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C/C++ Building Reference

Visual Studio 2008

Visual C++ provides two ways of building a C/C++ program. The easiest (and most common) way is to build within the Visual C++ development environment. The other way is to build from a command prompt using command-line tools. In either case, you can create your source files using the Visual C++ source editor or a third-party editor of your choice.

If your program uses a makefile rather than a .vcproj file, you can still build it in the development environment as an external project.

In This Section

Frequently Asked Questions on Building: Provides links to frequently asked questions when building.
Compiling a C/C++ Program: Describes the compiler, which creates an object file containing machine code, linker directives, sections, external references, and function/data names.
Linking: Describes the linker, which combines code from the object files created by the compiler and from statically linked libraries, resolves the name references, and creates an executable file.
Release Builds: Presents information on why and when you would want to change from a debug build to a release build and also discusses some of the problems you may encounter when changing from a debug to a release build.
Optimizing Your Code: Provides links to topics discussing the mechanisms for optimizing code:
C/C++ Build Tools: Provides the following command-line tools for viewing or manipulating build output:
C/C++ Build Errors: Introduces the build errors section in the table of contents.

Related Sections

C/C++ Preprocessor Reference: Discusses the preprocessor, which prepares source files for the compiler by translating macros, operators, and directives.
Understanding Custom Build Steps and Build Events: Discusses customizing the build process.
Building a C/C++ Program: Provides links to topics describing building your program from the command line or from the integrated development environment of Visual Studio.
Setting Compiler Options: Describes setting compiler options in the development environment or on the command line.
Compiler Options: Provides links to topics discussing using compiler options.
Setting Linker Options: Describes setting linker options inside or outside the integrated development environment.
Linker Options: Provides links to topics discussing using linker options.
BSCMAKE Reference: Describes the Microsoft Browse Information Maintenance Utility (BSCMAKE.EXE), which builds a browse information file (.bsc) from .sbr files created during compilation.
LIB Reference: Describes the Microsoft Library Manager (LIB.exe), which creates and manages a library of Common Object File Format (COFF) object files.
EDITBIN Reference: Describes the Microsoft COFF Binary File Editor (EDITBIN.EXE), which modifies Common Object File Format (COFF) binary files.
DUMPBIN Reference: Describes the Microsoft COFF Binary File Dumper (DUMPBIN.EXE), which displays information about Common Object File Format (COFF) binary files.
NMAKE Reference: Describes the Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility (NMAKE.EXE), which is a tool that builds projects based on commands contained in a description file.

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