You signed in with another tab or window. Reload to refresh your session.You signed out in another tab or window. Reload to refresh your session.You switched accounts on another tab or window. Reload to refresh your session.Dismiss alert
title: "Using the Visual Studio IDE for C++ Desktop Development | Microsoft Docs"
3
-
ms.custom: ""
4
-
ms.date: "11/04/2016"
5
-
ms.reviewer: ""
6
-
ms.suite: ""
3
+
ms.date: "11/27/2017"
7
4
ms.technology: ["cpp-ide"]
8
-
ms.tgt_pltfrm: ""
9
5
ms.topic: "article"
10
6
dev_langs: ["C++"]
11
7
helpviewer_keywords: ["IDE [C++]", "Visual Studio IDE [C++]"]
@@ -17,33 +13,34 @@ manager: "ghogen"
17
13
---
18
14
# Using the Visual Studio IDE for C++ Desktop Development
19
15
20
-
The Visual Studio Integrated Development Environment (IDE) offers a set of features that help you manage large and small code projects, write and refactor your code, and detect and correct errors by using both static analysis and powerful debugging tools. This set of articles is designed to walk you through each step you'll need to manage your projects, write, test, and debug your code, and then deploy it to another computer.
21
-
22
-
## Prerequisites
23
-
24
-
If you haven't installed Visual Studio yet, now is the time. To get Visual Studio, you can download it from [Visual Studio Downloads](http://www.visualstudio.com/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs.aspx). Be sure to include the Visual C++ development tools when you install Visual Studio, because they are not installed by default. For more information about how to install Visual Studio, see []().
25
-
26
-
These walkthroughs assume that you have installed Visual Studio and the Visual C++ language and components required for Windows Desktop development. We also assume you understand the fundamentals of the C++ language. If you need to learn C++, there are many books and web resources available. One good place to start is the [Get Started](https://isocpp.org/get-started) page of the Standard C++ Foundation website.
27
-
28
-
Once your Visual Studio installation is complete, you are ready to continue.
29
-
30
-
## Get Started
31
-
32
-
To get started using the Visual Studio IDE to build C++ apps, work through each of these topics in order. Each one builds on the work you completed in the previous topics:
33
-
34
-
-[Walkthrough: Working with Projects and Solutions (C++)](../ide/walkthrough-working-with-projects-and-solutions-cpp.md)
35
-
36
-
-[Walkthrough: Building a Project (C++)](../ide/walkthrough-building-a-project-cpp.md)
37
-
38
-
-[Walkthrough: Testing a Project (C++)](../ide/walkthrough-testing-a-project-cpp.md)
39
-
40
-
-[Walkthrough: Debugging a Project (C++)](../ide/walkthrough-debugging-a-project-cpp.md)
41
-
42
-
-[Walkthrough: Deploying Your Program (C++)](../ide/walkthrough-deploying-your-program-cpp.md)
43
-
44
-
## Next Steps
45
-
46
-
Once you've completed these walkthroughs, you're ready to start building your own projects. For more information and resources for Visual C++ development, see [Visual C++ in Visual Studio](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/60k1461a.aspx).
47
-
48
-
## See Also
49
-
[Application Development in Visual Studio](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/97490c1b-a247-41fb-8f2c-bc4c201eff68)
16
+
The Visual Studio Integrated Development Environment (IDE) offers a set of features that help you manage large and small code projects, write and refactor your code, and detect and correct errors by using both static analysis and powerful debugging tools. This set of articles is designed to walk you through each step you'll need to manage your projects, write, test, and debug your code, and then deploy it to another computer.
17
+
18
+
## Prerequisites
19
+
20
+
If you haven't installed Visual Studio yet, now is the time. To get Visual Studio, you can download it from [Visual Studio Downloads](http://www.visualstudio.com/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs.aspx). Be sure to include the Visual C++ development tools when you install Visual Studio, because they are not installed by default. For more information about how to install Visual Studio, see [Install Visual Studio](/visualstudio/install/install-visual-studio).
21
+
22
+
These walkthroughs assume that you have installed Visual Studio and the Visual C++ language and components required for Windows Desktop development. We also assume you understand the fundamentals of the C++ language. If you need to learn C++, there are many books and web resources available. One good place to start is the [Get Started](https://isocpp.org/get-started) page of the Standard C++ Foundation website.
