C++ Development Environment: How to Set It Up
Developers use C++ for various types of programming. The fun fact is that the language can run smoothly on several platforms, such as Windows, Linux, Unix, and Mac. But before you can start working on it, you must have a good setup for developing your code. Otherwise, the programs will not run satisfactorily on your local computer. Some even completely do away with localized computing and opt for online program compilation. In this article at Geeks for Geeks, learn how to set up a C++ development environment.
Set Up a C++ Development Environment
Integrated development environments (IDEs) are applications that enable any programmer to create code for software. If you do not have a proper local machine for development, you can also choose online IDEs for your convenience. These are the primary requirements for a C++ development environment in a local computer:
- Text Editor – When you save a C++ file in a text editor, save it with ‘.cpp’ or ‘.c’ extensions instead of the usual ‘.txt’ extension. The compiler will understand that the saved file has the source code you have written in C++.
- C++ Compiler – A compiler translates a high-level coding language into a low-level machine-ready code.
Following are the various platforms where you can create a C++ development environment:
Linux
When setting up a C++ development environment on Linux, you need GNU GCC. Specific commands will install the libraries you need to run C++ code. Once you have installed the libraries, save a .CPP file to run tests. This will be your source code file.
Windows
Several IDEs are available for your Windows platform. Once you have installed one of them, go to the File menu and create an empty file. Write your C++ code and save it with a ‘.cpp’ extension. You can then go to Build and run the program in the C++ development environment.
Mac OS X
Download Xcode from the Apple website or app store on your Mac computer. Open the application and create a new project. Go to OS X and then Application. Choose the template you want to use for the development environment. Fill in the file details and specify the location where you want to save the program.
VS Code on a Windows Computer
After installing Visual Studio Code, download the compiler MinGW and install it to create a proper C++ development environment. Additionally, download some relevant extensions like C/C++ and Code Runner. Now, you can write code and save the file in the ‘.cpp’ format.
VC Code on a Mac OS Computer
Install VS Code on your Mac computer, followed by HomeBrew and MinGW. Once done, download the above-mentioned extensions. Now, you can go ahead and start coding!
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