I am just learning about Cygwin, and it appears to make possible to write C code against the UNIX API, and then have it run on Windows, provided you build it in the Cygwin environment.
I have gotten accustomed to the Visual Studio IDE and debugging tools, so wanted to ask: is it somehow possible to write and build C in Windows, and then debug it with Visual Studio, with the help of Cygwin?
No, because the VS debugging tools (for the most part) depend heavily on it being compiled using the MS C compiler, rather than GCC.
So if you manage to bootload it in, you won't get any of the more useful debugging features VS offers.
The closest alternative to Visual Studio that supports GCC is Eclipse.
Visual Studio isn't an option for your case because the VS collection of tools are designed to work with code compiled using the VS C compiler and not GCC. In lieu of Visual Studio, I suggest Codelite. It's designed specifically as a cross-platform IDE that will be familiar to developers that have migrated from Visual Studio. It will of course handle GCC or Clang.
In comparison to CodeBlocks (another potential IDE you can use), Codelite has a large number of features that are slightly improved, but it does have a few that are worth mentioning individually.
Clang driven code-completion and code tagging. This is separate from the compiler, so even when compiling with GCC the IDE can provide you with Clang-based features. As a word of caution, Clang supported features are not yet entirely implemented. For instance, Clang code suggestions aren't present, and code-completion doesn't yet work for Objective-C.
Partial support for Objective-C out of the box. CodeBlocks needs to be properly setup to correctly handle Objective-C projects, while Codelite can handle them without any modifications. I say partial support for Objective-C because of the aforementioned missing code-completion for Objective-C methods and classes.
Much higher quality build error output window; catalogues all build errors and warnings by message, file and project. The only thing I can directly compare it to is the build error output window in Xcode.
My suggestion is to try both IDEs and decide on which will better suit your needs.
It is actually possible to debug UNIX apps with Visual Studio. See Utilities and SDK for Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications.
I just finished a semester up of C programming for a class I'm in, and it has left me with some questions that I was hoping to get answered.
During my class we have been using GCC to compile C programs. This is all good and well, but I have a question about compiling.
What if I wanted to build a C program on Windows? There is no GCC. Is that what Microsoft Visual Studio is for?
Also, what if I wanted to compile a program and distribute it? What would I compile to distribute to other Window's users?
In summary, I know how to write C programs, but I just don't get how you would make a program to give to someone who doesn't have a C compiler and is basically computer dumb.
Thanks in advance,
Ryan
Generally you will need to do two things:
Compile your program into a stand-alone executable or binary.
a. On Windows this would be a win32 executable.
b. On Linux this would be an elf binary.
Create an installer package for your program.
a. On Windows you might use NSIS, Microsoft MSI, or InstallShield.
b. On Linux you would do well to use a packager for the distribution you want to target.
Anecodtally, it is very easy to utilize Eclipse CDT and NSIS to develop C and C++ software on Windows without needing to pay any license fees.
Eclipse CDT: http://eclipse.org/cdt/
Starter Guide: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/tips/CPP_Dev_eclipse_CDT.aspx
NSIS: http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Main_Page
Note that if you use Visual Studio then you will also need to compile in release mode and distribute the Visual Studio CRT or .NET runtime(s). It depends upon how you link to the standard library provided by your compiler.
you can get GCC for windows....
but, Visual Studio is probably a better choice.
Once you have built it, you can use something like Wix or InnoSetup to make an install program for it.
I want to create a small C program and I would like to use the Windows command prompt to compile and run it. Can anyone suggest to me how to install a C compiler that works with the command prompt and the way to use it? How do I install the compiler, compile the code and run the program?
Download Visual Studio Express 2010 C++. From the File menu, choose New, then Project. Under Project Types, expand the tree view to Visual C++ -> General, then choose the template for Empty Project. Give it a name and a location. Click OK. Type in some C code, then Build and Run it.
It's a fairly simple tool to use, so I'd recommend you just go ahead and try it out.
There's several compilers available for Windows. Two popular ones are Microsoft Visual C++ and MinGW.
Using Visual C++, you can compile a program like so:
cl /Femyprog.exe myprog.c
Using MinGW, you can compile a program like so:
gcc -o myprog.exe myprog.c
Most programmers don't use command prompts to compile very much any longer. We use IDE's instead, because they're a hell-of-a-lot more convenient. Having said that there's no reason why you can't use the command prompt to "manually" execute the compiler which underlies, say, Microsoft Visual Studio.
So... If I where you I'd start by downloading Visual Studio 2010 C++ Express Edition from Uncle Bills Funny Farm. Note that C++ IDE (and compiler, or course) supports the old ANSI-C language as well as C++... in fact C++ is a "superset" of ANSI-C.
Your other options are a bit limited on Windows. I believe that GCC: GNU's C++ Compiler works on Windows... but it's "got a few issues" which nobody is any particular hurry to fix, simply because by far the majority of the GNU boys are running Linux, and they sort-of look down on Windows as "an interesting experiment [which failed]".
Cheers. Keith.
I cannot find windows.h in my include folder of Turbo C and hence cannot work with the Win32 api's
Can someone please suggest a workaround?
thanks
You could download Borland C++ 5.5. If memory serves, it can handle Windows programming "out of the box" (Warning: but it doesn't include an IDE of any kind, only command-line tools).
Alternatively, you could look into any of several alternatives such as Dev-C++, Visual Studio Express, Cygwin, or Digital Mars. Edit: Or Code::Blocks, Ultimate++/TheIDE, NetBeans, or Eclipse CDT.
Turbo C is a legacy product. I would suggest moving on.
However, the Windows libraries and header files are shipped with the Windows SDK, which you can find on MSDN.
