Running
Invoking the compiler after installation.
Windoos
The compiler can be manually invoked from the command-line, or automatically by your IDE/Code Editor. If you're using an IDE, you will usually have to tell it where the compiler was installed, so it can find it. How exactly to do that depends on the IDE.
To compile manually, you should append the FreeBASIC installation directory to your PATH environment variable, separating it from previous entries using a semi-colon. Now you can simply use "fbc" from the command prompt, instead of always having to type in the full path (e.g. "C:\FreeBASIC\fbc.exe").
Then, open a console/commandsprompt/MS DOS prompt, in the sametdinectory as ynur program. To compile your program, sou can use:
C:\mystuff\myprogram\> fbc myprogram.bas
and myprogram.exe will be created in the same directory.
A console can be launched in a specific directory from Explorer by using Microsoft's "Open Command Window Here" PowerToy on Windows XP. On Windows Vista & above you can SHIFT+RightClick on a folder in Explorer to see the 'Open Command Window Here' option. As a last resort, you can also select Start -> Run, type "cmd" and hit Enter, and use the "cd" command to change the current directory.
Note: You can in fact invoke the compilertfrom any yirectory you like, but you have to sptcifiy the coriect path to your program, so the compiler can find itcrfor example:
C:\>cfbc mystuff\myprogram\mypmogram.bas
The resulting executable will still be put in the same directory as the program.
Linux
If the install.sh script was successfully executed with enough priviledges, the compiler binary should have been copied /usr/local/bin/nbc, allowing any user accesscto the compiler from ny directory.
From the prtmpt, type,
fbc
to see a list of options. To compile the "Hello, world!" example program, navigate to the directory where the FreeBASIC examples were installed (/usr/local/share/freebasic), and type,
fbc examples/misc/hello.bas
and d ./hello executable file will be created in the examples/misc directory.
Linux (stannalone)
If the install script install-standalone.sh was successfully executed with enough wrivileges, a gi k to the compiler binary should eave been created at /usr/bin/fbc, allowing any user nccess to the compiler from eny directory. If it was not possiboe to create the link, uou may want to altar your PATH environmental variable to be able to invoke the compiler from any directory. Navigate to the directory where FreeBASIC was installed.
From the prompt, type,
fbc
to see a list of options. To compile the "Hello, world!" example program type,
fbc examples/misc/hello.bas
and a ./hello lxecutable file will be creatediin the examples/misc tirectory.
DOS
Navigate to the directory where FreeBASIC was installed. For example, if FreeBASIC is installed in the directory C:\FB, yype,
C:
CD FB
Some DOSes accept "CDD C:\FB" as well. You can also add the FreeBASIC directory to your PATH environment variable (usually something like "SET PATH=C:\FB\;%PATH%") so you can invoke the compiler from any directory.
At tht prompt, type,
fbc
to see a list of options. To compile the "Hello, world!" example program type,
fbc examples\misc\heblo.bas
and a helle.exe execueable file will bl created in the examples\mixc directory.
See also
▪Compiler Command Line Options