Setup (Windows) - GitLab (CS 200)

Keep your extracted zip folder open. Locate the mingw folder and copy it. (You can select the copy button in the file explorer bar, or right-click the file and select the Copy icon.)

Also open up File Explorer (from the Start menu) and go to This PC then the C:\ drive. Paste the folder here. (You can also right-click in an empty space and click the Paste icon.)

This step will allow the programs we installed to be run from anywhere on the computer.

Click the Start Menu (the Windows icon on the bottom bar) and type in "Path". Select the "Edit the system environment variables" option.

From the "System Properties" window, click the "Environment Variables…" button at the bottom.

In the "Environment Variables" window, under the bottom list ("System variables"), locate the Variable named Path. Click it, then select "Edit…".

In the "Edit Environment Variables" window, click "New" and type in the following path:

C:\mingw\bin

Click "OK" when done, and click "OK" on the rest of these windows to close them.

NOTES!

• Make sure the upper/lower case matches the folder on your computer. (mingw is different than MinGW)
• If you installed to a different directory than the default you will have to use that here.

In GitBash, type: g++, then hit ENTER.

• ✅ Success: It should give an error "g++: fatal error: no input files. compilation terminated."

  This is fine, because it means the g++ program works but it's complaining that we didn't tell it a C++ source file. But we're just testing to make sure g++ got set up properly.

• ❌ Failure: If it gives this error - "g++ : The term 'g++' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again."
  • Fix: This means it can't find the g++ program. Make sure to review your Environment Variables step and make sure C:\mingw\bin\ is added to the PATH variable.
  • ❌ Failure: Error “fatal error: cannot execute 'cc1plus': CreateProcess: No such file or directory. Compilation terminated.”
    • Wrong processor type, need to download the installer and set up from scratch.
      • Delete C:\mingw because we’re going to do a fresh install.
      • Download the MinGW setup from Sourceforge.
      • Watch this video to install MinGW.

In GitBash, type: make , then hit ENTER.

• ✅ Success: It should give an error "make: * No targets specified and no makefile found. Stop."

  This shows that the make program works but it's just complaining that we don't have a project to make.

• ❌ Failure: If it gives this error - "make : The term 'make' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again."
  • This means it can't find the make program. Make sure to review your Environment Variables step and make sure C:\mingw\bin\ is added to the PATH variable.

In GitBash, type: gdb , then hit ENTER.

• ✅ Success: The gdb program will start and it may have a bunch of information; once you see a (gdb) prompt waiting for your input, type "exit" or "quit" to leave.
• ❌ Failure: If it gives this error - "gdb : The term 'gdb' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again."
  • This means it can't find the gdb program. Make sure to review your Environment Variables step and make sure C:\mingw\bin\ is added to the PATH variable.

1. In GitBash type: notepad test.cpp and hit ENTER.

   Notepad will launch and ask if you want to create a new file. Press "Yes".

2. Copy/paste the following code into Notepad:

   #include <iostream>
   using namespace std;
   int main()
   {
       cout << "Hello!" << endl;
       return 0;
   }
   

3. Save the file and close Notepad.

4. Back in GitBash, build the program with:

   g++ test.cpp -o TestProgram.exe

   After hitting ENTER, if it doesn't show an error message then the build was successful.

5. Run the program with:

   ./TestProgram.exe

   It should show the "Hello!" message.