How to upgrade GCC version from 4.9.2 to 6.3.0?

This article will walk through the process of upgrading your system’s GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) from version 4.9.2 to 6.3.0. After completing the step, your environment will be ready to build applications that depend on GCC 6.3.0 or later that can run in NI Linux Real-Time target.

The best practice to be followed to upgrade GCC compiler from 4.9.2 to 6.3.0 is as follows:

1. Download one of the following compiler toolchains depends on your real-time hardware CPU architecture: 

1. 1. GNU C & C++ Compilers for x64 Linux (Windows host) 2017 or later
   2. GNU C & C++ Compilers for ARMv7 Linux (Windows host) 2017 or later

2. Refer Part 2: Configuring a Development System with Visual Studio Code and the NI Linux Real-Time C/C++ Compilers to know about the version of Toolchain that supports GCC version 6.3.0.

3. Download Version 2018-2019 from any of the chosen compiler toolchain from step 1.

1. If using an ARMv7 target, extract and copy the contents of the toolchain to C:\build\<toolchain version>\arm\. The resulting file structure should look as follows:

2. If using a x64 target, extract and copy the contents of the toolchain to C:\build\<toolchain version>\x64\. The resulting file structure should look similar to the following:

4. Press “Start+R” to open the Run window, then type in “sysdm.cpl” and click “OK”. 

5. This will launch the System Properties window as shown below, now navigate to “Advanced” and click on “Environmental Variables”.

6. Select “Path” under System Variables and click Edit.

7. Add the following paths highlighted in the image below by clicking new.

8. Now, run the command “gcc –version” in command prompt and ensure the GCC version points to 6.3.0 as shown in the below image.