# 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}}`