Compilers and linkers are generally poorly documented and user hostile.
Maybe it's just me, but I usually start with a working example from the vendor and work from there.
Maybe just try to implement a simple function which is alread writen?
Getting any new system to actually work usually takes a week and endless calls to the 'not-much-help desk'
I sympathise...but that's all I've got.
Del

What are you running as your compiler? and what are the command line switches your using?

I'm guessing your running OSX? Mac X11? sounds like Linux or Xorg?

then I'd guess your running a GCC compiler?

have you read the man page for that compiler? and have read some of the make files for ideas on how others have compiled exec files from source?

Or are you compiling them and just cannot exec from the commandline? have you tried something like

chmod +x <program name>

or exec the file under a bash/sh shell as sh <program name> ??