What Is build-essential and How to Install It on Ubuntu

Ben
Ben
@benjislab

For developers working on Ubuntu, having the right tools and libraries is crucial for compiling and building software from source. The build-essential package is a meta-package that provides a comprehensive set of tools necessary for compiling software. This guide will explain what build-essential is and how to install it on Ubuntu.

What Is build-essential?

build-essential is a package in Ubuntu that includes a list of packages considered essential for building software. This meta-package ensures that you have the necessary tools and libraries to compile and build software from source code.

Components of build-essential

The build-essential package includes the following components:

  • gcc: The GNU C Compiler
  • g++: The GNU C++ Compiler
  • make: A utility to manage the build process
  • libc6-dev: Development libraries for the GNU C Library
  • dpkg-dev: Tools to unpack, build, and upload Debian source packages

By installing build-essential, you also get several other dependencies required for compiling software.

Why Install build-essential?

Installing build-essential is necessary when you need to compile software from source, develop software, or work on projects that require building code. It ensures that your system has all the fundamental tools and libraries required for software development.

How to Install build-essential on Ubuntu

Installing build-essential on Ubuntu is straightforward and can be done using the apt package manager. Follow these steps to install it:

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing any new package, it's a good practice to update your package lists to ensure you get the latest versions.

  1. Open a terminal on your Ubuntu system.
  2. Run the following command to update your package lists:
sudo apt update

Step 2: Install build-essential

  1. Install the build-essential package by running the following command:
sudo apt install build-essential -y
  1. The -y flag automatically confirms the installation of the package and its dependencies.

Step 3: Verify the Installation

  1. After the installation is complete, you can verify that build-essential and its components are installed correctly by checking the versions of gcc and g++.
gcc --version
g++ --version
  1. You should see the installed versions of gcc and g++ printed in the terminal.

Using build-essential

With build-essential installed, you can now compile and build software from source code. Here's a simple example of compiling a C program:

  1. Create a Sample C Program:

Create a file named hello.c and open it in a text editor:

nano hello.c

Add the following code to the file:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
   printf("Hello, World!\n");
   return 0;
}
  1. Compile the Program:

Use gcc to compile the program:

gcc -o hello hello.c

This command compiles hello.c and creates an executable named hello.

  1. Run the Executable:

Run the compiled program:

./hello

You should see the output:

Hello, World!

Conclusion

The build-essential package on Ubuntu is a fundamental set of tools for anyone involved in software development or compiling software from source. By installing build-essential, you ensure that your system is equipped with all the necessary tools and libraries for building software. Follow these steps to install and start using build-essential on your Ubuntu system, and you'll be ready to tackle any development project that comes your way.