/c-setup-vscode-guide

Guide: Setting up C with Visual Studio Code for Windows

Table of Contents

Download and install Visual Studio Code

  1. Go to the Visual Studio Code website.
  2. Click on the "Download" button for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
  3. Once the download is complete, run the installer.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Setup MinGW for C/C++

  1. Download the MinGW Zip Archive

    ⚠️ Important: Save the MinGW zip file to C:/ or else the script will not work correctly.

  2. Run the Setup Script

    • Download the setup_mingw.bat script from this direct download link.
    • Place the setup_mingw.bat script in the same directory as the downloaded MinGW zip file (C:/).
    • Double-click setup_mingw.bat to execute it. This script will extract the MinGW zip file, move the contents to C:/mingw, and add the bin directory to your system PATH.

Check MinGW Installation

  1. Open Command Prompt

    • Search for Command Prompt (cmd) in the Start menu and open it.

  2. Verify GCC Installation

    • Type the following command and press Enter to check if MinGW is installed correctly:

      gcc --version

    • Confirmation: You should see output displaying the version of GCC (GNU Compiler Collection). For example:

      gcc (MinGW.org GCC-6.3.0-1) 6.3.0

    • If you see this output, it confirms that GCC is correctly installed and added to your system PATH.

  3. Troubleshooting

    • If the commands are not recognized, ensure that:
      • You have saved and run the setup script properly.
      • You may need to restart Command Prompt or your computer for changes to take effect.

Set Up VS Code Extensions for C/C++

These extensions will help you easily compile and run your C programs, as well as provide a range of tools and functionalities for C development.

  1. Install the C/C++ Compile Run Extension

    • Open Visual Studio Code.

    • Go to the Extensions view by clicking the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of the window or by pressing Ctrl+Shift+X.

    • Search for "C/C++ Compile Run". The search results should look like the screenshot below: C/C++ Compile Run Extension Search

    • Click on the "C/C++ Compile Run" extension by danielpinto8zz6, and then click Install. The installation process should be similar to the screenshot below: C/C++ Compile Run Extension Install

    • Once the extension is installed, you may need to configure its settings. To do this, open the extension settings by navigating to: C/C++ Compile Run Extension Settings

    • In the extension's settings, find and check the option labeled: C/C++ Compile Run Extension Setting Option

  2. Install the C/C++ Extension Pack

    • In the Extensions view, search for "C/C++ Extension Pack".
    • Click on the extension named "C/C++ Extension Pack" by Microsoft. C/C++ Extension Pack Search
    • Click Install. C/C++ Extension Pack Install

Test Your Final Setup

  1. Create a New C File

    • Open Visual Studio Code.
    • Go to File > New File.
    • Save the new file with a .c extension, for example: hello.c.

  2. Write a Simple C Program

    • Enter the following code into your hello.c file:

      #include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    printf("Hello, World!\n");
    return 0;
}

  3. Compile and Run the C Program

    • To compile and run the program, press the Run button as shown below: Compile and Run Button

    • Alternatively, you can also press F6 to compile and run.

    • You should see the output of your program in an external terminal prompt. Compile and Run Output

Following these steps ensures that your C development environment is set up correctly and allows you to start programming in C with Visual Studio Code.