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:
MinGW (GCC compiler for Windows)
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
Go to File → New → Project
Select C Project
Click Next
Under Executable, choose:
Hello World ANSI C Project
Under Toolchains, select:
MinGW GCC
Enter your desired Project Name, then click Next.
3️⃣ Configure Project Details
Author: Displays project creator information
Hello World Greeting: Customize the message printed in the console
Source Folder: Default location for source files (no changes required)
Click Next, then Finish.
4️⃣ Edit and Build the Program
Open the project and locate the main file inside the src folder
Make any necessary modifications
Save the file
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:
Right-click the project
Select Profile Tools → Profile Configuration
Double-click C/C++ Application
Browse to the executable file inside the Debug folder
Click Apply and Close
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.
