Debian Development Tools

Debian provides compilers, interpreters, debuggers, and version control for software development.

Install compiler, linker, make, and headers:

sudo apt install build-essential

This pulls in gcc, g++, make, libc6-dev, and related tools.

Compile C program:

gcc -o program program.c
gcc -Wall -O2 -o program program.c    # with warnings and optimization

Compile C++:

g++ -o program program.cpp

Link multiple files:

gcc -c file1.c -o file1.o
gcc -c file2.c -o file2.o
gcc -o program file1.o file2.o -lm      # -lm links math library

Use gdb (GNU Debugger):

sudo apt install gdb
gcc -g -o program program.c        # -g includes debug info
gdb program

Common gdb commands:

• run — start program
• break main — set breakpoint
• step — step into
• next — step over
• print variable — inspect variable
• continue — resume

Memory checking:

sudo apt install valgrind
valgrind ./program

Install Python:

sudo apt install python3 python3-pip

Install Node.js:

sudo apt install nodejs npm

Install Ruby:

sudo apt install ruby

Install Go:

sudo apt install golang-go

Language-specific package managers:

• Python: pip3 install package
• Node: npm install package
• Ruby: gem install package
• Go: go get package

Install Git:

sudo apt install git
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

Clone a repo:

git clone https://github.com/user/repo.git

Make is standard:

sudo apt install make
make              # runs default target
make install      # runs install target

CMake for cross-platform:

sudo apt install cmake

Find what package provides a library:

apt-file search libssl-dev
apt-cache search libssl

Install development headers (most common):

sudo apt install libfoo-dev
sudo apt install libssl-dev

Build dependencies for existing package:

sudo apt build-dep package-name

• vim or emacs — powerful text editors
• gedit — GNOME text editor
• VS Code: download from Microsoft
• JetBrains IDEs: download from JetBrains

Most developers use editor + CLI tools rather than full IDE on Debian servers.