How to write a running C code without main()?
Write a C language code that prints w3wiki without any main function. Logically it’s seems impossible to write a C program without using a main() function. Since every program must have a main() function because:-
- It’s an entry point of every C/C++ program.
- All Predefined and User-defined Functions are called directly or indirectly through the main.
Therefore we will use preprocessor(a program which processes the source code before compilation) directive #define with arguments to give an impression that the program runs without main. But in reality it runs with a hidden main function. Let’s see how the preprocessor doing their job:-
Hence it can be solved in following ways:-
- Using a macro that defines main
C
#include<stdio.h> #define fun main int fun( void ) { printf ( "w3wiki" ); return 0; } |
Output: w3wiki
2. Using Token-Pasting Operator The above solution has word ‘main’ in it. If we are not allowed to even write main, we can use token-pasting operator (see this for details)
C
#include<stdio.h> #define fun m##a##i##n int fun() { printf ( "w3wiki" ); return 0; } |
Output: w3wiki
3. Using Argumented Macro
C
#include<stdio.h> #define begin(m,a,i,n) m##a##i##n #define start begin(m,a,i,n) void start() { printf ( "w3wiki" ); } |
Output: w3wiki
4. Modify the entry point during compilation
C
#include<stdio.h> #include<stdlib.h> // entry point function int nomain(); void _start(){ // calling entry point nomain(); exit (0); } int nomain() { puts ( "w3wiki" ); return 0; } |
Output: w3wiki
Compilation using command : gcc filename.c -nostartfiles (nostartfiles option tells the compiler to avoid standard linking) Explanation: Under normal compilation the body of _start() will contain a function call to main() [ this _start() will be appended to every code during normal compilation], so if that main() definition is not present it will result in error like “In function `_start’: (.text+0x20): undefined reference to `main’. In the above code what we have done is that we have defined our own _start() and defined our own entry point i.e nomain()
Refer Executing main() in C – behind the scene for another solution. References: Macros and Preprocessors in C
Time Complexity: O(1)
Auxiliary Space: O(1)
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