# C89cc.sh

8 Hacker News commenters recommended C89cc.sh and 2 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 1 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Compiles C using only a POSIX shell, useful for bootstrapping a system and as a novelty. Common caveat: it doesn't quite compile yet.

## Why people recommend it

- Useful for bootstrapping software stacks (2 comments): "there's potential for practical use as a step in bootstrapping an entire software stack" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47626890)) "I love this as a novelty, and it could be useful for bootstrapping a system" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47629732))

## What people warn about

- Doesn't quite compile yet (1 comments): "I tried it and unfortunately it doesn't quite compile yet" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47627903))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Fil-C](https://hackerapproved.com/p/fil-c.md): 160 recommend
- [Claude's C Compiler](https://hackerapproved.com/p/claude-s-c-compiler.md): 39 recommend
- [Visual C++](https://hackerapproved.com/p/visual-c-plus-plus.md): 29 recommend
- [Tiny C Compiler (TCC)](https://hackerapproved.com/p/tcc.md): 22 recommend
- [Microsoft Visual C++ compiler (MSVC)](https://hackerapproved.com/p/msvc.md): 20 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "C89cc.sh", https://hackerapproved.com/p/c89cc-sh/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).