Equipment You Will Need To Be a C++ Coder

You don’t need to invest a huge amount of money in order to learn C++, and you don’t need an entire computing lab at your disposal either. Providing you have a fairly modern computer, everything else is freely available.

C++ SETUPS

Thankfully, Python is a multi-platform programming language available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi and more. If you have one of those systems, then you can easily start using Python.

COMPUTER

Unless you fancy writing out your C++ code by hand on a sheet of paper (which is something many older coders used to do), then a computer is an absolute must have component. PC users can have any recent Linux distro or Windows OS, Mac users the latest macOS.

TEXT EDITOR

Some programmers much prefer to use a text editor to assemble their C++ code before running it through a compiler. Essentially you can any text editor to write code, just save it with a .cpp extension. However, Notepad++ is one of the best code text editors available.

AN IDE

As with Python, an IDE is used to enter and execute your C++ code. Many IDEs come with extensions and plugins that help make it work better, or add an extra level of functionality. Often, an IDE will provide enhancements depending on the core OS being used, such as being enhanced for Windows 10.

INTERNET ACCESS

While it’s entirely possible to learn how to code on a computer that’s not attached to the Internet, it’s extraordinarily difficult. You will need to install the relevant software, keep it up to date, install any extras or extensions, and look for help when coding. All of which require access to the Internet.

COMPILER

A compiler is a program that will convert the C++ language into binary that the computer can understand. While some IDEs come with a compiler built in, others don’t. Code::Blocks is our favourite IDE that comes with a C++ compiler as part of the package. More on this later.

TIME AND PATIENCE

Yes, as with Python, you’re going to need to set aside significant time to spend on learning how to code in C++. Sadly, unless you’re a genius, it’s not going to happen overnight, or even a week. A good C++ coder has spent many years honing their craft, so be patient, start small and keep learning.

OS SPECIFIC NEEDS

C++ will work in any operating system, however, getting all the necessary pieces together can be confusing to a newcomer. Here’s some OS specifics for C++.

LINUX

Linux users are lucky in that they already have a compiler and text editor built into their operating system. Any text editor will allow you type out your C++ code, when it’s saved with a .cpp extension, use g++ to compile it.

WINDOWS

As we’ve mentioned previously, a good IDE is Microsoft’s Visual Studio. However, a better IDE and compiler is Code::Blocks, which is regularly kept up to date with a new release twice a year, or so. Otherwise Windows users can enter their code in Notepad++ then compile it with MinGW – which Code::Blocks uses.

RASPBERY PI

The Raspberry Pi’s operating system is Raspbian, which is Linux based. Therefore, you’re able to write your code out using a text editor, then compile it with g++ as you would in any other Linux distro.

MAC

Mac owners will need to download and install Xcode to be able to compile their C++ code natively. Other options for the macOS include Netbeans, Eclipse or Code::Blocks. Note: the latest Code::Blocks isn’t available for Mac due to a lack of Mac developers.

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