Error: Expected import directive or contract definition

Question

Terminal output me this error when I run:

solc --bin --asm c1.sol

pragma solidity ^0.4.11;

contract Cm {
    uint256 a;

    function Cm() {
        a = 1;
    }
}

solc --version --> 0.3.5-371690f0/Debug-Darwin/appleclang/Interpreter

I solved the problem removing the first line. Is no longer needed to define the solidity version?

Answer 1

Make sure to have the latest version of solc. Install documentation.

Here's how to install on macOS:

brew update
brew upgrade
brew tap ethereum/ethereum
brew install solidity
brew linkapps solidity

Run solc command to compile and save results to an output directory:

solc --bin --asm Example.sol -o build/

Generated files:

.
├── Example.sol
├── build
│   ├── Example.bin
│   └── Example.evm

Version tested with:

$ solc --version
solc, the solidity compiler commandline interface
Version: 0.4.18+commit.9cf6e910.Darwin.appleclang

---

Here are instruction for installing and using solcjs:

npm install -g solc@latest

Call the solcjs command with flags and smart contract filename:

solcjs --bin --abi Example.sol

It'll generate the corresponding files based on the flags you passed:

.
├── Example.sol
├── Example_sol_Example.abi
├── Example_sol_Example.bin

Version tested with:

$ solcjs --version
0.4.18+commit.9cf6e910.Emscripten.clang

---

Example solidity file used in all examples:

pragma solidity ^0.4.6;

contract Example {
  function add(uint a, uint b) returns (uint) {
    return a + b;
  }
}