There are three primary approaches to setting up a Linux environment:

Provisioning a Cloud Instance

Using Tencent Cloud as an example (the process is similar for other providers):

1. Navigate to the official provider website (e.g., https://cloud.tencent.com/).
2. Select Lighthouse (Lightweight Application Server) or ECS.
3. Choose a cost-effective configuration. Huawei Cloud often offers lower prices, but the steps below apply to Tencent Cloud.
4. Configuration Settings:
   • Region: Select the location closest to you.
   • Image: Select CentOS 7.6.
5. Once purchased, access the console. Note the Public IP Address highlighted in the interface.
6. Security: Click Reset Password to set a strong root password. A complex password is crucial to prevent unauthorized access.

Essential Connection Details

Ensure you have the following three pieces of information ready:

Connecting via SSH Client

Download a terminal emulator like XShell (look for the Free for Home/School version).

1. Open XShell and click New to create a session.
2. Name: Enter any identifier (e.g., "MyCentOS").
3. Host: Enter the Public IP of your cloud server.
4. Click Connect. When prompted, enter the username (root) and the password.
5. Successful login will display a shell prompt (e.g., [root@hostname ~]#).

Writing a Simple C Program

With the environment ready, verify functionality by compiling a basic C script.

1. Create the source file Use touch to generate an empty file.

touch demo.c

2. Edit the file Open the file using the vi editor.

vi demo.c

• Press i to enter Insert Mode.
• Write your code:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    printf("Environment setup successful!\n");
    return 0;
}

• Press ESC to exit Insert Mode.
• Type :wq and hit Enter to write (save) and quit.

3. Inspect the file Use cat to display the contents of the file to verify.

cat demo.c

4. Compile the code Use gcc to compile. The -o flag specifies the name of the output executable (otherwise it defaults to a.out).

gcc demo.c -o output_bin

5. Execute the program Run the generated binary using the relative path.

./output_bin