gcci allows to run C files as scripts, omitting the compilation step (actually hiding it). Most importantly, modified file still remains a valid C code and can be compiled by normal means.

Self-executable C code is particularly useful when you make a library of small examples/snippets.

Example usage:

$ cat hello.c
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
  printf("Hello world!\n");
  return 0;
}

# Insert "shebang"
$ gcci -i hello.c

# Run!
$ ./hello.c
Hello world!

You can also execute without instrumentation:

$ gcci hello.c
Hello world!

If you get gcci: command not found error in last line, you need to add gcci to PATH or use absolute path instead:

$ gcci -i -a ...

To override default compilation flags (-Wall -DNDEBUG -O2) use --compiler-flags option during instrumentation stage:

$ gcci -i --compiler-flags='-O0 -w' ...

gcci is based on a hack from What's the appropriate Go shebang line?

TODO:

• add compilation cache (in $HOME/.gcci)