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C/C++ Compiler Installation Guide for VSCode

VSCode does not include a compiler or debugger, so you need to install one separately. Follow the steps below based on your operating system.

Windows

  • MinGW (Minimalist GNU for Windows)
  • Microsoft Visual C++ (Optional, more complex setup)

Installation Instructions for MinGW

  1. Download MinGW:

  2. Install MinGW:

    • Run the installer and follow the prompts.
    • In the MinGW Installation Manager, select:
      • mingw32-gcc-g++ (for C++ compiler)
      • mingw32-base (for C compiler)
    • Click Installation in the top-left menu, then select Apply Changes.
    • Wait for the installation to complete.

  3. Set Up Environment Variable (Path):

    • The environment variable tells Windows where to find the MinGW compiler. This step is critical and can be tricky for beginners, so follow these detailed instructions:
      1. Open Environment Variables:
        • Search for Environment variable (System)
        • Click Environment Variables on bottom section.
      2. Locate the Path Variable:
        • In the User Variables section (upper half), look for a variable named Path.
        • If you don’t see Path, click New to create it.
        • If Path exists, select it and click Edit.
      3. Add MinGW Path:
        • By default, MinGW installs to C:\MinGW. The compiler tools are in the bin folder (e.g., C:\MinGW\bin).
        • In the Edit Environment Variable window, click New and paste the path to the bin folder (e.g., C:\MinGW\bin).
        • If MinGW was installed elsewhere, find the bin folder in your installation directory and use that path.
        • Click OK to close each window.

  4. Verify Compiler Installation:

    • Open a Command Prompt.
    • Type gcc --version and press Enter.
    • If installed correctly, you’ll see the GCC version (e.g., gcc (MinGW.org GCC-8.2.0-3) 8.2.0).
    • If you get an error like 'gcc' is not recognized, the Path variable is likely incorrect. Revisit step 3.

MacOS

  • Clang (included with Xcode Command Line Tools)

Installation Instructions

  1. Install Xcode Command Line Tools:
    • Open the Terminal (search for it using Spotlight or find it in Applications > Utilities).
    • Type xcode-select --install and press Enter.
    • Follow the prompts to install the tools (this includes Clang).

  2. Verify Compiler Installation:

    • In the Terminal, type clang --version and press Enter.
    • If installed correctly, you’ll see the Clang version (e.g., Apple clang version 14.0.0).

  3. Note: GCC is also installed alongside clang so you can also try gcc --version and press enter to check it.

Linux

  • GCC (GNU Compiler Collection)
  • Clang (alternative)

Installation Instructions

  1. Install GCC:
    • Open a terminal.
    • For Debian/Ubuntu:
      • Run sudo apt update to update package lists.
      • Run sudo apt install gcc g++ to install GCC and G++.
    • For Fedora:
      • Run sudo dnf install gcc g++.
  2. Verify Compiler Installation:
    • Type gcc --version or clang --version in the terminal and press Enter.
    • If installed, you’ll see the compiler version (e.g., gcc (Ubuntu 9.4.0-1ubuntu1) 9.4.0).

Troubleshooting Tips

  • Command not found (Windows): Ensure the MinGW bin folder is correctly added to the Path variable. Restart your Command Prompt or computer after setting the Path.
  • macOS installation issues: If xcode-select --install fails, try installing Xcode from the App Store, then run the command again.
  • Linux package errors: Ensure your package manager is updated (sudo apt update or sudo dnf update) before installing.