C vs. C++ aside, there's a real problem here. The symbols __libc_init_first and _environ ought to be defined in libc.so; I'd guess that gcc isn't telling the linker to pull in libc. What do you get if you do this: gcc -v -o hello hello.c [Note I'm not actually on the mailing list, please cc: me on replies.] zw -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-request@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmaster@lists.debian.org