Dev-C++ : Creating a project

Software version used in this tutorial: Dev-C++ 5.0 beta 9.2 (4.9.9.2)

Microsoft Visual Studio is not the only tool that you can use to create programs using C++. Another popular tool is Dev-C++ created by the rather interestingly named Bloodshed software.

The nice thing about it is that it's 100% free as it's open-sourced and based upon a port of the C++ compilers used on Linux. You can download it from http://www.bloodshed.net/devcpp.html

This tutorial shows you how to create a new project and a simple program using Dev-C++.

Step 1 : Click on the Project... button

Click on the Project... buttonThis will open up the New Project dialogue window.

There are a number of different project templates that you can use (each with certain files included to make your life a little easier).

The next step will explain which options to choose.

Step 2 : Choose your new project options

The new project window in Dev-C++

  1. Select the appropriate project type. If you're in the process of learning C++, empty project would probably be your best selection. That way you're in complete control of what is included in your project.
  2. Give the project a name in the Project Options at the bottom. I'm going to change "Project1" to "SimpleProgram".
  3. Make sure C++ Project is selected on the two radio buttons.
  4. Click on the OK button.

Step 3 : Choose a location for the project files

As soon as you click the OK button, a file browser will be displayed asking you where to save the project file. I stongly recommend that you create a new folder for each project and then save the project inside that new folder.

Step 4 : Create a new file for your source code

Right click on the project name and choose New FileYou will need a file to write your C++ source code in.

Right click on the project name on the left and select New File.

A new file will be created and displayed in the main area of the IDE. Note that the file is on a tab. You can open or create mutliple different files to edit, each of which will be available on its own tab.

Step 5 : Save the source code file

Click on the File menu and then Save As...Click on the save file icon or click on the File menu and choose Save As... to save the newly created source code file.

If it's the file that contains your main function then main.cpp would be a good name to save it as.

You're now ready to start writing your program.

Don't forget to save your source code every so often.

Take a look at the tutorial on a simple program if you're not sure where to go from here.