C++ - Installation & Toolchain

Overview

Estimated time: 30–45 minutes

Install a modern C++ compiler and basic tools on macOS, Linux, or Windows. Verify versions and run a quick compile.

Learning Objectives

• Install clang++/g++/MSVC and confirm versions.
• Compile a simple program from the command line.
• Understand the role of build systems (CMake) for larger projects.

Prerequisites

• C++ - Introduction

Install

macOS (Homebrew)

brew update && brew install llvm
clang++ --version

Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install build-essential -y
g++ --version

Windows (MSVC)

Install "Desktop development with C++" using Visual Studio Installer. Use Developer Command Prompt:

cl /Bv

Compile a program

# hello.cpp
cat > hello.cpp <<'CPP'
#include <iostream>
int main(){ std::cout << "hi\n"; }
CPP

# Compile with clang++ or g++ (C++20)
clang++ -std=c++20 -O2 hello.cpp -o hello
./hello

Expected Output: hi

CMake (optional)

brew install cmake   # macOS (or your OS package manager)
cmake --version

Common Pitfalls

• Using an old default compiler that lacks C++20 support—pin -std=c++20 and check versions.
• Mixing debug and release artifacts when compiling manually—clear builds between configurations.

Checks for Understanding

1. How do you check your compiler version?
2. Why use a build system like CMake?

Exercises

1. Compile hello.cpp in both debug (-g) and optimized (-O2) modes.
2. Create a minimal CMakeLists.txt and build hello using CMake.