Learn C++

Introduction

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C++ is a very popular programming language.
C++ can be used to create high-performance applications.
C++ is a cross-platform language. C++ was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1979.

C++ gives programmers a high level of control over system resources and memory.
The language was updated 4 major times in 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2020 to C++11, C++14, C++17, C++20.

Why use C++?

• C++ is one of the world's most popular programming language.
• C++ can be found in today's Operating systems, Graphical User Interfaces, and Embedded systems.
• C++ is an Object-Oriented Programming language which gives a clear structure to programs and allows code to be reused, lowering development costs.
• C++ is portable and can be used to develop applications that can be adapted to mutliple platforms.

Important

Difference between C and C++

C++ was developed as an extension of C, and both language have almost the same syntax.
The main difference between C and C++ is that C++ support classes and objects, while C does not.

Getting Started 🚀

To start coding with C++, we need two things:

• A text editor like Visual Studio Code, code::block
• A compiler like GCC with MingW

Setup MingW in machine

Open any browser and search for MingW download

Download the mingW setup from the official site and install

Note

Don't touch directory options let it be default

After installation tick packages

Make sure you have selected mingW32-base and mingW32-gcc-g++

Apply changes from Installation

Important

Set path variable
Search in your machine for system variable
Update user variable --> path
Add a new path for bin directory which is inside MingW and paste it in path variable.

C:\MinGW\bin

To check MingW environment working or not!

Open bash and run the commands

gcc --version

g++ --version

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Create first C++ program

In VS code create a file with name as firstprogram.cpp

#include<iostream>                      // Header file
using namespace std;                    // Standard library

int main(){
    cout << "Hello World!";             // Code for print message
    return 0;
}

For running the code open terminal window in VS Code and run the command

g++ firstprogram.cpp

It will create a new file as a.exe
This a.exe file contains the actual program we have written.
For running this file use the command line as

.\a.exe

Or a + tab it will auto complete.

Don't Worry! 😀
We are not going to use this method instead we will use a code runner extension.

And press the play button at the top right corner of the window.

Note

When we use code runner extension for running our code.
It uses output window for printing results.
Where we cannot interact I mean cannot input any value.

Here is a solution for it.
Run your code using code runner
Open terminal window in vs code and type the name of the file which is generated by code runner.
firstprogram.exe

Congrats! 🎉
You have learnt the basic Installation process and code running process.

Happy Coding! 💖