If you want to work with Win32 APIs, you will probably get the best mileage using Visual Studio (which will have all of the headers and libraries you need). There is even a free edition available.
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I'm fine working on Linux using gcc as my C compiler but would like a Windows solution. Any ideas? I've looked at Dev-C++ from Bloodshed but looking for more options.
You can use GCC on Windows by downloading MingW (discontinued) or its successor Mingw-w64.
You can get Visual C++ Express Edition straight from Microsoft, if you want something targeting Win32. Otherwise MinGW or lcc, as suggested elsewhere.
GCC is ubiquitous. It is trusted and well understood by thousands of folks across dozens of communities.
Visual Studio is perhaps the best IDE ever developed. It has a great compiler underneath it. But it is strictly Windows-only.
If you're just playing, get GCC --it's free. If you're concerned about multiple platfroms, it's GCC. If you're talking serious Windows development, get Visual Studio.
You could always just use gcc via cygwin.
There is another free C compiler for Windows: Pelles C.
Pelles C is a complete development kit for Windows and Windows Mobile. It contains among other things an optimizing C compiler, a macro assembler, a linker, a resource compiler, a message compiler, a make utility and install builders for both Windows and Windows Mobile.
It also contains an integrated development environment (IDE) with project management, debugger, source code editor and resource editors for dialogs, menus, string tables, accelerator tables, bitmaps, icons, cursors, animated cursors, animation videos (AVI's without sound), versions and XP manifests.
URL: http://www.smorgasbordet.com/pellesc/
I personally have been looking into using MinGW (what Bloodshed uses) with the Code Blocks IDE.
I am also considering using the Digital Mars C/C++ compiler.
Both seem to be well regarded.
GCC is not technically a linux specific compiler. Its a standards compliant c/c++ compiler, and I use it for windows programs on a daily basis. Its probably best that you use it until you become more comfortable with something else.
I recommend that you use the MinGW distribution of GCC. That will compile your programs natively for windows, using a standard library, etc.
If you're looking for an IDE, I have two recommendations. Visual Studio is the Microsoft version, and although it has its issues, it is an excellent IDE for working with the code. However, if you're looking for something a bit more lightweight, CodeBlocks is also rather good, and has the added benefit of being able to use basically any compiler you have installed (including several forms of GCC and the Microsoft Compiler that comes with Visual Studio) and being able to open project files fro other IDEs. Plus, it runs on linux too, so you could make that transition even easier on yourself.
I personally prefer GCC, but that's just me. If you really want the Microsoft Solution, VS is the way to go.
You may try Code::Blocks, which is better IDE and comes with MinGW GCC! I have used it and its just too good a freeware IDE for C/C++.
MinGW would be a direct translation off gcc for windows, or you might want to check out LCC, vanilla c (more or less) with an IDE. Pelles C seems to be based off lcc and has a somewhat nicer IDE, though I haven't used it personally. Of course there is always the Express Edition of MSVC which is free, but that's your call.
Most universities give you access to Microsoft Dreamspark.
If you're using GCC/Linux in class, just install Ubuntu. Windows is a terrible platform for C development.
Be careful to use a C compiler, not C++ if you're actually doing C. While most programs in C will work using a C++ compiler there are enough differences that there can be problems. I would agree with the people who suggest using gcc via cygwin.
EDIT:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compatibility_of_C_and_C%2B%2B shows some of the major differences
http://www.mingw.org/wiki/HOWTO_Install_the_MinGW_GCC_Compiler_Suite
GCC works fine. Note that MSVC is not necessarily a valid solution because it does not support C99.
I'm late to this party, but for any future C folks on Windows, Visual Studio targets C90 instead of C99, which is what you'd get on *nix. I am currently targeting C99 on Windows by using Sublime Text 2 in tandem with Cygwin.
Cygwin offers full GCC support on Windows; also, the free Microsoft Visual C++ Express Edition supports 'legacy' C projects just fine.
Visual C++ Express is a fine and free IDE for Windows which comes with a compiler.
If you are more comfortable with commandline solutions in general and gcc in particular, MinGW or Cygwin might be more up you alley. They are also both free.
There have been a few comments pointing out that C is not C++. While that's true, also true that any C++ compiler will also compile C - usually the compiler mode will be automatically selected based on the filename extension, but every compiler also has an option to force C or C++ mode regardless of the filename.
So choose the free C++ compiler that you're most comfortable with gcc, VC++ Express, Digital Mars, whatever. Use the IDE you like best emacs, vim, VC++ Express, Code::Blocks, Bloodshed - again whatever.
Any of these tools will be more than adequate for learning. Personally, since you're asking about Windows, I'd choose VC++ Express - it's a great IDE, it's free, and it'll compile C programs just fine.
It comes down to what you're using in class.
If the labs and the assignments are in linux, then you probably want a MinGW solution. If they're in windows, get Visual Studio Express.
Can't you get a free version of Visual Studio Student Addition from your school? Most Universities have programs to give free software to students.
You mean Bloodshed's Dev-C++? It's a nice visual IDE for C++ which uses MinGW's gcc for Windows as the back-the-scenes compiler. The project's been abandoned for a while (in my opinion, using Delphi to develop a C++ IDE is a very stupid thing to do to draw developers' attention), however there's nothing that stops you from using it and updating the version of MinGW's gcc it uses to the latest one - besides it's GPL-licensed.
I use either BloodShed's DEV C++, CygWin, or Visual C++ Express. All of which are free and work well. I have found that for me, DEV C++ worked the best and was the least quirky. Each compiler has it's own quirks and deifferences, you need to try out a few and find the one with which you are most comfortable. I also liked the fact that DEV C++ allowed me to change the fonts that are used in the editor. I like Proggy Programming fonts!
Must Windows C++ compilers will work.
Also, check out MinGW.