# cl > The Microsoft C/C++ compiler for compiling and linking source code files. > More information: . - Compile a source file: `cl {{path\to\source.c}}` - Compile and create an executable with a custom name: `cl /Fe {{path\to\output_executable}} {{path\to\source.c}}` - Compile a source file with optimization enabled: `cl /O2 {{path\to\source.c}}` - Compile a source file and create a debug executable: `cl /Zi {{path\to\source.c}}` - Compile multiple source files: `cl {{path\to\source1.c path\to\source2.c ...}}` - Specify the output directory for compiled files: `cl /Fo {{path\to\output_directory}}/ {{path\to\source.c}}` - Compile with warnings as errors: `cl /WX {{path\to\source.c}}`