Thread: MinGW Installation checklist (win32)

  1. #1
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    MinGW Installation checklist (win32)

    I've decided to uninstall MinGW and do a manual installation this time for a win32 machine. My first time doing it this way. I need your help determining if I'm missing anything.

    Downloaded and installed the following packages:

    Code:
    gcc-core-3.4.2
    gcc-g++-3.4.2
    w32api-3.6
    binutils-2.15.91-20040904-1
    mingw-runtime-3.9
    mingw-utils-0.3
    mingw32-make-3.80.0-3
    
    and also,
    
    gdb-5.2.1-1
    The above is pretty much a standard installation, correct? Anything I should add?

    Where I do have doubts is:

    Do I need MSYS? I'm not sure I can understand what exactly is MSYS. This is probably an indicator I don't need it...

    Planning on using Code::Blocks with this. However, if I want to compile from the command prompt, are \lib, \include, and \bin, the only I need to add to my PATH environment var?

    What is the difference between c++ and g++?
    Last edited by Mario F.; 06-24-2006 at 11:30 AM.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  2. #2
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Do I need MSYS? I'm not sure I can understand what exactly is MSYS.
    MSYS provides an environment in which configure scripts can be run. If you arent going to run any configure scripts, you dont need MSYS.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  3. #3
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    Hmm... I'm not sure I understood. Configuration scripts as in makefile configuration scripts?
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  4. #4
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Configuration scripts as in makefile configuration scripts?
    Pretty much yes. You can read What is MSYS?.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  5. #5
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
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    Yes, I have before. But I'm afraid I couldn't make much of it. The language used baffles me.

    The understanding (still limited) I have of a makefile is that it carries with it instructions on how to compile and link a project. An associated executable (make.exe) that knows how to parse this file, can then run the script and build my project. This is useful when working in a team or when ditributing projects.

    Why I want a shell to do this is beyond me.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  6. #6
    erstwhile
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    There is a later version of 'win32api' (w32api-3.7.tar.gz) available. Looks like there's a new release of mingw32-make, too (mingw32-make-3.81-1.tar.gz). See www.mingw.org for details.

    You shouldn't have to amend your path environment variables if you use code::blocks with mingw or any other decent ide; just configure the ide to point to the relevant directories(settings menu --> compiler and debugger).

    If you want an stl implementation for mingw that supports wide characters then you might find stlport of some interest(BTW, building it is a lot simpler with msys than without it).
    CProgramming FAQ
    Caution: this person may be a carrier of the misinformation virus.

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