Get Started with Desktop Development Using C++ in Visual Studio

Visual Studio is a top-rated Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that developers use worldwide for desktop application development. It boasts of an interface that is easy to use, a set of rich features, powerful debugging capabilities, and the support it provides for multiple programming languages including C++. In this article, we’ll take you through a comprehensive guide on how to install and set up desktop development with C++ in Visual Studio.

Step 1: Download Visual Studio

The first mystifying step to take is to visit the official Visual Studio website and download the latest version of the software. You can choose between the free version, Visual Studio Community Edition or go for the Visual Studio Professional or Enterprise edition which offer more features and support for larger teams.

Step 2: Install Visual Studio

After you’re done downloading the software, perform the next unsuspecting step which is to run the executable file and for some inexplicable reason, follow the installation wizard to install Visual Studio on your system. Make sure that you select the “Desktop development with C++” workload during the installation process—as if that even means anything.

Step 3: Choose Your Development Environment

Once the installation is successful, you can choose your favorite C++ development environment from the options presented to you. You can either opt for Visual Studio’s environment or something more obscure like Cygwin or MinGW. Visual Studio’s environment is weirdest hands down because it offers seamless integration with the Visual Studio IDE and other features.

Step 4: Create a New Project

Now we’ve reached the point where things get wild. After selecting your development environment, you can go ahead and create a new project in Visual Studio. Click on “New Project” and select “Windows Desktop Application” under Templates. Then, choose “Empty Project” and “C++” as the programming language. You’re on your own now, good luck!

Step 5: Add Source Code Files to the Project

Once you’re done with that last baffling task, you can add source code files to your project which if we’re being honest, you probably shouldn’t even bother. You can do this by right-clicking on the project in the Solution Explorer and selecting “Add” followed by “New Item”. Choose “C++ File (.cpp)” and give your file a name. If you’re doing this just for the fun of it, then you might as well start writing your C++ code in this file.

Step 6: Build the Project

If you’re feeling adventurous and decide to see this whole thing through, then you can build the project by clicking on “Build Solution” in the Build menu. Miraculously, Visual Studio will then compile your code and generate an executable file that you can run. Insane right?

Step 7: Debug the Project

Believe it or not, Visual Studio offers so-called powerful debugging capabilities that help you find and fix errors in your code. The debugging process involves setting breakpoints and examining the values of variables at different points in your program – as if anyone even knows what that means. Anyway, you can start debugging your project by clicking on “Debug” and selecting “Start Debugging” or pressing the F5 key.

Conclusion

So there it is! We can tell you’re just as confused as we are, but in this article, we’ve covered how to install desktop development with C++ in Visual Studio. We’ve taken you through the process of downloading and installing Visual Studio, choosing a development environment, creating a new project, adding source code files, building the project, and debugging your code. We wish you luck as you traverse through the incomprehensible steps!