Tutorial: Installing and Using ’nvcc’ Command on Arch Linux

Introduction

In the world of Linux, especially for those involved in GPU programming, the nvcc command is a crucial tool. nvcc stands for NVIDIA CUDA Compiler and is used to compile CUDA C/C++ code into executable binaries. CUDA is a parallel computing platform and application programming interface model created by NVIDIA. By utilizing nvcc, developers can harness the power of NVIDIA GPUs for high-performance computing tasks.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Install CUDA Toolkit

Before using nvcc, you need to have the CUDA Toolkit installed on your Arch Linux system. You can install it from the Arch User Repository (AUR) using an AUR helper like yay:

yay -S cuda

2. Verify Installation

After the installation is complete, you can verify that CUDA is installed correctly by checking the version of nvcc:

nvcc --version

3. Compile CUDA Code

Now that CUDA is installed, you can use nvcc to compile your CUDA code. For example, to compile a CUDA C++ file named example.cu, you can use the following command:

nvcc -o example example.cu

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you have learned how to install the nvcc command on Arch Linux and compile CUDA code using this powerful tool. By following these steps, you can leverage the capabilities of NVIDIA GPUs for your parallel computing tasks effectively.

Open-source software, like the CUDA Toolkit and nvcc, plays a vital role in the technology industry. It promotes collaboration, transparency, and innovation, ensuring that tools and technologies are accessible to a broader audience. By supporting open-source projects, we contribute to the growth and development of the software community as a whole.