π₯οΈ C++ Application Development
Letβs build actual C++ desktop apps β from console programs to full GUI apps using Visual Studio or command-line tools. C++ is hardcore fast and battle-tested for everything from games to operating systems.
π§ Tools Youβll Need
- Windows: Visual Studio Community Edition (free)
- Linux/macOS:
g++
compiler via terminal
- Optional: CMake for cross-platform builds
π‘ Pro devs use Visual Studio for big apps, and g++ for lightweight command-line utilities.
π₯ Install Visual Studio (Windows)
π Your First Console App (Windows + VS)
βΆοΈ Building & Running
- In Visual Studio: Build β Build Solution (Ctrl+Shift+B)
- Run via Debug β Start Without Debugging (Ctrl+F5)
π₯οΈ Compile via Command Line (g++)
π¦ Moving Into GUI Apps
- Use Windows Forms / Win32 API via Visual Studio
- Or external frameworks like:
π Pro Tips
π‘ Always separate your project into:
.h
header files for declarations
.cpp
files for implementations
- A main.cpp to launch your app