C++ is a general-purpose programming language that supports object-oriented programming.
To compile a C++ code, you need to have a C++ compiler installed on your device. However, if you're looking for a quick start, you can use our free online C++ compiler that allows you to run code directly in your browser without any setup.
Now, for those who prefer to use C++ on their local machine, this guide will walk you through the installation process on Windows, macOS, and Linux (Ubuntu).
Install C++ on Windows
To setup a C++ programming environment on Windows, you'll need two main components:
- VS Code: A text editor to write your code,
- MinGW: A compiler that turns your C++ code into an executable program.
Follow the steps below to install C++ on Windows:
- Install VS Code
- Download MinGW Compiler
- Run the Installer
- Add MinGW to System PATH
- Install C/C++ Extension in VS Code
Here's a detailed explanation of each of the steps.
Step 1: Install VS Code
Go to the VS Code Official website and download the Windows installer. Once the download is complete, run the installer and follow the installation process.
Click Finish to complete the installation process.
Step 2: Download MinGW Compiler
Go to MinGW Compiler Download and download the MinGW installation manager.
Step 3: Run the Installer
Now, go to your downloads folder and run the installer you just downloaded. You will be prompted to this screen.
Click on Continue and wait till the download is completed.
Include gcc-core package
During installation, you will be prompted to select the components to install. Mark mingw32-base and mingw32-gcc-g++ for installation, click on installation and apply changes.
Step 4: Add MinGW to System PATH
Go to the folder and double click on the MinGW folder and copy its location.
C:\MinGW\bin
Search environment variable on the terminal. In system properties, click on environment variables. You will be prompted to the screen below.
Then, find the Path variable in the System variables section and click on Edit. Click New and add the path to the bin directory within your MinGW installation (i.e. C:\MinGW\bin)
Finally, close all the dialogues with the Ok button.
Step 5: Install C/C++ Extension in VS Code
Open VS Code and click on Extensions in the left side of the window.
Then, search for C/C++ by Microsoft in the Extensions and click on install.
Now, you are all set to run C++ code inside your VS Code.
Install C++ on macOS
To install C++ on your Mac, you'll need two main components:
- VS Code: A text editor to write your code,
- Clang: A default compiler in mac that turns your C++ code into an executable program.
Follow the steps below to install C++ on macOs,
- Install VS Code
- Install C++ Extension
- Check for C++ Compiler
Here is a detailed explanation of each of the steps:
Step 1: Install VS Code
Go to the VS Code official website and download the zipped file. Once the download is complete, open the zipped file.
In Finder, open a new window and navigate to the Applications folder. Drag the VS Code application from the zip file into the Applications folder to install it.
You can now launch VS Code directly from the Applications folder.
Step 2: Install C++ Extension
Open VS Code and click on the Extension in the right side of the screen. Search for C/C++ by Microsoft in the Extensions and click on install.
Step 4: Check for C++ Compiler
The macOS generally comes with Clang installed on it, which can be used as a C++ compiler. You can verify its installation by typing the following command in the terminal.
clang –-version
If the output on your screen does not match the screenshot above showing the version of Clang, you may need to install Xcode Command Line Tools. You can do this by running the following command in your terminal
xcode-select --install
Now, you are all set to run C++ code inside your VS Code.
Install C++ on Linux
Linux has various distributions, and the installation process differs slightly from each other. For now, we will focus on Ubuntu distribution.
To run a C++ program in Linux, you need two things:
- VS Code: An editor to craft your code.
- g++: A part of the GNU Compiler Collection, g++ compiles C++ code into executable programs.
- Install VS Code
- Install g++
Step 1: Install VS Code
Open the Terminal and type
sudo apt update This command updates your package lists to ensure you get the latest versions of your software.
Proceed to install VS Code with
sudo snap install code --classic 
Step 2: Install g++
Most linux distros including Ubuntu come with g++ preinstalled. You can check this by using the following command in the terminal.
g++ --versionIf you don't have one, you can install it with:
sudo apt install g++Run Your First C++ Program
First open VS Code, click on the File in the top menu and then select New File.
Then, save this file with a .cpp extension by clicking on File again, then Save As, and type your filename ending in .cpp. (Here, we are saving it as hello.cpp)
Now, write the following code into your file:
#include <iostream>
int main() {
std::cout << "Hello World";
return 0;
}
Then click on the run button on the top right side of your screen.
You should see Hello World printed to the command prompt.
For Linux System
To run your C++ program on Linux, go to the Terminal, navigate to the directory containing your file, and type:
g++ hello.cpp -o hello
Run your program using
./hello
Now that you have set everything up to run C++ programs on your computer, you'll be learning how the basic program works in C++ in the next tutorial.