Coding Setup: C++, Java, and Python in Windows

Setting up a robust coding environment for C++, Java, and Python in Windows can be a bit daunting, but with the right steps, it becomes a breeze. This guide will walk you through the entire process, ensuring you have a seamless setup. Let’s dive in! 🚀

Why Set Up a Coding Environment?

A well-configured coding environment can significantly enhance your productivity. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, having the right tools and configurations can make your coding experience more enjoyable and efficient.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

• Windows OS: The latest updates installed.
• 7-Zip: A decompressor to unzip .7z archives. Download it from here.
• VS Code: A versatile code editor. Download it from here.

Step 1: Setting Up C++

Downloading WinLibs

WinLibs is a standalone build of GCC and MinGW-w64 for Windows. It includes various tools like GDB, GNU Binutils, GNU Make, and more.

WinLibs Build Details

WinLibs offers several builds tailored to different needs:

• POSIX Threading Model: Best for cross-platform compatibility.
• WIN32 Threading Model: Native Windows threading but lacks POSIX threads.
• MCF Threading Model: Introduced in GCC 13, offers better performance and features.

Runtime Library Options

• MSVCRT: Traditional runtime library, available on all Windows versions.
• UCRT: Universal C Runtime, available on Windows 10 and later, provides better standards conformance.

Download Syntax

Download the package with the following naming convention:

GCC xx.x.0 (with POSIX threads) + LLVM/Clang/LLD/LLDB xx.x.x + MinGW-w64 xx.x.x UCRT - release x - Win64

For example:

GCC 11.2.0 (with POSIX threads) + LLVM/Clang/LLD/LLDB 12.0.1 + MinGW-w64 9.0.0 UCRT - release 2 - Win64

1. Download: Visit WinLibs and download the Win64 - x86_64 (UCRT) version.
2. Extract: Use 7-Zip to extract the downloaded file to C:/codetools/mingw64/.
3. Add to PATH: Add C:/codetools/mingw64/bin to your Windows environment path.

Configuring Environment Variables

1. Open Control Panel: Go to System > Advanced system settings > Environment Variables.
2. Edit PATH: Add C:/codetools/mingw64/bin to the Path variable.

Verify Installation

Restart Command Prompt and then open and type:

g++ --version

You should see the installed GCC version.

Step 2: Setting Up Python

Downloading Miniforge

Miniforge is a minimal installer for conda, specifically for conda-forge.

1. Download: Visit Miniforge and download Miniforge3-Windows-x86_64.exe. Here the steps are shown in Mambaforge but Miniforge also have the same steps.
2. Install: Run the installer and follow these steps:
   • Step 1: Install for “just me”.
   • Step 2: Set the installation path to C:\codetools\mambaforge.
   • Step 3: Check “Add Mambaforge to my PATH environment variable”.
   • Step 4: Deselect “register XXX as my default python 3.XX”.
   • Step 5: Wait for the installation to complete.

Post-Install Configuration

Open the Miniforge CMD terminal and run:

conda config --set auto_activate_base false
conda config --set channel_priority strict
conda init --all
conda update --yes --all
conda install --yes --name base mamba

Verify Installation

Open Command Prompt and type:

python --version

You should see the installed Python version.

Installation Images

Step 1: Install for “just me”.

Step 2: Set the path to install C:\codetools\mambaforge.

Step 3: Check “Add Mambaforge to my PATH environment variable”. Deselect “register XXX as my default python 3.XX”.

Note: The images are from the Mambaforge installer, but the steps are the same for Miniforge.

Step 3: Setting Up Java

Downloading OpenJDK

1. Download: Visit OpenJDK and download the latest version. The latest version should be JDK XX, where XX is the version number.
2. Extract: Use 7-Zip to extract the downloaded file to C:/codetools/jdk-xx/.

Configuring Environment Variables

1. Open Control Panel: Go to System > Advanced system settings > Environment Variables.
2. Set JAVA_HOME:
   • Click New under System Variables.
   • Enter JAVA_HOME as the variable name.
   • Enter C:/codetools/jdk-xx as the variable value.
3. Edit PATH: Add %JAVA_HOME%\bin to the Path variable.

Verify Installation

Open Command Prompt and type:

java -version

You should see the installed JDK version.

Step 4: Configuring VS Code for Code Execution

Installing Code Runner

1. Install Extension: Open VS Code, go to the Extensions view, and search for “Code Runner”. Install it.
2. Configure Settings:
   • Open settings.json by pressing Ctrl+Shift+P and searching for “settings json”.
   • Add the following configurations:

{
  "code-runner.executorMap": {
    "java": "cd $dir ; clear && javac $fileName && java $fileNameWithoutExt && Remove-Item $fileNameWithoutExt.class ",
    "cpp": "cd $dir ; clear && g++ $fileName -o $fileNameWithoutExt.exe && .\\$fileNameWithoutExt.exe && Remove-Item $fileNameWithoutExt.exe"
  }
}

Verify Configuration

Create a simple Java or C++ file and run it using the Code Runner extension.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up C++, Java, and Python in Windows. This setup will enhance your coding experience, making it more efficient and enjoyable. Happy coding! 🎉

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