Code Blocks Notes
CodeBlocks is an open-source, cross-platform (Windows, Linux, MacOS), and free C/C++ IDE. It supports
many compilers, in particular GNU GCC (MinGW).
In this class, you have the option to use CodeBlocks+GNU GCC for your programming homework
assignments. CodeBlocks+GNU GCC is preinstalled on the CS Computer Labs machines, but it may be
convenient for you to also install it on your personal machine. The purpose of these notes is to give
pointers to download, install, configure and use it. The instructions are provided for a Windows
machine.
Note for the homeworks you can use any IDE you wish, but it is your responsibility to submit a source
code that can be compiled by the grader. The grader will use CodeBlocks+GNU GCC configured
according to the reference configurations described in this document.
If you use a CS Computer Lab machine, you don’t need to install CodeBlocks, but you need to configure
CodeBlocks according to the reference configurations described in this document every time you log on,
as the settings are not preserved when you log out.
1. To install CodeBlocks
1. Download Go to http://www.codeblocks.org/downloads. Click "Download the binary release". Select your
operating system (e.g., Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7). Choose and download the .exe that includes the
GCC/G++ compiler and GDB debugger (codeblocks-16.01mingw-setup.exe).
2. Install Run the downloaded installer. Accept the default options.
3. Check the compiler and debugger’s paths
Launch CodeBlocks, then verify the Compiler's Path by doing the following: Click on "Settings" menu at
the top, then in the drop down menu select "Compiler”. The “Compiler settings” window will appear. In
"Selected Compiler", choose "GNU GCC Compiler". Then in the tabs below, select "Toolchain Executables".
Check that the "Compiler's Installation Directory" is set to the "MinGW" sub-directory of the CodeBlocks
installation directory. For example, suppose that CodeBlocks is installed in "C:\Program Files
(x86)\CodeBlocks", then “Compiler's Installation Directory” should be set it to "C:\Program Files
(x86)\CodeBlocks\MinGW". Click OK.
Similarly, check the debugger's path. Click on "Settings" menu, then in the drop down menu select
"Debugger”. The “Debugger settings” window will appear. Choose the “GDB” button for Debugger Type.
Expand "GDB/CDB debugger" on the left. Select "Default", then check the "Executable path" is set to the
full-path name of "gdb.exe". For example, "C:\Program Files (x86)\CodeBlocks\MinGW\bin\gdb.exe".
Click OK.
http://www.codeblocks.org/downloads
2. To create a project You should create a different project for each of the homework assignments. When a project is created,
a folder structure is created on your hard drive along with several files. In CodeBlocks, you need to
create a project to run the debugger.
1. Choose “File”, then “New”, then “Project”. The “New from template” window appears. In that window, choose “Console Application”, then click Go.
2. The "Console Application" wizard appears:
a. Click Next
b. Select "C++" for C++ or "C" for C, then click Next.
c. In "Project Title", enter the name you choose for your project. For the homeworks, name the project as “HWX_Y_NN”, where “X” is the homework number, “Y” is the part number within that homework, and “NN” are your initials. For example, let’s say you are submitting part 2 of homework number 3, and your first name and last name start with “K” and “L” respectively. Then the project name should be: “HW3_2_KL”. In "Folder to create project in", set to your working directory, e.g., "C:\Homeworks". Accept the default for the rest, then click Next.
d. In "Compiler" field, accept the defaults of "GNU GCC Compiler", then click Finish. A project directory "HW3_2_KL" has been created under "C:\Homeworks", with a project configuration filename of "HW3_2_KL.cbp". You could later create more projects under this working directory "C:\Homeworks".
3. Under the "Management" pane, choose "Projects" tab, then expand the project node "HW3_2_KL", then expand "Sources" node. Double-click "main.cpp" or “main.c”. The template program which prints "Hello, world!" appears on the right.
4. Edit the program as needed.
5. Once done editing, you need to build the executable. Select "Build" menu, then Build.
6. To run the program, select "Build" menu, then Run.
3. Reference compiler configuration for C++ To be consistent with the configuration used by the instructor, you need to configure the compiler as follows. Click on "Settings" menu at the top, then in the drop down menu select "Compiler”. The “Compiler settings” window will appear. Under “Compiler Flags” check the following boxes, then click OK.
4. Reference compiler configuration for C To be consistent with the configuration used by the instructor, you need to configure the compiler as follows. Click on "Settings" menu at the top, then in the drop down menu select "Compiler”. The “Compiler settings” window will appear. Under “Compiler Flags” check the following boxes, then click OK.
5. Reference editor configuration for C and C++
To meet the indentation requirements, configure the editor as follows. Click on "Settings" menu at the top, then in the drop down menu select "Editor”. The “Configure editor” window will appear. Change the “TAB size in spaces” to 3. In addition, it is recommended you uncheck “Code completion”.
6. To open an Existing Project You can open an existing project in one of the following ways:
From within CodeBlocks:
1. Go to "File" menu, choose "Recent Projects", then choose the desired project; or 2. Go to "File" menu, click "Open...", then navigate to your project directory. Choose
"ProjectName.cbp", where ".cbp" stands for CodeBlocks-Project.
7. What to submit
Compress the complete project folder into a zip file and submit the zip file. To compress the project folder:
Right click on the folder, and in the drop down menu, choose “Send to”, then in the next drop down,
choose “Compressed (zipped) folder”..
8. To add source files or header files under the same project (this section is for
more advanced programming classes and does not apply to CS1336 or CS1325)
1. Choose “File”, then “File”. The “New from template” window appears. In that window, choose
“C/C++ source” to create a source file, or “C/C++ header” to create a header file, then click Go.
2. If you chose “C/C++ source”, the “C/C++ source” wizard appears:
a. Click Next
b. Select “C++”, then click Next.
c. In "Filename with full path", click the (...) button to navigate to the project directory
where the file will be located and enter the new file name. Check both the "Debug" and
"Release" boxes (or "All"), then Finish.