djpeach/SFML on Windows.md

## SFML on Windows.md

      
    Raw
  

              SFML on Windows.md
            
          
    DO NOT skip the MinGW or SFML steps, but any other steps you should be fine to skip as long as you have done them before. I don't recommend it though. For example, you may want to uninstall CMake and reinstall it, etc.
Install Git Bash


From here: https://git-scm.com/download/win
Run, and proceed throught install steps Be sure to select the option "Use Git and optional Unix tools from Command Prompt"
Do not change any other values
Git Bash will henceforth be called the terminal
Pin Git Bash to taskbar

Install 7zip


From here: https://www.7-zip.org/a/7z1900-x64.exe

Install MinGW


check that you do not have a C:\MinGW folder already. If you do, delete it


From here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/mingw-w64/files/Toolchains%20targetting%20Win32/Personal%20Builds/mingw-builds/7.3.0/threads-posix/dwarf/i686-7.3.0-release-posix-dwarf-rt_v5-rev0.7z/download


Use 7zip to extract to C:\MinGW

Make sure the folder C:\MinGW now contains the bin folder. if it contains the i686... folder instead, go into that folder, into the mingw folder, and copy all the folders in there. Then paste them in the parent of C:\MinGW. Then delete the i686.. folder completely


Type env into windows search bar and select "Edit System Environment Variables"


Select "Environment Variables"


In the second lower box, select "Path", then click "Edit"


Click "New", and type in C:\MinGW\bin


Click "Ok", then "Ok", then "Ok"


Optional Test:


create a main.cpp file:

#include <iostream>

int main() { 
  std::cout << "hello world" << std::endl;
}

Open the terminal and run

g++ main.cpp
./a.exe


You should see "hello world" printed out. If not, stop and figure out why it is not working.

Install CMake


From here: https://github.com/Kitware/CMake/releases/download/v3.15.3/cmake-3.15.3-win64-x64.msi
Select the option that says "Add to system PATH for all users"

Optional Test:


Delete your old a.exe
Create a simple CMakeLists.txt:

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.7)

add_executable(test main.cpp)

Open the terminal and run cmake -G "MinGW Makefiles" .


If you get an error referencing that you cannot have sh.exe in your path, look at where it is telling you that sh.exe is at, go there, and delete it. Idk what it does but it has not affected me yet so... ¯_(ツ)_/¯


You should get a Makefile generated
Run make


If you get an error referencing that make is not a recognized command, install it here: http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/downlinks/make.php, then add that bin/ folder to your path as well


Run ./text.exe
You should see "hello world" printed out. If not, stop and figure out why it is not working.

Install SFML


From here: https://www.sfml-dev.org/files/SFML-2.5.1-windows-gcc-7.3.0-mingw-32-bit.zip
Extract it to C:\SFML


Again, make sure the folder C:\SFML now contains the bin folder. if it contains the SFML-2.5.1... folder instead, go into that folder, into the SFML folder, and copy all the folders in there. Then paste them in the parent of C:\SFML. Then delete the SFML-2.5.1.. folder completely


Add C:\SFML\bin to your PATH
Add a new Environment Variable as CPLUS_INCLUDE_PATH and set it equal to C:\SFML\include\SFML

Final Test!


Delete any previous files from testing
The main.cpp file:

#include <SFML/Graphics.hpp>

int main() {
    sf::RenderWindow window(sf::VideoMode(400, 400), "test window");

    while(window.isOpen()) {
        sf::Event event;

        while(window.pollEvent(event)) {
            if (event.type == sf::Event::Closed) {
                window.close();
            }
        }

        window.clear();

        // Draw stuff here later ...

        window.display();
    }
}

The CMakeLists.txt file:

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.1)

project(test)

set(SFML_DIR "C:/SFML/lib/cmake/SFML")

find_package(SFML 2.5.1 COMPONENTS system window graphics audio network REQUIRED)

add_executable(test main.cpp)

target_link_libraries(test sfml-system sfml-window sfml-graphics sfml-audio sfml-network )

Go to where these files are with your terminal and run:

cmake -G "MinGW Makefiles" .
make
./test.exe

You should see a small black window pop up, and be able to 'X' out. If not, figure out what is wrong