New to C++, need help

I just picked up a rather lengthy tutorial book on learning C++, it recommends Codeblocks, and i have installed Codeblocks 8.02
On my first project I received the error

"Title - Debug" uses an invalid compiler. Skipping...
Nothing to be done.

I have a large list of compilers to choose from, but I really have no idea what I'm doing. I've looked at other threads on the exact same issue, but they dealt with things that I've never even heard of, so if someone can explain for me what to do in simple terms I would greatly appreciate it. If it helps I'm running Win 7 64.

>>i have installed Codeblocks 8.02

Fair enough, where did you get it from? The code::blocks web site actually offers an updated version now, and there are two downloads: one download is just the IDE and the other offers an IDE and an older MinGW version. It sounds like you don't have a compiler at all or that code::blocks is configured to use one that you do not have. So you need to install a compiler or at least discover which one you actually have and then select that compiler from Settings -> Compiler and debugger...

thank you whiteflags, I installed code::blocks off of a CD that came with the book, it would probably be a good idea to install it from the website.
Is there a favored compiler for the program? or just favored by the community?

Not really, just pick one that you can get from the list.

You could get visual studio IMHO its far better than code blocks. I have been using VS for awhile now.

@kdufa, when you D/L Codeblocks off the site (for the first time), make sure you get the larger package with "mingw" in the filename.

The larger file is the IDE and the compiler (you need both).
The smaller one is the IDE by itself, which is handy if you just want to upgrade the IDE (which is being developed).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Salem

@kdufa, when you D/L Codeblocks off the site (for the first time), make sure you get the larger package with "mingw" in the filename.

The larger file is the IDE and the compiler (you need both).
The smaller one is the IDE by itself, which is handy if you just want to upgrade the IDE (which is being developed).

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thanks salem, i already did this, but still encountered a problem
i think i need to install mingw to C:/MinGW, instead of C:/Codeblocks, I saw that on another forum.
i think my 'toolpath executable' is wrong, but i'm not sure on how to fix it. ill start out with that ^

Quote:

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i think i need to install mingw to C:/MinGW, instead of C:/Codeblocks, I saw that on another forum.

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It should honestly make no difference. If you have MinGW installed, go to Settings -> Compiler and Debugger, click "Reset defaults" and see if code::blocks detects it. If it doesn't for some reason then you could always point it in the right direction by changing the path in the "Toolchain executables" tab.

alright, my compiler is working but i have no idea what's going on, i select the project entitled "console application" which already has code written on it, it looks like this

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
cout << "Hello world!" << endl;
return 0;
}

and when i press build, it comes back with 6 errors..this book is telling me i should have 0 errors and 0 warnings.. i didn't even type anything in, what am i doing wrong? i installed MinGW and it is responding now

What do the errors say?

||=== agureurigwe, Debug ===|
obj\Debug\main.o||In function `main':|
C:\Program Files (x86)\CodeBlocks\ProjectsHere\agureurigwe\main.cpp |7|undefined reference to `std::cout'|
C:\Program Files (x86)\CodeBlocks\ProjectsHere\agureurigwe\main.cpp |7|undefined reference to `std::basic_ostream<char, std::char_traits<char> >& std::operator<< <std::char_traits<char> >(std::basic_ostream<char, std::char_traits<char> >&, char const*)'|
C:\Program Files (x86)\CodeBlocks\ProjectsHere\agureurigwe\main.cpp |7|undefined reference to `std::basic_ostream<char, std::char_traits<char> >& std::endl<char, std::char_traits<char> >(std::basic_ostream<char, std::char_traits<char> >&)'|
C:\Program Files (x86)\CodeBlocks\ProjectsHere\agureurigwe\main.cpp |7|undefined reference to `std::ostream::operator<<(std::ostream& (*)(std::ostream&))'|
obj\Debug\main.o||In function `_tcf_0':|
c:\mingw\bin\..\lib\gcc\mingw32\4.5.2\include\c++\ iostream|73|undefined reference to `std::ios_base::Init::~Init()'|
obj\Debug\main.o||In function `_static_initialization_and_destruction_0':|
c:\mingw\bin\..\lib\gcc\mingw32\4.5.2\include\c++\ iostream|73|undefined reference to `std::ios_base::Init::Init()'|
||=== Build finished: 6 errors, 0 warnings ===|

agrurueruaier, being the title of my project, just because it's not worth the time to put in a decent title if it's not working

I need you to do me a favor then.

Go to Compiler and debugger settings again. This time, on the compiler settings tab, click Other options. That will take you to a page where you can type in any options you want. Type "--verbose". Then click the Other settings tab. For compiler logging, select "Full command line."

Rebuild the project from THIS thread and copy everything in the build log window into a text file just like I did.

That will give me much more information about how, and with what programs you are actually building. I have a couple of ideas what could be wrong, but even if I can't help, with that information available, someone is bound to know what is going on with your tools.

sorry once again,
I followed your instructions, and hopefully this text file can tell you more.

You're compiling with gcc which is one of the things I thought was happening.

If you are using C++, then please make sure you start a C++ project. The difference is that code::blocks will then invoke g++ which links the standard library by itself. When you use gcc you have to use the command -lstdc++ to link correctly.

Honestly I would just erase all your projects and create a new C++ one. And make sure that you actually have g++.exe in your toolchain too.

thank you :), I do open the new projects as C++, but I can see how that would be a problem, I'll just link my toolchain to g++ and see how it goes.

edit: it works now! thank you for helping me

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mrsirpoopsalot

You could get visual studio IMHO its far better than code blocks. I have been using VS for awhile now.

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I've used both, and i find codeblocks far better because it's so much easier to use!

I find Visual Studio much easier to use. It's subjective. Best to try both.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Elysia

I find Visual Studio much easier to use. It's subjective. Best to try both.

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Of course, i'm not saying that C::B is better than VS technically or anything. I just say what i prefer through what i've experienced.

I'll recommend any newbie to go for Microsoft Visual Studio 2006.

If you go for VS, I recommend you go for 2010 for C++0x.
Visual Studio 6.0 is an old piece of crap, non-compliant studio. Burn it.

Who said 2006 doesn't exist?????

Visual Studio 6.0 is known as 2006 :-)

Visual Studio 2006 doesn't exist.

Well, for a beginner, I would recommend Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate (since Express might be not enough for him), of course with license purchased. C++0x is mandatory for him. Don't forget about boost before messing anything!
:)
And now seriously:
I consider C::B much simpler, especially at first look. When I had to choose between C::B or MSVC (never used any of them), I decided to go with C::B.
All the MSVC options, solutions, and generally speaking - its windows - have successfully scared me away.

Awesome, I did all that detective work just to have other people go derp derp microsoft is better. Have both. Compile on both. If both compilers can't find an error or other complaint, then you have really good C++ code in your projects.

Mr.777 - why not the newer versions?

Code:

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for (int i = 0; i < 10; ++i) { }
cout << i; // should this work or not? Does it work in VC++6 or not?

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Known problems in using the Microsoft Visual C++ compiler, version 6.0: