GNU Compiler Collection (GCC)
The GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) is a highly optimized, free, and open-source compiler system produced by the GNU Project. It supports a vast array of programming languages, including C, C++, Objective-C, Fortran, Ada, Go, and D, and targets numerous processor architectures. GCC is a…
Key facts
- First appeared
- 1987
- Category
- technology
- Problem solved
- GCC was created to provide a high-quality, free, and portable compiler for the nascent GNU operating system. Before GCC, developers were largely reliant on expensive, proprietary compilers with restrictive licenses, making it impossible to create a truly free and openly distributable operating system or application without vendor lock-in. GCC aimed to break this dependency by offering a robust, optimising compiler under a free software license.
- Platforms
- OpenBSD, Solaris, Embedded systems (RTOS, bare-metal), FreeBSD, HP-UX, Windows (via MinGW, Cygwin, or WSL), Linux, macOS, AIX, NetBSD
Related technologies
Notable users
- Embedded systems developers
- Canonical (Ubuntu)
- Academic research institutions
- SUSE
- IBM
- Red Hat
- Intel
- Amazon (AWS)