How to Download Visual C++ Programming Software

C/C++ for Visual Studio Code

C/C++ support for Visual Studio Code is provided by a Microsoft C/C++ extension to enable cross-platform C and C++ development on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

cpp extension

Install the extension

Open VS Code.
Select the Extensions view icon on the Action bar or use the keyboard shortcut ( ⇧⌘X (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+X)).
Search for 'C++'.
Select Install.

After y'all install the extension, when y'all open up or create a *.cpp file, you lot will take syntax highlighting (colorization), smart completions and hovers (IntelliSense), and fault checking.

C++ language features

Install a compiler

C++ is a compiled language pregnant your programme'south source code must exist translated (compiled) before it can be run on your computer. VS Code is starting time and foremost an editor, and relies on command-line tools to exercise much of the development workflow. The C/C++ extension does non include a C++ compiler or debugger. Yous will need to install these tools or employ those already installed on your computer.

There may already be a C++ compiler and debugger provided by your bookish or work evolution surround. Bank check with your instructors or colleagues for guidance on installing the recommended C++ toolset (compiler, debugger, project system, linter).

Some platforms, such as Linux or macOS, have a C++ compiler already installed. Well-nigh Linux distributions have the GNU Compiler Drove (GCC) installed and macOS users tin can go the Clang tools with Xcode.

Check if you have a compiler installed

Make sure your compiler executable is in your platform path (%PATH on Windows, $PATH on Linux and macOS) so that the C/C++ extension tin detect it. You tin bank check availability of your C++ tools by opening the Integrated Last ( ⌃` (Windows, Linux Ctrl+`)) in VS Code and trying to directly run the compiler.

Checking for the GCC compiler k++:

                      yard++ --version

Checking for the Clang compiler clang:

                      clang --version

Note: If you would adopt a full Integrated Evolution Environment (IDE), with built-in compilation, debugging, and project templates (File > New Projection), there are many options available, such as the Visual Studio Customs edition.

If yous don't have a compiler installed, in the example below, we describe how to install the Minimalist GNU for Windows (MinGW) C++ tools (compiler and debugger). MinGW is a pop, free toolset for Windows. If you are running VS Lawmaking on some other platform, y'all can read the C++ tutorials, which encompass C++ configurations for Linux and macOS.

Instance: Install MinGW-x64

Nosotros will install Mingw-w64 via MSYS2, which provides up-to-appointment native builds of GCC, Mingw-w64, and other helpful C++ tools and libraries. Yous can download the latest installer from the MSYS2 folio or use this link to the installer.

Follow the Installation instructions on the MSYS2 website to install Mingw-w64. Have intendance to run each required Commencement menu and pacman control, particularly Step 7, when you volition install the actual Mingw-w64 toolset (pacman -S --needed base-devel mingw-w64-x86_64-toolchain).

Add together the MinGW compiler to your path

Add together the path to your Mingw-w64 bin binder to the Windows PATH environment variable past using the following steps:

In the Windows search bar, type 'settings' to open your Windows Settings.
Search for Edit surroundings variables for your account.
Choose the Path variable in your User variables so select Edit.
Select New and add the Mingw-w64 destination folder path, with \mingw64\bin appended, to the system path. The exact path depends on which version of Mingw-w64 you have installed and where you installed it. If y'all used the settings higher up to install Mingw-w64, then add together this to the path: C:\msys64\mingw64\bin.
Select OK to save the updated PATH. You will need to reopen any console windows for the new PATH location to be bachelor.

Check your MinGW installation

To check that your Mingw-w64 tools are correctly installed and available, open a new Command Prompt and type:

                      g++ --version            gdb --version

If you lot don't see the expected output or one thousand++ or gdb is not a recognized command, make sure your PATH entry matches the Mingw-w64 binary location where the compiler tools are located.

Hello Earth

To brand sure the compiler is installed and configured correctly, we'll create the simplest Hi Globe C++ program.

Create a binder called "HelloWorld" and open VS Lawmaking in that binder (code . opens VS Code in the current folder):

                      mkdir HelloWorld            cd                          HelloWorld            code                        .

The "lawmaking ." control opens VS Code in the current working folder, which becomes your "workspace". Accept the Workspace Trust dialog by selecting Yes, I trust the authors since this is a binder y'all created.

Now create a new file called helloworld.cpp with the New File push in the File Explorer or File > New File command.

File Explorer New File button

helloworld.cpp file

Add Hello Globe source code

Now paste in this source code:

                      #include                        <iostream>            int                                    principal            ()            {                          std::cout <<                        "Hello World"                          << std::endl;            }

At present press ⌘South (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Southward) to relieve the file. You can also enable Auto Salve to automatically save your file changes, by checking Auto Salve in the main File bill of fare.

Build Hello Earth

Now that we accept a uncomplicated C++ program, let'southward build it. Select the Terminal > Run Build Task command ( ⇧⌘B (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+B)) from the main menu.

Run Build Task menu option

This volition display a dropdown with various compiler task options. If you are using a GCC toolset similar MinGW, you would choose C/C++: yard++.exe build active file.

Select g++.exe task

This will compile helloworld.cpp and create an executable file chosen helloworld.exe, which will appear in the File Explorer.

helloworld.exe in the File Explorer

Run Hello World

From a command prompt or a new VS Code Integrated Terminal, you can now run your program by typing ".\helloworld".

Run hello world in the VS Code Integrated Terminal

If everything is ready upward correctly, you should see the output "Hello Globe".

This has been a very simple example to assist you lot become started with C++ development in VS Code. The next step is to try one of the tutorials listed below on your platform (Windows, Linux, or macOS) with your preferred toolset (GCC, Clang, Microsoft C++) and learn more about the Microsoft C/C++ extension's language features such every bit IntelliSense, code navigation, build configuration, and debugging.

Tutorials

Get started with C++ and VS Code with tutorials for your environment:

GCC on Windows via MinGW
Microsoft C++ on Windows
GCC on Linux
GCC on Windows Subsystem For Linux
Clang/LLVM on macOS
CMake Tools on Linux

Documentation

You lot can discover more documentation on using the Microsoft C/C++ extension nether the C++ section of the VS Lawmaking website, where yous'll find topics on:

Debugging
Editing
Settings
FAQ

C++ TOC on code.visualstudio.com

Remote Development

VS Code and the C++ extension support Remote Evolution allowing yous to work over SSH on a remote car or VM, inside a Docker container, or in the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

To install support for Remote Evolution:

Install the VS Code Remote Development Extension Pack.
If the remote source files are hosted in WSL, use the Remote - WSL extension.
If you lot are connecting to a remote auto with SSH, use the Remote - SSH extension.
If the remote source files are hosted in a container (for example, Docker), utilise the Remote - Containers extension.

Feedback

If you run into any issues or accept suggestions for the Microsoft C/C++ extension, please file bug and suggestions on GitHub. If you haven't already provided feedback, please have this quick survey to help shape this extension for your needs.

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