doubt about ./a.out

[sridhard2406]

Hi All,
When user complile the c file defaulty it creates a.out bin file. Why user needs to run a exe with ./a.out.

please find my obervation below.

It will temperary assign the absolute path name to PATH variable and execute the binary file.

Please let me know, my observation is correct.

[johny10151981]

Wrong forum I guess. Try linux or unix forum

[RedSon]

This is probably a gcc question. I'm not sure what sirdhard is asking about but it might behoove him/her to read a bit more about GCC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Compiler_Collection

[johny10151981]

Hello RedSon,
Sorry, I just cant agree with you. This is quite a question, related with linux.

In general case when we try to run a command say
#ping 127.0.0.1

what actually happen?
Linux system find out the path of ping command(more over the executable of ping program) from 2 place
1. /bin
2. /usr/bin/
3. /home/individualuser/bin (not every linux support it)

but think this, say you have created an executable in /home/johny/my_prog/ name a.out

now you are trying to run it.... what you did is
#cd /home/johny/my_prog
#a.out

This wont work at all. cause kernel will look for the program in
/bin/
/usr/bin/
/home/individualuser/bin (not every linux support it)


Not in current directory
so program wont get execute and make an error.
But if you want to run a executable from anywhere in you system do either 2 of these
1. run by entire path. i.e.
/home/johny/my_prog/a.out
2. or change current directory to /home/johny/my_prog/ and then
#./a.out

Regards,
johny

[RedSon]

Yes what you say is correct.

I interpreted the OPs original question to be about trying to run the object file as an executable. Not a path issue.

If they are trying to run a.out (if it is a file that can be "executed") then they will need to make sure it is on the path or call it directly.

Keep in mind that . and sometimes .. are on the path so you can go to your build output directory and type ./a.out like johny says.

[sridhard2406]

Thanks for all your reply.