I have been learning C++ in school to create small command-line programs.
However, I have only built my projects with IDEs, including VS08 and QtCreator.
I understand the process behind building a project: compile source to object code, then link them into an executable that is platform specific (.exe, .app, etc). I also know most projects also use make to streamline the process of compiling and linking multiple source and header files.
The thing is, although IDEs do all this under the hood, making life very easy, I don't really know what is really happening, and feel that I need to get accustomed to building projects the "old fashioned way": from the command line, using the tool chain explicitly.
I know what Makefiles are, but not how to write them.
I know what gcc does, but not how to use it.
I know what the linker does, but not how to use it.
What I am looking for, is either an explanation, or link to a tutorial that explains, the workflow for a C++ project, from first writing the code up to running the produced executable.
I would really like to know the what, how, and why of building C++.
(If it makes any difference, I am running Mac OS X, with gcc 4.0.1 and make 3.81)
Thanks!