The GNU Compiler Collection or GCC contains frontends for C, C++, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, and Ada as well as libraries for these languages. It is a full-featured ANSI C compiler along with support for K&R C. GCC provides many levels of source code error checking, which is traditionally provided by other tools (such as lint), produces debugging information. It can also perform many different optimizations for resulting object code.

GCC is a provider of regular, high quality releases for working well on various native and cross targets (including GNU/Linux). GCC encourages cooperatin and communication among developers and it works more closely with consumers. Since it is open source software, the source code is available to everybody at any time and everybody can participate in enhancing the software quality.

GCC sources are freely available via CVS and weekly snapshots.
Major decisions about GCC are made by the GCC steering committee, guided by the mission statement.

GCC is currently working on its latest version, i.e. GCC 4.0.0, which has been released on 20th April 2005.

GCC supports all the features of a free software project like
· Supporting the goals of the GNU project, as defined by the FSF.
· Compilers are available under the terms of the GPL.
· Copyrights for the compilers are to be held by the FSF.

GCC were designed to integrate new languages, new optimizations and targets alomg with improving runtime libraries and faster debug cycles.