23
+
24
+
Once your Visual Studio installation is complete, you are ready to continue.
25
+
26
+
## Get started
27
+
28
+
To get started using the Visual Studio IDE to build C++ apps, work through each of these topics in order. Each one builds on the work you completed in the previous topics:
29
+
30
+
-[Walkthrough: Working with Projects and Solutions (C++)](../ide/walkthrough-working-with-projects-and-solutions-cpp.md)
31
+
32
+
-[Walkthrough: Building a Project (C++)](../ide/walkthrough-building-a-project-cpp.md)
33
+
34
+
-[Walkthrough: Testing a Project (C++)](../ide/walkthrough-testing-a-project-cpp.md)
35
+
36
+
-[Walkthrough: Debugging a Project (C++)](../ide/walkthrough-debugging-a-project-cpp.md)
37
+
38
+
-[Walkthrough: Deploying Your Program (C++)](../ide/walkthrough-deploying-your-program-cpp.md)
39
+
40
+
## Next steps
41
+
42
+
Once you've completed these walkthroughs, you're ready to start building your own projects. For more information and resources for Visual C++ development, see [Visual C++ in Visual Studio](../visual-cpp-in-visual-studio.md).
43
+
44
+
## See also
45
+
46
+
[Get started developing with Visual Studio](/visualstudio/ide/get-started-developing-with-visual-studio)
The Visual C++ code editor and IDE provide many coding aids. Some are unique to C++, and some are essentially the same for all Visual Studio languages. For more information about the shared features, see [Writing Code in the Code and Text Editor](/visualstudio/ide/writing-code-in-the-code-and-text-editor). Options for enabling and configuring C++-specific features are located in the [Text Editor C++ Advanced](/visualstudio/ide/reference/options-text-editor-c-cpp-advanced) dialog (**Tools | Options | Text Editor | C/C++ | Advanced** or type "C++ Advanced" in **Quick Launch**). After choosing which option you want to set, you can get more help by pressing **F1** when the dialog is in focus. For general code formatting options, type `Editor C++` into **QuickLaunch**.
18
+
19
+
The Visual C++ code editor and IDE provide many coding aids. Some are unique to C++, and some are essentially the same for all Visual Studio languages. For more information about the shared features, see [Writing Code in the Code and Text Editor](/visualstudio/ide/writing-code-in-the-code-and-text-editor). Options for enabling and configuring C++-specific features are located in the [Text Editor C++ Advanced](/visualstudio/ide/reference/options-text-editor-c-cpp-advanced) dialog (**Tools | Options | Text Editor | C/C++ | Advanced** or type "C++ Advanced" in **Quick Launch**). After choosing which option you want to set, you can get more help by pressing **F1** when the dialog is in focus. For general code formatting options, type `Editor C++` into **QuickLaunch**.
19
20
20
21
Experimental features, which may or may not be included in a future version of Visual Studio, are found in the [Text Editor C++ Experimental](/visualstudio/ide/reference/options-text-editor-c-cpp-experimental) dialog. In Visual Studio 2017 you can enable **Predictive Intellisense** in this dialog.
21
-
22
-
## Adding new code
23
-
After creating a project, you can start coding in the files that were generated for you. To add new files, right-click on the project node in Solution Explorer and choose **Add | New**.
24
-
25
-
To set formatting options such as indents, brace completion, and colorization, type `C++ Formatting` into the **QuickLaunch** window.
26
-
27
-
### IntelliSense
28
-
IntelliSense is the name for a set of features that provide inline information about members, types, and function overloads. The following illustration shows the member list drop-down that appears as you type. You can press the tab key to enter the selected item text into your code file.
29
-
30
-
![C++ member list drop down](../ide/media/vs2015_cpp_statement_completion.png"vs2015_cpp_statement_completion")
31
-
32
-
For complete information see [Visual C++ Intellisense](/visualstudio/ide/visual-cpp-intellisense).
