gcc and the eclipse CDT on the eee

Eclipse is not just for Java-centric development. The C/C++ Development Tools (CDT) provides solid support for developing applications written in C or C++ as well. I set about to test this on my eee PC where I already had eclipse set-up for Java development with GWT.

First, I needed to install gcc on the eee.

I did this in the following three steps:
1. I edited /etc/apt/sources.list and added the following line:
deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ stable main contrib non-free

2. As super-user (sudo su) I ran apt-get update from the command line. This will update the packages lists.

3. Then I did an apt-get install build-essential
Press Y when asked if its okay to install.

Once I tested an a.out "Hello, World!" app generated from a test.c file from gcc from the command line I grabbed CDT 3.1.2 (2/15/07) instead of the newer CDT 4.0.2 (11/30/07) from the Eclipse CDT Download page.

Unpacking org.eclipse.cdt-3.1.2-linux.x86.tar.gz yielded a 13MB folder with an easy to run install.sh which installed the plug-in.

I fired up eclipse and set about to write a Managed Make C Project "Hello, World" app:


And then I tried a "Managed Make C++ Project" CPP "Hello, World C++" app:


I had Adobe Acrobat, a terminal window, the File Manager, Firefox, and eclipse all up and running while surfing the web via Wi-Fi (several open tabs) and compiling a small array manipulation C++ program.

The performance and versatility of the eee continues to surprise me.