i'm not 100% sure but I think sudo apt-get install build-essential will work.
see http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=1879291&postcount=4 don't worry, ubuntu DOES allow you to compile a "hello world" in C with nothing more than installing few packages. -- Standard installation does not produce a working environment https://launchpad.net/bugs/79418 -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
