/* Well, I ditched C++ and decided to do the much simpler C instead.
Problem is, the C beginners program shown here:*/
#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
printf("Goodbye, cruel world!\n");
return(0);
}
/* just flashes by and doesn't show the actual text.
Could someone help me?
PS, don't I just love little jokes?*/

: /* Well, I ditched C++ and decided to do the much simpler C instead.
: Problem is, the C beginners program shown here:*/
: #include <stdio.h>
:
: int main()
: {
: printf("Goodbye, cruel world!\n");
: return(0);
: }
: /* just flashes by and doesn't show the actual text.
: Could someone help me?
: PS, don't I just love little jokes?*/
:
What compiler?

: : /* Well, I ditched C++ and decided to do the much simpler C instead.
: : Problem is, the C beginners program shown here:*/
: : #include <stdio.h>
: :
: : int main()
: : {
: : printf("Goodbye, cruel world!\n");
: : return(0);
: : }
: : /* just flashes by and doesn't show the actual text.
: : Could someone help me?
: : PS, don't I just love little jokes?*/
: :
: What compiler?
:
MinGW from Dev-C++

:

: : : #include <stdio.h>
: : : #include <conio.h>
: : : 
: : : int main()
: : : {
: : :     printf("Goodbye, cruel world!\n");

: : :     getch(); // waits for pressing a key
: : :     return(0);
: : : }

Try the lines in RED.

As soon as your program will evolve beyond just printing text - you will not be needing these lines. Make your program a sa dialog between user and your code and when user says 'exit' you simply return from main() and that's it.