Can the Arduino IDE be used to develop plain old C programs?

Question

I have a simple Arduino sketch that spans several files. There is a function signature in an h file, and the definition in the C file.

If I attempt to compile ("Verify") the sketch, I get "undefined reference" errors to the function defined in a C file. Changing the file name from *.c to *.cpp resolves the issue, but I don't want to define the file as a C++ file. Is it possible to compile plain old C files in Arduino?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

The Arduino IDE is very limited, my advice: avoid it. You have some alternatives you can find here: http://arduino.cc/playground/Main/DevelopmentTools

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• Develop for Arduino using Minibloq graphical programming environment.
• Arduino CMake build system
• Ino command line toolkit for Arduino
• Develop for Arduino using AVR-Ada
• Develop for Arduino using Eclipse
• Develop for Arduino using Bitlash
• Run Arduino from the command line
• Build using Cmake
• Build using Scons
• Build using build_arduino.py
• Getting a Chumby talking to Arduino
• Running Arduino on the XO laptop (AKA the $100 laptop)
• Arduino in Sharp Netwalker
• Arduino on OpenSolaris
• Using Arduino Libraries in CodeBlocks
• Develop for Arduino using Kdevelop
• Using assembly language source files in the Arduino IDE: Assembly in Arduino