c89-gcc
Compile C code using GCC (C89 standard)
SYNOPSIS
c89-gcc [options] file...
c89-gcc options -o outfile infile
PARAMETERS
-o file
Specify output executable or object file
-c
Compile only, produce object file (.o)
-g
Generate debugging information
-Olevel
Optimization level (0-3, default 0)
-Wall
Enable all common warnings
-pedantic
Issue warnings for standard violations
-std=c89
Explicitly set C89 mode (default)
-Dname[=value]
Define preprocessor macro
-Idir
Add include directory
-llib
Link with library lib
-Ldir
Add library search directory
-E
Preprocess only, output to stdout
-S
Compile to assembly code (.s)
-v
Verbose output, show commands
-shared
Create shared object file
DESCRIPTION
The c89-gcc command is a convenience wrapper script around the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) that enforces compilation of C source code strictly according to the C89 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:1990, also known as ANSI C). It automatically invokes gcc with the -std=c89 flag, disabling C99 and later features like inline functions, long long types, // comments, and flexible array members. This ensures high portability for legacy systems and POSIX-compliant applications.
Common use cases include maintaining old codebases, cross-compilation for embedded systems, or verifying standard conformance with -pedantic. It supports all standard GCC options for optimization (-O levels), debugging (-g), warnings (-Wall), and linking libraries (-l). Output defaults to a.out or specified -o file. Preprocessor directives and macros are handled via -D and -I. Ideal for developers targeting minimal environments without modern C extensions.
CAVEATS
GCC's C89 mode includes GNU extensions unless -pedantic-errors is used; not identical to original ANSI compilers. Availability depends on distro toolchain packages.
EXAMPLE
c89-gcc -Wall -o hello hello.c
Compiles hello.c to hello executable with warnings.
c89-gcc -c -pedantic module.c
Produces strict C89 object file.
STANDARDS COMPLIANCE
Emulates ANSI X3.159-1989; use -ansi synonym for -std=c89. Test with tigcc or conformance suites.
HISTORY
Developed as part of GCC toolchain wrappers for POSIX compliance around 2000s. Mirrors POSIX c99 utility but for C89. Evolved with GCC versions; modern GCC (4+ ) provides reliable -std=c89 support.
