Thread: n00b: trying to compile 'hello world' in visual studio 2010

im trying to compile the basic 'hello world' in vs2010 and the build icons are greyed out. any reason why?

#include <iostream.h>

int main ()
{
cout << "Hello World!\n";
return 0;
}

::edit::

vs can't seem to find 'iostream.h' file.

::edit::

nevermind the iostream.h. apparently its iostream now. but i still can't build the damn thing. /cry

You can't compile because the icon is greyed out? I could only imagine two situations this happens:

- a build is currently running, which is propably not
- maybe a stupid question: Did you create a project? You can open a cpp file with VS, but you won't be able to compile it, so you need to create a project and include your files in the project


Edit: I'm not sure if I understood your question. But just detected a mistake. Try this:

#include <iostream.h>

using namespace std;

int main ()
{
cout << "Hello World!\n";
return 0;
}

I suspect the same as Tim . Did you make a C++ project or are you just trying to compile standalone C++ file.

If you have not made a project go to File-->New project -->Visual c++ -->empty project.
Add your .cpp in the project . Now Build should not be greyed out.

Not sure about the whole project thing, but I created a file "hello.cpp" like this:

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main ()
{
cout << "Hello World!\n";
return 0;
}

compiled it and ran it. Does cout even work in visual studio? Isnt that command line specific? To be honest, I've only used vs a few times.

Originally Posted by nivlac

nevermind the iostream.h. apparently its iostream now. but i still can't build the damn thing. /cry

You will encounter situations like these a fair bit in your programming life :) So your first problem was that the compiler couldn't find the header file, because you don't write ".h" for that particular include. You solved that problem yourself, so if it's still not building there must be another error, otherwise you will get "0 errors 0 warnings" in the console window. What is that error?

Originally Posted by agent69

Not sure about the whole project thing, but I created a file "hello.cpp" like this:

Does cout even work in visual studio? Isnt that command line specific?

It surely does. You can also make console applications on Visual Studio , not just GUI based

please follow this step creating project,

file->new->project
win32->win32 console application
wizard->press next
choose [Console application] & Empty Project!!!

After thses steps you will have an empty c++ console project.

Add your cpp file to project and it will compile.

Your code should work in CodeBlocks or DevCpp ( you will need also system("pause") ) , for VS you probably should follow ebirlik's tip.