Tracing C program execution mechanics in Linux involves breaking down compilation stages: Preprocessing (cpp), Compilation (cc1), Assembly (as), and Linking (ld).

GCC Stage Commands

Terminal Compilation Commandsbash
# 1. Preprocess macros and header includes
gcc -E main.c -o main.i
 
# 2. Compile preprocessed C code into assembly instructions
gcc -S main.i -o main.s
 
# 3. Assemble assembly file into relocatable machine code object
gcc -c main.s -o main.o
 
# 4. Link object files into final executable binary
gcc main.o -o main