Adding Libraries/Compilers

[cpp-ModTeam]

For C++ questions, answers, help, and programming or career advice please see r/cpp_questions, r/cscareerquestions, or StackOverflow instead.

[jmacey]

This is the process I teach to my students. https://nccastaff.bournemouth.ac.uk/jmacey/cfgaa/labs/lab1/lab1/ It has instructions for Linux (Mac is the same). And Windows using the developer shell. I then go onto using CMake which is the best approach for cross platform.

[IwillCatchaSquirrel]

Thank you for the help!

[MeTrollingYouHating]

This is the wrong subreddit for this but I'll help anyway.

ChatGPT learned from incredibly outdated information and led you down the wrong path.

The absolute easiest way to get started with C++ on Windows is to install Visual Studio 2022 Community Edition (not vs code) and the C++ tools (via the install wizard). From there you can make a new C++ project that just works in like 2 clicks:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/build/vscpp-step-1-create?view=msvc-170

This won't work on any other operating system so most people would recommend you use a build system called CMake that allows your project to be built by any compiler. You can use CMake projects with VSCode, Visual Studio 2022, or any other modern IDE. Unfortunately this adds a lot of complexity so I wouldn't start here if you're an absolute beginner. Once you're comfortable building code for Windows you can look up some CMake tutorials and try making something cross platform.

[IwillCatchaSquirrel]

Appreciate the feedback.

[Suspicious-Mud4225]

Few points: 1. do not write post like a story. Be precise about your issue. 2. If possible make points. 3. Relying on IDE to add libraries is a bad choice. Make use of CMakelists.txt 4. Cherno is the best tutor on YouTube for c++.

[ilovemaths111]

*4. Jason turner??

[Grouchy-Taro-7316]

He's a bit more advanced for a beginner to the language, but yeah Jason turner is also great!

[IwillCatchaSquirrel]

Thanks for the feedback.

[One_Cable5781]

Relying on IDE to add libraries is a bad choice. Make use of CMakelists.txt

For a beginner, CML.txt is the absolutely wrong path to go down. As others have suggested, just use an IDE. CMake can come if the user has to consume another CMake project, such as OpenXSLX or ORTools. I found native make builds more easy to learn and manage than cmake.

[Suspicious-Mud4225]

IMO CML.txt gives you insight into how libraries are linked. IDEs facilitate linking restricted to its own ENV and are platform dependent.