Programming Fundamentals Using C++

Setup on Windows

MSYS2 + MinGW-w64 g++ · ~20–30 minutes · part of Compiler Setup

1. Install MSYS2

  1. Go to https://www.msys2.org/ and download the installer (msys2-x86_64-*.exe).
  2. Run it, keep the default install location (C:\msys64), and finish.

  3. Open MSYS2 UCRT64 from the Start menu (important: UCRT64, not plain MSYS2) and update the package database:

    pacman -Syu

    If it asks to close the window, close and reopen MSYS2 UCRT64, then run:

    pacman -Su

2. Install the compiler and tools

Still in MSYS2 UCRT64:

pacman -S --needed base-devel mingw-w64-ucrt-x86_64-toolchain

Press Enter to accept the default package group. This installs g++, gdb (a debugger), and make.

3. Add the compiler to your PATH (so PowerShell/CMD find it)

  1. Press Start, type “environment variables”, open “Edit the system environment variables” → Environment Variables…
  2. Under User variables, select Path → Edit → New
  3. Add exactly: C:\msys64\ucrt64\bin
  4. OK → OK → OK.

4. Verify

Open a new PowerShell window (PATH changes apply to new windows only):

g++ --version

You should see something like g++.exe (Rev3, Built by MSYS2 project) 14.x.x. Any 13+ version is comfortable; ≥ 9 works for this course.

5. First compile

mkdir C:\code\cpp-course\unit-01; cd C:\code\cpp-course\unit-01
notepad hello.cpp        # paste the sanity-check program, save
g++ -std=c++17 -Wall -Wextra hello.cpp -o hello
.\hello.exe

You should see the program’s output. If g++ is not recognized, re-check step 3 (and open a fresh window). More help: FAQ troubleshooting.

Install Visual Studio Code and the C/C++ extension (publisher: Microsoft), then follow toolchain/vs-code-tips.md for a one-keystroke build and a working debugger.

Next: verify with the course’s sanity check → then Lesson 1.