RHEL / CentOS Linux Install Core Development Tools Automake, Gcc (C/C++), Perl, Python & Debuggers

How do I install all developer tools such as GNU GCC C/C++ compilers, make and others, after installing CentOS or RHEL or Fedora Linux from a shell prompt?

You need to install 'Development Tools' group on RHEL/CentOS/Fedora/Scientific/Red Hat Enterprise Linux. These tools include core development tools such as automake, gcc, perl, python, and debuggers which is required to compile software and build new rpms:

1. flex
2. gcc c/c++ compiler
3. redhat-rpm-config
4. strace
5. rpm-build
6. make
7. pkgconfig
8. gettext
9. automake
10. strace64
11. gdb
12. bison
13. libtool
14. autoconf
15. gcc-c++ compiler
16. binutils and all dependencies.

Installation

Open the terminal or login over ssh session and type the following command as root user:
# yum groupinstall 'Development Tools'
Sample outputs:

Loading "fastestmirror" plugin
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: mirror.steadfast.net
 * updates: dist1.800hosting.com
 * addons: centos.mirrors.tds.net
 * extras: dist1.800hosting.com
Setting up Group Process
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: mirror.steadfast.net
 * updates: dist1.800hosting.com
 * addons: centos.mirrors.tds.net
 * extras: dist1.800hosting.com
Package make - 1:3.81-3.el5.i386 already installed and latest version
Package gettext - 0.14.6-4.el5.i386 already installed and latest version
Package binutils - 2.17.50.0.6-6.el5.i386 already installed and latest version
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package automake.noarch 0:1.9.6-2.1 set to be updated
---> Package frysk.i686 0:0.0.1.2008.03.19.rh1-1.el5 set to be updated
--> Processing Dependency: libgcj.so.7rh for package: frysk
--> Processing Dependency: glib-java >= 0.2.6 for package: frysk
---> Package autoconf.noarch 0:2.59-12 set to be updated
--> Processing Dependency: imake for package: autoconf
---> Package rcs.i386 0:5.7-30.1 set to be updated
---> Package strace.i386 0:4.5.16-1.el5.1 set to be updated
---> Package redhat-rpm-config.noarch 0:8.0.45-24.el5 set to be updated
---> Package elfutils.i386 0:0.125-3.el5 set to be updated
--> Processing Dependency: libdw.so.1 for package: elfutils
...........
....
..
Transaction Summary
=============================================================================
Install    105 Package(s)
Update       0 Package(s)
Remove       0 Package(s)
Total download size: 127 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
(1/105): python-numeric-2 100% |=========================| 751 kB    00:12
(2/105): xorg-x11-fonts-b 100% |=========================| 3.7 MB    01:03
(3/105): pfmon-3.2-0.0609 100% |=========================| 656 kB    00:10
(4/105): automake14-1.4p6 100% |=========================| 205 kB    00:03
(5/105): libtool-1.5.22-6 100% |=========================| 680 kB    00:11
(6/105): systemtap-0.6.2- 100% |=========================| 1.3 MB    00:22

Now you can compile and use any application on your system.

Verification

To display Gnu gcc/c/c++ compiler version type:
$ gcc --version
Sample outputs:

gcc (GCC) 4.4.7 20120313 (Red Hat 4.4.7-4)
Copyright (C) 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

A sample c program

Create a text file called hello.c as follows using a text editor such as vi/vim:

/* hello.c - A sample C program for CentOS/RHEL */
#include <stdio.h>
int main(void)
{
 printf("Hello, world!\n");
 return 0;
}

To compile type:
$ make hello
To execute program type:
$ ./hello