33
-
34
-
### Insert Snippets
35
-
A snippet is a predefined piece of source code. Right-click on a single point or on selected text to either insert a snippet or surround the selected text with the snippet. The following illustration shows the three steps to surround a selected statement with a for loop. The yellow highlights in the final image are editable fields that you access with the tab key. For more information, see [Code Snippets](/visualstudio/ide/code-snippets).
Add a new class from the **Project** menu by using the Class Wizard.
41
-
42
-
![Add New Class in Visual C++](../ide/media/vs2015_cpp_add_class.png"vs2015_cpp_add_class")
43
-
44
-
### Class Wizard
45
-
Modify or examine an existing class, or add a new class, using the Class Wizard. For more information, see [Adding Functionality with Code Wizards (C++)](../ide/adding-functionality-with-code-wizards-cpp.md).
46
-
47
-
![Visual C++ Class Wizard](../ide/media/vs2015_cpp_class_wizard.png"vs2015_cpp_class_wizard")
48
-
49
-
## Refactoring
50
-
Refactorings are available under the Quick Action context menu, or by clicking on a [light bulb](/visualstudio/ide/perform-quick-actions-with-light-bulbs) in the editor. Some are also found in the **Edit > Refactor** menu. These features include:
22
+
23
+
## Adding new code
24
+
25
+
After creating a project, you can start coding in the files that were generated for you. To add new files, right-click on the project node in Solution Explorer and choose **Add | New**.
26
+
27
+
To set formatting options such as indents, brace completion, and colorization, type `C++ Formatting` into the **QuickLaunch** window.
28
+
29
+
### IntelliSense
30
+
31
+
IntelliSense is the name for a set of features that provide inline information about members, types, and function overloads. The following illustration shows the member list drop-down that appears as you type. You can press the tab key to enter the selected item text into your code file.
32
+
33
+
![C++ member list drop down](../ide/media/vs2015_cpp_statement_completion.png"vs2015_cpp_statement_completion")
34
+
35
+
For complete information see [Visual C++ Intellisense](/visualstudio/ide/visual-cpp-intellisense).
36
+
37
+
### Insert Snippets
38
+
39
+
A snippet is a predefined piece of source code. Right-click on a single point or on selected text to either insert a snippet or surround the selected text with the snippet. The following illustration shows the three steps to surround a selected statement with a for loop. The yellow highlights in the final image are editable fields that you access with the tab key. For more information, see [Code Snippets](/visualstudio/ide/code-snippets).
Add a new class from the **Project** menu by using the Class Wizard.
46
+
47
+
![Add New Class in Visual C++](../ide/media/vs2015_cpp_add_class.png"vs2015_cpp_add_class")
48
+
49
+
### Class Wizard
50
+
51
+
Modify or examine an existing class, or add a new class, using the Class Wizard. For more information, see [Adding Functionality with Code Wizards (C++)](../ide/adding-functionality-with-code-wizards-cpp.md).
52
+
53
+
![Visual C++ Class Wizard](../ide/media/vs2015_cpp_class_wizard.png"vs2015_cpp_class_wizard")
54
+
55
+
## Refactoring
56
+
57
+
Refactorings are available under the Quick Action context menu, or by clicking on a [light bulb](/visualstudio/ide/perform-quick-actions-with-light-bulbs) in the editor. Some are also found in the **Edit > Refactor** menu. These features include:
Right click on the header name in an `#include` directive and open the header file.
69
-
70
-
![Visual C++ Open Document menu option](../ide/media/vs2015_cpp_open_document.png"vs2015_cpp_open_document")
71
-
72
-
### Peek Definition
73
-
Hover over a variable or function declaration, right-click, then choose **Peek Definition** to see an inline view of its definition. For more information, see [Peek Definition (Alt+F12)](/visualstudio/ide/how-to-view-and-edit-code-by-using-peek-definition-alt-plus-f12).
Hover over a variable or function declaration, right-click, then choose **Go To Definition** to open the document where the object is defined.
79
-
80
-
### View Call Hierarchy
81
-
Right click on any function call and view a resursive list of all the functions that it calls, and all the functions that call it. Each function in the list can be expanded in the same way. For more information, see [Call Hierarchy](/visualstudio/ide/reference/call-hierarchy).
Right-click and choose Toggle Header / Code File to switch back and forth between a header file and its associated code file.
