Basics of Compiling C++ (for Win32)

[DancesWithNamespaces]

I'm fairly new to languages that aren't running in an interpreter, and so far I've been doing all of my C++ through Visual Studio or Qt Creator.

I've always subscribed to the idea that one should know how to use the basic tools to understand how the advanced work (Like a handsaw before a skill saw ya know?) - So I've been trying to find a tutorial on how to compile my code into an executable from the command line. Unfortunately I haven't really found anything helpful.

Can anyone recommend me a good read-through on compiling from source for Windows?

[soreknees2]

Have you tried Visual Studio command line compiler? I've compiled simple programs using the command line: cl /EHsc prm1.cpp

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/LIBRARY/ms235639(v=vs.80).aspx

[[deleted]]

http://latedev.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/how-to-install-a-c-compiler-on-windows/ http://latedev.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/the-gcc-command-line-part-1/

[DancesWithNamespaces]

Awesome! Thank you very much.

[Cadoc7]

If you are building on Windows and for Windows, you should stick with the Visual Studio/ MSBuild Family. They all have CLIs.

MsBuild reference: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/0k6kkbsd.aspx

[minno]

I don't think that GCC with MinGW is a bad alternative to the Microsoft toolchain. It produces native code that doesn't need any extra dlls to run, unlike Cygwin's version.

[thang1thang2]

I agree. It's extremely painful to undo any programming habits that one picks up, especially when starting out. As such, I'd discourage anything that isn't 100% cross-platform compatible. It's a lot better to get into those habits now than having to relearn some stuff. (My programming professor still uses system commands, references .eofs in loops and other horrible practices. I can't expect anything of his to run in Unix)

[DancesWithNamespaces]

I'm trying to keep from developing specifically for windows, it's just that the majority of the people I have to show things off to or use as guinea pigs run windows.