Introduction

This is the guide to install the C & C++ Compiler on Windows. Here we are going to use the GCC Compiler ( not Turbo C++ which was used in the old stone age).

The reason why we are not using the Turbo C++ is becasue the development was discontinued. The last stable verion was on September 5, 2006. Eventhough there is an updated version available school and colleges are using the version 3 which was released in 1991.

You may argue that the Turbo C++ compiler is simple and easy to use and that’s not true. Of course it’s good to start with Turbo C++ but if you are planning to choose your career in programming Turbo C++ won’t help you on this. You have to go for the standard compilers used by the developer community.

This guide will helps you to install the latest C & C++ Compilers available in the industry, which is the MinGW GCC Compiler.

MinGW GCC Compiler

MinGW is a port of GCC to Windows. It was created to support the GCC compiler on Windows Platform. It lets us to access the headers and support libraries on Windows. It produces standalone Windows executables ( exe files ) which may be distributed in any manner.

Downloading

Go to mingw.org/ and click on the Download Installer button in the top right corner.

It will take you to sourceforge for downloading.

Installation

After the download, run the setup as Administrator

Click on Install

It is going to be installed in C:\MinGW\ folder. Click on continue.

Then, it will fetch and update it’s database from the server, click on the continute button when it becomes clickable.

It will be on the Basic Setup Tab by default, there look for mingw-32-gcc-g++, Right Click and Mark for Installation

Now, Click on the Installation menu and hit Apply Changes.

It will open the confirmation dialog box, there click on Apply.

It will start downloading the required files.

Once the download gets completed it will install the packages, click on Close to finish the setup.

Checking the Installattion

In order to check whether it has installed correctly or not, you have to go to C:\MinGW\bin folder . There holding the shift key, right click on the empty area. Click on Open command window here

In the command prompt type the command gcc -v . It will show the version of GCC installed on your computer. If the output doesn’t look similar as this one then there will be some problem in your Installation.

Configuring

Setting the Environment Variable

The purpose of setting the Enviroment Variable is to access the gcc command everywhere in the command prompt. Setting up the enviromnent varaible will tell the system where to look for the gcc command.

Copy the C:\MinGW\bin path and click on This PC

Now right click on the empty area and click on Properties.

There choose Advanced system settings

It will open the System Properties dialog box, There click on the Enviroment Variables

In the System variables section look for Path and click on Edit

Append the Path C:\MinGW\bin in the Variable Value and click on OK

That’s all now you have successfully configured the GCC Compiler on your Computer.

Usage

Here is the sample c program

#include <stdio.h>

int main(int argc, char const *argv[])
{
	printf("Hello GCC!\n");
	return 0;
}

Copy and paste this program on your Favorite code editor, save it as sample.c . If you are still using NotePad you have to read this guide Choosing the Best Code Editor.

Using from Command Prompt

Right Click on the Windows Icon (Start Menu Icon) and click on Command Prompt

Navigate the prompt to the place where you have saved the sample program ( use cd command to navigate ). Then type gcc sample.c to compile the program. Now a new executable named a will be generated in your folder. Type a on the command prompt to run the program.

That’s all this is how you have to compile and run C & C++ Programs on Windows.