Installing Eclipse and CDT

Step 1 - Download and Install Eclipse Platform SDK 3.0.1.

If you haven't already installed Eclipse, click here to visit the Eclipse download site.  You will want to download the Eclipse Platform SDK 3.0.1 for your operating system.

Simply extract the zip file to your C: drive or location you want the distribution to reside.  There is no installer application to run.

TIP: Create a shortcut on your desktop pointing to the eclipse executable program in the C:\Eclipse (or folder you just extracted to).

Step 2 - Download and install CDT 2.1

Return to the eclipse download page (at http://www.eclipse.org/downloads ) and select Downloads in the Eclipse Tools Project section - C/C++ IDE.

Download the latest CDT 2.1 release and extract the contents of that zip file to the same location you extracted your eclipse distribution.  For example:  If you currently have C:\Eclipse as your installation folder, extract CDT contents to C:\.  DO NOT EXTRACT TO C:\Eclipse or the plug-in will not be recognized.

Step 3 - Install Cygwin

CDT requires several utilities to compile C++ application code and they can be obtained through the Cygwin environment.  Simply go to http://www.cygwin.com and click on the Install or Update Now! link.  Save the application to your desktop and double-click it when the download has completed.

Click Next, Install from Internet, then specify a directory where Cygwin is to be installed.  It is recommended it is placed at C:\Cygwin.

Next, select a local package directory where the installation files will reside during the download process.  This can be C:\Cygwin-Install or similar.

Select your connection type and a mirror location close to you.  Once you click Next, the installation source list will be downloaded and you may select what components to install.  (You may have to try a few mirrors to get this to work.)

Right click on the Devel section and wait a few moments until the word Install appears next to it.  You may then select Next and the application will download and install the binaries.

Step 4 - Verify CDT is working

Start eclipse and select File --> New --> Project and if the plug-in is successfully installed, you should see the options to select C/C++ projects.

 

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU NOW CAN AUTHOR C/C++ CODE IN ECLIPSE!