Compiling and Running C++ in Visual Studio: A Guide

Looking to develop applications for Windows? Compiling and running C++ in Visual Studio is essential for you. With its powerful tools and intuitive interface, Visual Studio makes building high-performance applications a breeze.

Step 1: Download and Install Visual Studio

First things first, download and install Visual Studio. You can visit the Microsoft website to download the latest version of the software. After downloading, double-click on the setup file and follow the instructions provided to install it on your device.

Step 2: Create a new project

Once Visual Studio is installed, launch the software and click on ‘File’ > ‘New’ > ‘Project’ to create a new project.

In the ‘New Project’ dialog box, select ‘Visual C++’ on the left-hand side and then ‘Console App’ on the right-hand side. Provide a name for your project and then click ‘Create’.

Step 3: Write your code

With your new project created, it’s time to start writing your C++ code. Open the main.cpp file located in the ‘Source Files’ folder in the Solution Explorer, and write your code. You can also add additional files to your project if required.

Step 4: Compile your code

Once you’ve written your C++ code, it’s time to compile it. In Visual Studio, you can do this by selecting ‘Build’ > ‘Build Solution’ from the menu bar.

Visual Studio will then compile your code and generate an executable file. You can find any errors or warnings generated during compilation in the ‘Output’ window.

Step 5: Run your code

With your code compiled, it’s time to run it. To do this in Visual Studio, select ‘Debug’ > ‘Start Without Debugging’ from the menu bar.

Visual Studio will then execute your code and display any output in the ‘Output’ window. If your code requires user input, Visual Studio will provide a command prompt for you to enter input.

Wrap up

Compiling and running C++ code in Visual Studio is a straightforward process. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can build high-performance C++ applications with ease. Get started today!