How to build a C++ app on Windows with VS Code? - c++

Question

I am familiar with POSIX environment, but not Windows. I git clone a C++ project then PowerShell into it, then code .. When I hit <F5>, I don't see any C++ Compiler:
However, I have installed Microsoft Visual Studio with C++ (20 GB !!). I am able to build the project with Visual Studio, but Alt-Tab + <C-B> + Alt-Tab isn't very nice. What I would like to do is build my project directly in VS Code.
Is there any magical trick?

Answer 1

Well, this was cumbersome, but I managed to do something... At least I can build the project with VSCode...
Install more stuff from Microsoft Visual Studio Community 2022. I don't exactly know what is needed. The only thing I know is that something was missing.
{
"version": "1.0",
"components": [
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Roslyn.Compiler",
"Microsoft.Component.MSBuild",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.CoreBuildTools",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.MSBuildTools",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows10SDK",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.CoreBuildTools",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Redist.14.Latest",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows11SDK.22000",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.CMake.Project",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.TestTools.BuildTools",
"Microsoft.Net.Component.4.8.SDK",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.ASAN",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.TextTemplating",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.CoreIde",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.ComponentGroup.NativeDesktop.Core",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.VCTools",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.NuGet.BuildTools",
"Microsoft.NetCore.Component.Runtime.6.0",
"Microsoft.NetCore.Component.Runtime.7.0",
"Microsoft.NetCore.Component.SDK",
"Microsoft.Component.NetFX.Native",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.ComponentGroup.UWP.BuildTools",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.UniversalBuildTools"
]
}
{
"version": "1.0",
"components": [
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.CoreEditor",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.CoreEditor",
"Microsoft.Net.Component.4.8.SDK",
"Microsoft.Net.Component.4.7.2.TargetingPack",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.TypeScript.TSServer",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.ComponentGroup.WebToolsExtensions",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.JavaScript.TypeScript",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Roslyn.Compiler",
"Microsoft.Component.MSBuild",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Roslyn.LanguageServices",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.TextTemplating",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.NuGet",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Debugger.JustInTime",
"Component.Microsoft.VisualStudio.LiveShare.2022",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.IntelliCode",
"Component.CPython39.x64",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.CoreIde",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows10SDK",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Graphics.Tools",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.DiagnosticTools",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Windows11SDK.22000",
"Component.OpenJDK",
"Component.Android.SDK.MAUI",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.ATL",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Redist.14.Latest",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.ComponentGroup.NativeDesktop.Core",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.ComponentGroup.WebToolsExtensions.CMake",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.CMake.Project",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.TestAdapterForBoostTest",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.TestAdapterForGoogleTest",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.CLI.Support",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.ASAN",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Llvm.Clang",
"Component.IncredibuildMenu",
"Component.Incredibuild",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NativeDesktop",
"Component.HAXM.Private",
"Component.Android.NDK.R23C",
"Component.Android.Emulator.MDD",
"Component.MDD.Android",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NativeMobile",
"Component.Unreal.Ide",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NativeGame",
"Component.MDD.Linux",
"Component.Linux.CMake",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.Embedded",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.NativeCrossPlat",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Redist.MSM",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.14.34.17.4.x86.x64",
"Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.14.34.17.4.x86.x64.Spectre"
]
}
I had to install twice Visual Studio :
Visual Studio Build Tools 2022
Visual Studio Community 2022
git clone https://github.com/Microsoft/vcpkg.git under C:\src\vcpkg
Add vcpkg path to system PATH.
Reboot the computer (PATH wasn't modified even though I restarted windows terminal)
Launch Developer Command Prompt for VS 2022
Navigate to the project
Type code .
Add into .vscode\settings.json:
{
"cmake.configureSettings": {
"CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE": "C:/src/vcpkg/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake"
}
}
Install the libraries with vcpkg install ...
Deploy the libraries with vcpkg integrate install
Install VS Code CMake extension
<C-S-P>CMake: Build
...
PROFIT !