Hi,

Is anyone else experiencing problems to download the above from sourceforge: https://sourceforge.net/projects/mingw-w64/.

The documents I follow all state that the downloaded file should be an exe but in this case I download a zip with source documents.

Under Files I found the installer (mingw-w64-install.exe) but after it starts it return an error that requirments.txt cannot be downloaded.

If you are new to C/C++ and want to: - Run C/C++ programs on Windows -

Use VS Code - Debug step-by-step (see variable values change)

This guide is for you.

You do NOT need MSYS2. This is a simple method.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT WE ARE INSTALLING

We need two things: 1. Compiler -> Converts C/C++ code into a program 2.

Debugger -> Lets you run code step-by-step

We will install both together using MinGW-w64.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

STEP 1: Download the Compiler (GCC + GDB)

Go to: https://www.winlibs.com/

Scroll to Downloads. Download the latest Win64 ZIP archive (for 64-bit

Windows).

This includes: - gcc (C compiler) - g++ (C++ compiler) - gdb (debugger)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

STEP 2: Extract the Files

1. Extract the downloaded ZIP file.

2. Move the extracted folder to:

C:

Check inside:

C:

You should see: - g++.exe - gcc.exe - gdb.exe

------------------------------------------------------------------------

STEP 3: Add to Environment Variables

1. Press Windows + S

2. Search: Environment Variables

3. Click “Edit the system environment variables”

4. Click “Environment Variables”

5. Under User variables, select Path

6. Click Edit

7. Click New

8. Add:

C:

Click OK and restart your PC.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

STEP 4: Test Installation

Open Command Prompt and type:

g++ –version gdb –version

If both show version information, installation is successful.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

STEP 5: Install VS Code

Download from: https://code.visualstudio.com/

Install the extension: C/C++ (by Microsoft)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

STEP 6: Run Your First C++ Program

Create a file: main.cpp

Paste:

#include using namespace std;

int main() { int a = 5; int b = 10; int sum = a + b; cout << “Sum is:”

<< sum << endl; return 0; }

Compile and run:

g++ main.cpp -o main main

You should see: Sum is: 15

------------------------------------------------------------------------

STEP 7: Debug Step-by-Step

1. Click left side of a line to add a breakpoint (red dot).

2. Press F5.

3. Use: F10 -> Next line F11 -> Step into function

You can now: - Watch variable values - Understand how code runs - Learn

stack, queue, recursion, BFS properly

------------------------------------------------------------------------

This method is simple, clean, and perfect for beginners learning C/C++

on Windows with VS Code.

task.json

{
    "tasks": [
        {
            "type": "cppbuild",
            "label": "C/C++: gcc.exe build active file",
            "command": "C:\\mingw32\\bin\\gcc.exe",
            "args": [
                "-fdiagnostics-color=always",
                "-g",
                "${file}",
                "-o",
                "${fileDirname}\\${fileBasenameNoExtension}.exe"
            ],
            "options": {
                "cwd": "${fileDirname}"
            },
            "problemMatcher": [
                "$gcc"
            ],
            "group": {
                "kind": "build",
                "isDefault": true
            },
            "detail": "Task generated by Debugger."
        }
    ],
    "version": "2.0.0"
}