87
-
88
-
### Outlining
89
-
Right-click anywhere in a source code file and choose **Outlining** to collapse or expand definitions and/or custom regions to make it easier to browse only the parts you are interested in. For more information, see [Outlining](/visualstudio/ide/outlining).
Scrollbar map mode enables you to quickly scroll and browse through a code file without actually leaving your current location. Or click anywhere on the code map to go directly to that location.
95
-
96
-
![Code Map in Visual C++](../ide/media/vs2015_cpp_code_map.png"vs2015_cpp_code_map")
97
-
98
-
### Generate graph of include files
99
-
Right click on a code file in your project and choose **Generate graph of include files** to see a graph of which files are included by other files.
100
-
101
-
![Visual C++ graph of include files](../ide/media/vs2015_cpp_include_graph.png"vs2015_cpp_include_graph")
102
-
103
-
### F1 Help
104
-
Place the cursor on or just after any type, keyword or function and press F1 to go directly to the relevant MSDN reference topic. F1 also works on items in the error list, and in many dialog boxes.
105
-
106
-
### Quick Launch
107
-
To easily navigate to any window or tool in Visual Studio, simply type its name in the Quick Launch window in the upper right corner of the UI. The auto-completion list will filter as you type.
108
-
109
-
![Visual Studio Quick Launch](../ide/media/vs2015_cpp_quick_launch.png"vs2015_cpp_quick_launch")
68
+
69
+
Visual C++ shares many code navigation features with other languages. For more information, see [Navigating Code](/visualstudio/ide/navigating-code) and [Viewing the Structure of Code](/visualstudio/ide/viewing-the-structure-of-code).
70
+
71
+
### QuickInfo
72
+
73
+
Hover over a variable to see its type information.
Right click on the header name in an `#include` directive and open the header file.
80
+
81
+
![Visual C++ Open Document menu option](../ide/media/vs2015_cpp_open_document.png"vs2015_cpp_open_document")
82
+
83
+
### Peek Definition
84
+
85
+
Hover over a variable or function declaration, right-click, then choose **Peek Definition** to see an inline view of its definition. For more information, see [Peek Definition (Alt+F12)](/visualstudio/ide/how-to-view-and-edit-code-by-using-peek-definition-alt-plus-f12).
Hover over a variable or function declaration, right-click, then choose **Go To Definition** to open the document where the object is defined.
92
+
93
+
### View Call Hierarchy
94
+
95
+
Right click on any function call and view a resursive list of all the functions that it calls, and all the functions that call it. Each function in the list can be expanded in the same way. For more information, see [Call Hierarchy](/visualstudio/ide/reference/call-hierarchy).
Right-click and choose Toggle Header / Code File to switch back and forth between a header file and its associated code file.
102
+
103
+
### Outlining
104
+
105
+
Right-click anywhere in a source code file and choose **Outlining** to collapse or expand definitions and/or custom regions to make it easier to browse only the parts you are interested in. For more information, see [Outlining](/visualstudio/ide/outlining).
Scrollbar map mode enables you to quickly scroll and browse through a code file without actually leaving your current location. Or click anywhere on the code map to go directly to that location.
112
+
113
+
![Code Map in Visual C++](../ide/media/vs2015_cpp_code_map.png"vs2015_cpp_code_map")
114
+
115
+
### Generate graph of include files
116
+
117
+
Right click on a code file in your project and choose **Generate graph of include files** to see a graph of which files are included by other files.
118
+
119
+
![Visual C++ graph of include files](../ide/media/vs2015_cpp_include_graph.png"vs2015_cpp_include_graph")
120
+
121
+
### F1 Help
122
+
123
+
Place the cursor on or just after any type, keyword or function and press F1 to go directly to the relevant MSDN reference topic. F1 also works on items in the error list, and in many dialog boxes.
124
+
125
+
### Quick Launch
126
+
127
+
To easily navigate to any window or tool in Visual Studio, simply type its name in the Quick Launch window in the upper right corner of the UI. The auto-completion list will filter as you type.
128
+
129
+
![Visual Studio Quick Launch](../ide/media/vs2015_cpp_quick_launch.png"vs2015_cpp_quick_launch")
0 commit comments