C++, Windows, Console

You can write C++ in Notepad, and compile/run it entirely from the Windows command line, using the Visual Studio Build Tools that come with Visual Studio 2026.

The workflow is simple once you know the exact commands.

✔️ Minimal, reproducible workflow (Notepad → CMD → Build → Run)

1) Create a folder for your project

Open Command Prompt and run:

mkdir C:\Users\<MyName>\source\repos\CppTest
cd C:\Users\<MyName>\source\repos\CppTest

2) Create the source file in Notepad

Run:

notepad hello.cpp

Paste this minimal program:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    cout << "Hello world\n";
    return 0;
}

Save → Close Notepad.

✔️ Prepare the Visual Studio compiler environment

Visual Studio’s compiler (cl.exe) is not available in a normal CMD window.
You must load the environment variables.

Option A — Start the correct console

Open:

Start Menu → “Developer Command Prompt for VS 2026”

Then:

cd C:\Users\<MyName>\source\repos\CppTest

Option B — From normal CMD (manual activation)

If you insist on staying in your current CMD window, run:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2026\Community\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvars64.bat"

(Path may differ if you installed Enterprise/Professional or changed the location.)

This loads the compiler, linker, and include paths.

✔️ Compile the program

Inside the environment-enabled console:

cl hello.cpp

If everything is correct, you will see output like:

Microsoft (R) C/C++ Optimizing Compiler...
hello.cpp
Microsoft (R) Incremental Linker...
hello.exe

This produces:

• hello.obj
• hello.exe

✔️ Run the program

hello

Output:

Hello world

✔️ What each step actually does (useful for future projects)

• Notepad: plain text editor, no encoding issues, perfect for minimal C++.
• vcvars64.bat: sets PATH, INCLUDE, LIB so cl.exe can find headers and libraries.
• cl hello.cpp: compiles and links automatically (single-file shortcut).
• hello.exe: final binary.

✔️ Optional improvements you may want later

• Use /EHsc for standard C++ exceptions:
  cl /EHsc hello.cpp
• Use /std:c++20 or /std:c++latest:
  cl /std:c++20 hello.cpp
• Use /Fe to name the output:
  cl hello.cpp /FeMyProgram.exe