C/C++ Building Reference 

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 32-Bit 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 32-bit Common Object File Format (COFF) binary files.

• DUMPBIN Reference
  Describes the Microsoft COFF Binary File Dumper (DUMPBIN.EXE), which displays information about 32-bit Common Object File Format (COFF) binary files.

• NMAKE Reference
  Describes the Microsoft Program Maintenance Utility (NMAKE.EXE), which is a 32-bit tool that builds projects based on commands contained in a description file.