How to Check GCC Version on a Linux Server ?

There are several reasons why you might need to check the GCC version installed on your Linux system:

1. Compatibility: Some software packages, libraries, or frameworks require a specific version of GCC to compile or run correctly. By checking the GCC version, you can ensure that your system meets the requirements for building or running the desired software.
2. Troubleshooting: When facing issues while compiling or building software, checking the GCC version can help you identify whether the problem is related to the compiler version. In some cases, upgrading or downgrading the GCC version might resolve the issue.
3. Performance improvements: Newer versions of GCC often include optimizations, bug fixes, and performance enhancements. By checking your current GCC version, you can determine if it’s worth upgrading to a more recent version to benefit from these improvements.
4. Security: Staying up-to-date with the latest GCC version is essential for maintaining the security of your system. Newer versions may contain security patches and fixes for known vulnerabilities. Checking the GCC version helps ensure you are using a secure version of the compiler.
5. Language features: GCC supports multiple programming languages such as C, C++, Objective-C, Fortran, Ada, D, and others. Newer GCC versions often introduce support for new language features and standards. By checking the GCC version, you can verify if your compiler supports specific language features or standards required for your project.
6. Collaboration: When working in a team, it’s essential to have a consistent development environment across all team members. Checking the GCC version ensures that all team members are using the same compiler version, which helps avoid issues related to different compiler behaviors or features.

By checking the GCC version on your Linux system, you can make informed decisions about upgrading, maintaining compatibility, and ensuring the stability and security of your development environment.

To check the version of the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) installed on your Linux server, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Open a Terminal Window

Open a terminal window on your Linux server or connect to it using an SSH client.

Step 2: Check the GCC Version

In the terminal window, enter the following command to check the GCC version:

gcc --version

This command will display the GCC version installed on your server, along with some additional information. The output should look similar to this:

gcc (GCC) 4.4.6 20110731 (Red Hat 4.4.6-3)
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.

In this example, the installed GCC version is 4.4.6.

Need extra details?

[root@centos62 ~]# gcc -v

Using built-in specs.
Target: i686-redhat-linux
Configured with: ../configure --prefix=/usr --mandir=/usr/share/man --infodir=/usr/share/info --with-bugurl=http://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla --enable-bootstrap --enable-shared --enable-threads=posix --enable-checking=release --with-system-zlib --enable-__cxa_atexit --disable-libunwind-exceptions --enable-gnu-unique-object --enable-languages=c,c++,objc,obj-c++,java,fortran,ada --enable-java-awt=gtk --disable-dssi --with-java-home=/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.5.0-gcj-1.5.0.0/jre --enable-libgcj-multifile --enable-java-maintainer-mode --with-ecj-jar=/usr/share/java/eclipse-ecj.jar --disable-libjava-multilib --with-ppl --with-cloog --with-tune=generic --with-arch=i686 --build=i686-redhat-linux
Thread model: posix
gcc version 4.4.6 20110731 (Red Hat 4.4.6-3) (GCC)

To find what gcc package was installed, simply run the following command:

[root@centos62 ~]# rpm -qa | grep gcc

libgcc-4.4.6-3.el6.i686
gcc-4.4.6-3.el6.i686

Conclusion

You have successfully checked the GCC version on your Linux server. It’s essential to keep your GCC version up to date, as newer versions often include performance improvements, bug fixes, and new features. If you need to upgrade your GCC version, consult your distribution documentation for specific instructions.

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