are no errors or warnings in the console output.
5️⃣ Run the Program
To execute the program:
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Right-click the project
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Select Profile Tools → Profile Configuration
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Double-click C/C++ Application
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Browse to the executable file inside the Debug folder
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Click Apply and Close
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Run the project
Your custom greeting message will now appear in the Eclipse console.
What You Achieve in This Tutorial
✔ Create your first C project
✔ Compile a C program using GCC
✔ Run and verify program output
✔ Understand the Eclipse project structure
This is the first practical step in mastering the C programming language and building a strong foundation for low-level development.
