compile C code with no flag other than -o

Question

Im doing an assignment and the requirement instruction say "Your code should compile correctly (no warnings and errors) with no flags other -o. you should compile your code to a debug-able executable without producing any warnings or error messages. (Note that -O and -o are different flags.)"

So Im so confused what does the " no flags other -o " means. As far as I know, "flag is a general tool for rudimentary signalling and identification, especially in environments where communication is similarly challenging.", so does the requirement mean that we can't use any for loop ?

They are flags for the compiler, example gcc. You can see a whole list online — Sourav Ghosh
– Sourav Ghosh, Commented Sep 30, 2020 at 15:10
flags are options you give to the compiler, for instance -ofor gcc allows to indicate the target executable/binary/.... Note the statement is strange because request debugable executable and that generally means an option, for instance -g for gcc, so seems incompatible with only -o — bruno
– bruno, Commented Sep 30, 2020 at 15:11
"flag" in this case is a command line argument to the compiler call. So: don't use any other than what you need to specify the output file. — L. Scott Johnson
– L. Scott Johnson, Commented Sep 30, 2020 at 15:11
In this context, flags are command-line options, so the instructor is saying you can use the -o (dash oh) option to gcc, but no others. You can use any C language constructs you like inside your program. — Steve Friedl
– Steve Friedl, Commented Sep 30, 2020 at 15:12
do you confirm the compiler is gcc ? If yes I encourage you to compile with -Wall to enforce problem detection — bruno
– bruno, Commented Sep 30, 2020 at 15:14

taniwha · Accepted Answer · 2020-09-30 15:13:47Z

3

No, the requirement is referring to command-line flags, ie options to the compiler. Eg, assuming gcc, gcc -o foo foo.c.

However, since the program is meant to be debuggable, the requirements are contradictory because creating a debuggable executable requires (for gcc) the -g flag.

answered Sep 30, 2020 at 15:13

taniwha

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Serge Ballesta · Accepted Answer · 2020-09-30 15:19:15Z

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On many compilers, you can control the warning level with flags. The requirement here is to not use those flags, yet raise no warning.

Said differently, you are just asked to write neat and clean C code using no specific extension nor any semi valid constructs (code not conforming to the standard but accepted with warnings by a compiler)

answered Sep 30, 2020 at 15:19

Serge Ballesta

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