Programming C++ on MacBook

Question

Level 1

3 points

Programming C++ on MacBook

For the life of me, I can not get an answer on where to find the environment on my MacBook to start practicing C++. I've looked everywhere and all I can find is that I need to get to the gcc or gcc+ application. I really don't know what this means, as you can tell, I'm new to the Mac world. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Apr 29, 2009 10:09 AM

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Answer 1

kuoasis Author

Level 1

3 points

Jun 4, 2009 11:53 AM in response to kuoasis

Thanks again everyone.

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Answer 2

a brody

Level 10

85,314 points

Apr 29, 2009 10:47 AM in response to kuoasis

The discs that came with your MacBook include Developer tools. There is a forum specifically for developers under Mac OS X Technologies who can help you get familiar with them as well as this website:

http://developer.apple.com/

I'll ask a moderator to move your thread.

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Answer 3

Apr 29, 2009 11:06 AM in response to kuoasis

C++ development can be done with XCode. You'll need to install XCode from the install disks that came with your MacBook. It gets installed at the root level of your hard drive in a folder called Developer. Inside that look for the Applications folder - XCode is there. If you can't find the installer, go to developer.apple.com - it is a free download. Registration is required but it is simple and painless and free.

Once you install the developer tools, look around the developer web site. There are lots of good things to check out there, including tutorials.

If you want to do text only c++ programs, use the g++ compiler. You can access it through the Terminal (in /Applications/Utilities). There are a number of other programming languages available there, including Ruby, Python, Java and Perl.

Best of luck.

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Answer 4

kuoasis Author

Level 1

3 points

Apr 30, 2009 9:32 AM in response to kuoasis

On this same topic, can someone please advise on how to actually test out (compile) on Mac? I'm new to both C++ as well as Macs and I'm having trouble getting through this textbook on C++. I know this is a vague request, but any help would be great.

Thanks.

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Answer 5

sptrakesh

Level 4

1,785 points

Apr 30, 2009 9:58 AM in response to kuoasis

Compilation is the same on just about every platform (that runs gcc that is). The book you are using to learn C++ should give you the command line to use. If you use Xcode, then just Build or Build & Run should do the equivalent.

g++ test.cpp

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Answer 6

Apr 30, 2009 10:27 AM in response to kuoasis

Open the Terminal program (located in /Applications/Utilities/Terminal) and at the prompt, type the following:

g++ YourFileName.cpp

There are a bunch of options you can use with g++ (type man g++ at the prompt to find out about these) but that will produce either a bunch of errors (if you are normal and have not fixed all the problems yet) or a working file you can run by typing ./a.out in Terminal.

Hope this helps you.

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Answer 7

kuoasis Author

Level 1

3 points

May 1, 2009 10:45 AM in response to laundry bleach

Thanks for the support laundry, however, I'm still not getting the results I want. When I open a new Project in Xcode and I can not get the following code to execute. I'm so frustrated. Anymore help would be greatly appreciated.

#include <isostream>

using namespace std;

int main(int argc, char* argv [])
{
//Without "using" statement, this would be std::cout
cout << "Hi There!" << end1; // "end1" = next line
return 0;
}

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Answer 8

sptrakesh

Level 4

1,785 points

May 1, 2009 11:28 AM in response to kuoasis

What template did you use to create your project. I did a quick test with a Command Line Utility -> c++ project and "Build and Go" works fine. You can use the Run->Console to view the output. You can also tail /var/log/system.log for the same (if you are administrator).

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Answer 9

May 1, 2009 12:34 PM in response to kuoasis

The only problem I can see with your code is the output statement:

cout << "Hi There!" << end1; // "end1" = next line

should be

cout << "Hi There!" << endl;

You put a numeral one rather than a letter L in endl.

Best of luck.

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Answer 10

May 6, 2009 11:46 AM in response to kuoasis

Kuoasis, if you're up and running go ahead and mark this thread "Answered".

It's also good form to award "helpful" and/or "solved" points to people who provided answers and advice and helped you out.

Glad it's working for you.

=Tod

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