Computer Science Canada

How do I use MinGW?
Author:  php111 [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:40 pm ]
Post subject:  How do I use MinGW?
I am making a new thread directly for MinGW.

I just installed MinGW. I set it to install "full" meaning everything. The problem is, under XP, I go to Start-->All Programs-->MinGW, there is nothing to run it. I see MinGW which launches me to the net, update, or uninstall. Where the hell is the MinGW to run it? In like 100% different apps, I should have an option to run it, right?
Author:  Insectoid [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:12 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:How do I use MinGW?
Go to the actual folder itself. The .exe should be in there. This would be something like C:/my computer/program files/MinGW or something like that.
Author:  php111 [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RE:How do I use MinGW?
insectoid @ Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:12 pm wrote:
Go to the actual folder itself. The .exe should be in there. This would be something like C:/my computer/program files/MinGW or something like that.


I just tried it again. I tried it about 2 or 3 times now, from the Program Files. It download and install but no where to run it.
Author:  [Gandalf] [ Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:50 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:How do I use MinGW?
MinGW is a collection of compilers, you don't really 'run' the programs on their own, you use them to compile your C or C++ or Ada or whatever source code. Look up "how to compile C code using GCC".

*edit* Looking at your other topics, MinGW is meant to be run from the command line, as are most compilers. I don't think you'll get away from it that easily, unless you decide on an IDE (I believe this is what you're looking for) that binds itself to the MinGW C compiler.
Author:  wtd [ Sun Oct 05, 2008 12:57 am ]
Post subject:  RE:How do I use MinGW?
The PATH environment variable is your friend.

Learn to use a command-line, or get out of programming. You'll never escape the command-line in one form or another.
Author:  php111 [ Sun Oct 05, 2008 5:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RE:How do I use MinGW?
wtd @ Sun Oct 05, 2008 12:57 am wrote:
The PATH environment variable is your friend.

Learn to use a command-line, or get out of programming. You'll never escape the command-line in one form or another.



http://cboard.cprogramming.com/showthread.php?t=107580


83 or more posts using GUI. I am afraid to say but with command line it will be more posts. Do you want to sit here to show me how to run command line or do you want to sit here and help me try learning programming if I have any questions from books? I say I rather learn programming from a method that I am comfortable with. That said I just can't deal with command line.
Author:  btiffin [ Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RE:How do I use MinGW?
One thing. MinGW means Minimum GNU for Windows. It adds some of the GNU command line tools to a Windows box. If you do travel this path, you may want to go full fledged Cygwin. Cygwin is Cygnus + POSIX on Windows. Pretty nice actually, when forced on to the Windows platform.

php111 @ Sun Oct 05, 2008 5:27 am wrote:
83 or more posts using GUI. I am afraid to say but with command line it will be more posts. Do you want to sit here to show me how to run command line or do you want to sit here and help me try learning programming if I have any questions from books? I say I rather learn programming from a method that I am comfortable with. That said I just can't deal with command line.


Don't fear the command line. A CLI is a programmer's best friend. And on posting to solutions; It is far easier to write
code:
$ cd build
$ gcc -c object1.c
$ gcc -lsomelib program.c object.o

in a forum post than it is to try and describe the buttons required to get a GUI to do the same. No? Many times a CLI is a LOT more concise than trying to describe GUI screens in a forum post.

But one more time ... for your own comfort ... check out the Microsoft Visual Studio Express Editions. They are free to download. And are built for a GUI development headspace. My recommendation is to NOT do this, but freedom is what freedom does. Wink

And just so you know. If you use your freedom to choose a Microsoft development system. That's the last freedom you'll have. MS will yank all future freedom away from you. But still; you are free to make that initial decision.

Cheers
Edit; Sunday morning ... typos
Author:  php111 [ Sun Oct 05, 2008 2:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How do I use MinGW?
I am going to use Visual C++. Thank you for the info and help.

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