gcc question

Truthfully, I use Windows, but since gcc was designed as a Linux compiler I figured I should ask here. Although, the question concerns Windows as well. If no one knows, I'll ask in another forum.

What does the -mwindows option do, specifically. I know that it's required to compile Win32 Programs, but it's not listed in the GCC online documentation. -M is, but that's not what I'm looking for. I'm thinking this option might be unique and it just tells the compiler to #define something that's required for windows.h headers. But, I'm also thinking it might be a -m option passed the argument windows, similar to -l. But this doesn't seem right to me either, because I've searched my includes and libraries and the only file with the name windows is windows.h. Can anyone enlighten me?

It makes the program an actual Windows executable instead of a console application by linking the proper Windows libraries for you.

I figured something as much. So, it is a unique option, not an extension of an -m option.

-mwindows is a linker switch that ensures the basic windows libs are linked (kernel32, gdi32, user32, comdlg32 and, possibly, shell32) and prevents a console being created similtaneously with the gui window ie. it ensures that a non-console, windows gui application is created.

The non-console behaviour can be overridden with the -mconsole linker switch ie. -mwindows -mconsole creates both a gui window and a console when the executable is run.

The -mwindows switch is synonymous with -Wl,--subsytem,windows.

It won't be listed in gcc online because, as far as I know, it's a windows specific (mingw and, presumably, cygwin) linker switch.

This is hardly a linux question, BTW.

I was afraid of that. Sorry.