[MacOS] Set C++ environment with Visual Studio Code

This post is written by YoungJ-Baek

1. Preface

This post describes how to set C++ environment at MacOS via Visual Studio Code. The post is assuming that VSCode and Homebrew are already installed.

2. Clang

MacOS uses Clang as a compiler. So, you need to check whether it is installed or not. If it is not installed, you need to install it.

Check Clang is installed

$ clang --version
Apple clang version 14.0.0 (clang-1400.0.29.202)
Target: arm64-apple-darwin22.2.0
Thread model: posix
InstalledDir: /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Toolchains/XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/bin

Install if it not installed

$ xcode-select --install

3. Make directory

Then, you need to make a directory for your project. The name can be anything, project, cpp, etc. In my case, I want to study algorithm via C++, so I make one named algorithm.

Make a directory for project

$ mkdir algorithm

4. VScode Extension

To use C++ at Visual Studio Code, you need to install two extensions below. Before we move on next step, make an example file for it. In my case, I write hello_world.cpp for test.

1. C/C++
2. Code Runner

hello_world.cpp

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
  cout << "Hello, world!" << endl;
  return 0;
}

4.1. Code Runner

Now, you need to modify some settings for Code Runner.

1. Jump to the setting with the gear icon of Code Runner, Extension Settings
2. Activate Whether to run code in Integrated Terminal in Code-runner: Run In Terminal
3. Jump to settings.json via clicking Edit in settings.json in Code-runner: Executor Map
4. Add commands below in the settings

settings.json

"code-runner.executorMapByGlob": {
        "c": "cd $dir && gcc $fileName -o $fileNameWithoutExt && $dir$fileNameWithoutExt",
        "cpp": "cd $dir && g++ -std=c++14 $fileName -o $fileNameWithoutExt && $dir$fileNameWithoutExt"
    }

5. Debugging

If you want to debug in VScode, you need to generate launch.json and tasks.json files. First, click a gear icon next to the run icon in your .c or .cpp file. Then, select g++ build and debug active file. As a result, launch.json file is generated. Next, select g++ build and debug active file again, and tasks.json file will be generated. Now, you can debug your C++ file. If you want to support latest versions of it, add "-std=c++14" right below "-g".