C++ Environment Setup (Full Explanation)
Local Environment Setup
If you're eager to configure your environment for C++, you'll need to have two essential software programs installed on your computer.
Text Editor
This tool will be utilized for writing your program. Some examples of text editors include Windows Notepad, OS Edit command, Brief, Epsilon, EMACS, and vim or vi.
The name and version of the text editor may differ across various operating systems. For instance, Notepad is typically used on Windows, while vim or vi can be employed on both Windows and Linux or UNIX.
The files you generate with your editor are referred to as source files, and in C++, they usually carry the extensions .cpp, .cp, or .c.
Having a text editor is essential to kickstart your C++ programming journey.
C++ Compiler
This is the actual C++ compiler that will transform your source code into a final executable program.
Most C++ compilers are indifferent to the extension you assign to your source code; however, if you don't specify otherwise, many will default to using .cpp.
The most commonly used and freely available compiler is the GNU C/C++ compiler. Alternatively, you can opt for compilers from HP or Solaris if you are using the respective Operating Systems.
Installing GNU C/C++ Compiler
UNIX/Linux Installation
If you're on Linux or UNIX, check if GCC is installed on your system by entering the following command in the command line −
$ g++ -v
If GCC is installed, it should display a message similar to the following −
Using built-in specs.
Target: i386-redhat-linux
Configured with: ../configure --prefix=/usr .......
Thread model: posix
gcc version 4.1.2 20080704 (Red Hat 4.1.2-46)
Mac OS X Installation
For Mac OS X users, the simplest way to get GCC is to download the Xcode development environment from Apple's website and adhere to the straightforward installation instructions.
Windows Installation
To set up GCC on Windows, you need to install MinGW. Begin by visiting the MinGW homepage at www.mingw.org, and follow the link to the MinGW download page. Download the most recent version of the MinGW installation program, which should be labeled MinGW-<version>.exe.
During the MinGW installation, you must at least install gcc-core, gcc-g++, binutils, and the MinGW runtime, although you might want to include additional components.
Make sure to add the bin subdirectory of your MinGW installation to your PATH environment variable. This will allow you to use these tools on the command line with their simple names.
Once the installation is finished, you will be able to execute gcc, g++, ar, ranlib, dlltool, and various other GNU tools directly from the Windows command line.
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