An easy, automated, and sustainable programming environment builder using C

Setting up a programming environment can be a complex and time-consuming task, particularly for beginners with limited experience in software installation and system configuration. Installing compilers, configuring code editors, managing dependencies, and setting environment variables can create unnecessary barriers to learning and practising programming.

Noob’s Pill: An Easy, Automated, and Sustainable Programming Environment Builder Using C addresses this challenge through a command-line application designed to automate essential programming environment setup tasks. Developed in C, the application checks system information and existing development tools, facilitates the installation of Visual Studio Code, Code::Blocks, and C/C++ compilers, and automates relevant configuration steps. The project materials describe support for Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Debian, and Linux Mint, as well as Windows.

The core contribution of Noob’s Pill is consolidating multiple programming environment setup tasks into a single automated workflow. Rather than requiring beginners to manually handle each installation and configuration step, the application brings together system checking, development tool installation, and environment configuration within one command-line utility. This integration aims to reduce setup complexity and help beginners prepare their systems for programming more conveniently. The project report, presentation slides, and proposal document its motivation, objectives, requirements, implementation, and functionalities. The source code is available on GitHub for inspection and further development.