The current compiler is the Clang compiler, which combines a new unified parser for C, Objective C, C++, and Objective C++ with the LLVM code generator and optimizer. In the first part of the transition Apple used a compiler called llvm-gcc-4.2 that combined the front end from gcc 4.2 with the LLVM code generator and optimizer. LLVM is not a single compiler it is a set of modules that can be used to build compilers, debuggers, and related tools. However, in the past several years they have transitioned to using compilers from the open-source LLVM (Low Level Virtual Machine) project. TL DR Use a text editor and separate compiler and you're good, use Xcode and you'll be an inferior programmer, use Eclipse and have your soul suffer in the bowels of hell for millennia to come.Historically, Apple has used the open-source GNU compiler, gcc, for building iOS and OS X programs. If you don't like Xcode but still want an IDE, you can get Eclipse with the C syntax highlighting and compilation plugin, then shoot yourself in both feet, both hands, your head, and then have Oracle install the Ask! toolbar on your gravestone. If you don't like not having autocomplete, you can use Xcode, and shoot yourself in the foot if you plan on having a career as a programmer. All have syntax highlighting for many languages, and are extremely versatile: Sublime is extensible, allowing for a vi/vim-style command input and regex parsing, and emacs can pipe output directly to a compiler (in your case, GCC or LLVM) at the push of the meta key (and then c, and then typing 'compile', which is still a lot faster than using a GUI, IMO).Įmacs is also extensible via Emacs Lisp (elisp), to the point where it's not untrue when people say that emacs 'is a fine operating system.'Ī compiler – one or both of GCC or LLVM – is usually already built into Mac OS, and GCC can be invoked using the gcc terminal command (never used LLVM from the command line, no idea what the command is) use the path to your uncompiled program (i.e. My personal favourites are Sublime Text 3 when I can use a GUI, and emacs in non-windowed mode when I have to use the command line, although you should try the other major editors – BBedit, TextWrangler with GUIs, and vim and nano in the command line. One thing that's been told to me time and time again – and that I've come to agree with – is that IDEs like Xcode weaken you as a programmer by doing way too much of the work for you.

C programming in macbook