Computing is the term used to define the development of hardware and software. It is a vast field that includes various aspects such as scientific, technological, social etc.
Key Takeaways
- GCC (GNU Compiler Collection) is a collection of programming language compilers, while CC (C Compiler) is a specific compiler for the C programming language.
- GCC supports a wide range of programming languages, including C, C++, Objective-C, Fortran, Ada, and more, while CC only supports the C programming language.
- GCC is open-source software, available for free, and can run on multiple platforms, while CC is proprietary software available for purchase and runs only on specific platforms.
GCC vs CC Compiler
The difference between GCC and CC Compiler is that GCC is referred to as the GNU Compiler operating system, whereas CC is the UNIX Compiler command. These two compilers are not cross-compatible. This is because C++ programs are compatible with C libraries, while C programs are not compatible with C++ libraries.
GCC is known as the GNU Compiler Collection. It has been accepted by many other operating systems. It has default support for C++17 and C11 programming languages.
On the other hand, CC is known as the C Compiler. This mainly runs on the UNIX operating system. It is used to create executables by compiling the C language.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | GCC | CC Compiler |
|---|---|---|
| Release | GCC was initially released in 1987. | CC was initially released in 1979. |
| Creator | Richard Stallman produced GCC. | Stephen C. Johnson produced CC. |
| Programming Language | It is primarily written in C, and some parts are in C++. | It is fully written in C. |
| Operating System | It runs on GNU and many other operating systems. | It runs only on Unix and Unix-like operating systems. |
| Form | It is a generic form of the compiler. | It is a specific form of the compiler. |
| Licensing | It is provided under the GPLv3+ with GCC Runtime licence. | It is provided under the BSD licence. |
| Latest Version | The latest version got released on April 20, 2021. | No latest version has been released since December 10, 2014. |
What is GCC?
GCC stands for GNU Compiler Collection, which was introduced by the GNU project first in 1987. Richard Stallman was the creator.
The first and foremost version of GCC only accepted the C programming language. Therefore, it was known as the GNU C Compiler.
Excluding the Ada front-end parts, the whole of GCC is written in the C programming language. The Ada front is only programmed in C++.
Overall, GCC is believed to be doing a great job when it comes to generating quality assemblers. It is known to earn more focused and executable results due to the C and C++ support along with the extensions.
What is CC Compiler?
CC is the C Compiler which was released by Unix production in 1979. Stephen C. Johnson was the creator. However, he took ideas from Alan Snyder partly.
When CC was first introduced, it came with Open BSD, but in 2012, it got removed from the open source. Due to the issue of cross-compatibility, CC accepts the C programs but rejects the C++ ones.
The whole of CC is written in the C programming language. The latest version, i.e. 1.1.0, which got released in December 2014, runs on Microsoft Windows and several Linux distributions.
It will not be compatible if some parts of the library are in CC and others in G++. This is where the CC lacks a bit.
Main Differences Between GCC and CC Compiler
- GCC supports both C and C++ programs, while CC only supports C programs.
- GCC was introduced by the GNU operating system, while CC was introduced by the Unix operating system.
- https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/277652.277752
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7377807/
Last Updated : 04 July, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
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