Installing Cygwin gcc in NetBeans

One of the best IDE for program or project development is NetBeans. The configurations of NetBeans for Java is much easier than C/C++. In this post I try to tell you how exactly do you install Netbeans and then configure it for use as a platform for C/C++ program development in Microsoft Windows OS. For C/C++ compiler I would use Cygwin gcc compiler.

Install NetBeans:

• Download NetBeans from here according to your requirements.
• Install it by double clicking on the .exe file downloaded.

Install the Cygwin gcc package:

• Click on http://www.cygwin.com/setup.exe to download the setup file.
• Double click on the setup file downloaded.
• Click "Continue" in case confirmation appears.
• Click on "Next".
• The download has 3 options:
• --"Install from internet (downloaded files will be kept for future reuse)".
• --"Download without installing", simply downloads the files and you can install them later.
• --"Install from Local Directory", in case you have the supporting files.
• --Choose the appropriate option(recommended "Install from internet" assuming you have not downloaded the setup files) and click "next".
• The "Root Directory" specifies the folder where the cygwin is to be installed. It is set to, "C:\cygwin", but you can change it according to your convenience.
• Next it asks for "Local Package Directory", that is, where the files are to be stored. Choose any temporary folder.
• Choose the connection type.
• The package starts downloading.
• This produces a list of download sites, choose the nearest location to get the maximum speed of download.
• Next you get a list of packages which you can install, don't install the entire package, since they are not required.
• According to NetBeans the following packages are to be installed:
• --gcc-core - C compiler.
• --gcc-g++ - C++ compiler.
• --gdb - The GNU Debugger.
• --make - the GNU version of the make utility.
• To install click on the "refresh/default" button alongside the following packages:
• --The "base" package. This is to install the total base package.
• --In the "devel" package select only the following:
• ----binutils
• ----gcc core
• ----gcc mingw core
• ----gdb
• ----make
• ----mingw runtime
• If there are certain default packages selected for installation do not uncheck them.
• Click "Next". This will start downloading the packages.
• After the packages are downloaded, click "Next" to install them.

Setting the path for the compiler:

• Right click on "My Computer".
• Select "Properties".
• The select "Advanced System settings".
• Click on "Environment variables" at the bottom.
• Select "Path" and click "Edit".
• Add "C:\Cygwin\Bin”(or wherever you have located your Cygwin\bin folder) to the PATH variables list.
• Make sure to separate it from the last path with a ";".
• Click "Ok" and exit.

That is all.

NOTE:
The Cygwin gcc compiler installed can be used with any other IDEs or such other software which support manual addition of C/C++ compilers.

Enjoy!