Follow these steps to install g++ (the GNU C++ compiler) for Windows. There is no room for creativity here; you must follow the directions exactly.
- Pick the drive and a folder in which you want to install g++. I'll assume that it is C:, but you can choose a different one. If you choose a different drive or a different folder, you'll need to adapt the directions below accordingly.
- Download full.exe, an about 14 megabyte executable, to C:/full.exe by right-clicking on the link. Use Save Link As... or Save Target As... Be sure the browser saves the file as C:/full.exe.
- Run the downloaded executable. This will install g++ (and a lot of other things that you don't really need) on your hard drive. Go to the C: drive using Windows Explorer and double-click on full.exe. Or, open a DOS window (Start > Programs > Command Prompt), connect to the C: drive using the cd command, and type full.
- Locate where the bin folder was created for the g++ installation. On my Windows XP machine, it was created in the following path:
C:/cygnus/cygwin-b20/H-i586-cygwin32/bin
You now should add it to the PATH environment variable. You do that by following:Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Environment Variables
At this point you can see the PATH variable either in the User Variables or in the System Variables. Add the g++ path into the PATH variable. You add it to the end of the existing value separated by a semicolon (';'). Make sure that you do not lose the original value. You are just appending more to the end separated by a semicolon. - Restart your computer. A Cygnus Solutions entry will appear in your Programs menu, and an icon may appear on your desktop. Don't use them! You will use it using the g++ command on a DOS prompt as explained below.
You should now be able to run g++ from a DOS (Command Prompt) window. For example, to compile a file called C:/mine/hello.cpp, connect to the C:/mine folder and enter
g++ -g hello.cpp -o hello -lm
You'll then be able to run the compiled program by entering
hello in the DOS window