Open Source Projects and IDEs

Question

0.00/5 (No votes)

See more:

I am a newbie programmer who has some experience in C and C++ development but my knowledge and experience is very limited to the Windows and the Visual Studio environment. Recently I was looking into some open-source projects like Gimp, Inkspace, Code::Blocks...etc. but found myself in frustration because of the unfamiliarity. I couldn't even build any of the projects.

So my question are:
1) What are makefiles ?
2) How do contributors to open-source software write their code ? I mean they must use an IDE. How can I open up an open-source project in an IDE like Visual Studio or Code::Blocks ?

Note:
The only open-source project I have ever successfully created is NotePad++. That's because there were Visual Studio project files in the source directory so I just had to double click and hit the button build.

Thanks!

-EDIT-
Searching over the internet I've found that some people only use text-editors like vim to write code. I would also like to know what professional C/C++ developers use, IDE or text-editor ? What do you use when you're coding/maintaining large code bases ? People who contribute to software like Linux Kernel, Photoshop, Inkspace...etc, what do they use ?

Posted 12-Feb-15 7:29am

Codexzy

Updated 12-Feb-15 10:05am

v2

Add a Solution

Comments

RedDk 12-Feb-15 13:38pm

I recall attempting to compile makefile projects, presumeably "opensource", but I always knew that the concept of a makefile was somewhat antiquated. Visual Studio "project" has evolved over the years. And as far as the opensource idea goes, I think you're looking for opensource projects that someone has been kind enough to maintain, in a sense, by creating a VS project file out of the makefile stubb (with all the low level furniture that that undertaking requires). I'm still a newbie and I've been doing VS since 2001.

Another thought: stick to what you can do using the tools you have.

Codexzy 12-Feb-15 16:08pm

Yes, I also think that makefiles are obsolete. But I think they're widely used even today and I really want to contribute to some open-source project.

1 solution

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

bling · Answer 1 · 2015-02-12T08:04:00

Quote:
1) What are makefiles ?

If you have Visual Studio installed, run "Visual Studio Command Line". In the command window, type "nmake". That's Microsoft's version of the make command. In that same command window, type "cl". That's Microsoft's C++ compiler. It's the same program that Visual Studio runs each time you build a project.

This link describes the format of a makefile.

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/yz1tske6.aspx[^]

Quote:
2) How do contributors to open-source software write their code ? I mean they must use an IDE. How can I open up an open-source project in an IDE like Visual Studio or Code::Blocks ?

They might use a simple editor instead of an IDE. Some use Emacs, vi, or even Notepad. I've seen programmers use plain old vi with screen to great effect.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vi[^]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Screen[^]

I prefer an IDE myself. Take a look at Netbeans and Exclipse. The trouble with IDEs is they need you to provide a configuration (much like project and solution files) to describe the different pieces and how to build them.

If all I gave you was a makefile and some C source files, you would have to build the project file yourself.