5hfT

Posted on May 22, 2020 • Edited on Sep 15, 2020

Live Input Output (Competitive Programming) setup in VS CODE for C/C++ (WINDOWS)

How to install and setup vs code for competitive programming with c/c++ for Windows Users

install vs code

Download vs code : Link
Install in your pc

Setup environment for c/c++

install mingw : link
In you pc search for system environment

go to Environment variables

Go to system varibale and click on path

click edit
select new
paste the link where you mingw bin folder . for me it is C:\MinGW\bin
- find it there
select ok ok for everything

Install git

download link Link

Then

Open Vs code
Open your coding folder file->open folder
press ctrl+~ and the terminal will be opened at the bottom

if in the terminal u find that its cmd or powershell then click on cmd/powershell and select 'set default sell' and select git
- Now click on the delete icon and press ctrl+~ and its saying your shell is bash!
if still bash no showing then close vs code and open vs code again

Run a programme for testing :

create a file hello.cpp
write code to print hello
in terminal use the command
```
g++ hello.cpp -o test && ./test
```
If you find hello then congrats
if saying g++ not found then try to close vs code and then oepn vs code again.

Setup Vs Code

Clik on terminal (At the top)
select configure task
select create task.json from template
select other and new task.json file will be created
now copy and paste the my task(windows).json {link is here} file into your task.json file
done

More things to do :
Note : You just need to do these things only for the first time of your workspace!

Split screen in 3 sections
- split the main section in right (right mouse click on the .cpp file and u will get the split options)
- then split the right into down (same as above)
create a file named input.txt
create a file named output.txt
open input.txt into the upper right section
open output.txt into the lower right section

This will be the final look of your vs code

Now create a folder and create your file .cpp inside the folder and give inputs in input.txt and press `Ctrl+Shift+b` and your output will be in the output.txt file

Note : Don't keep the cpp file in the base folder. I mean you have to create one or more folders in the base folder (Base folder means where you opened your vs code or you can say vs code wrokspace folder).and the input and output file should be in the base folder.

Folders should be like this or similer :

Not This

Press `Ctrl+Shift+b` and your output will be in the output.txt file

Happy coding :3

Top comments (44)

Vijay • Sep 15 '20

Hey. Thanks for this nice guidelines. I'm getting below error. Can you please help ?

> Executing task:  cp d:\extra\cpp\hello.cpp D:\extra\cpp && g++ hello.cpp -o test.out && ./test.out < input.txt > output.txt && rm *out && rm hello.cpp <

cp: cannot stat 'd:extracpphello.cpp': No such file or directory
The terminal process "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe '-c', ' cp d:\extra\cpp\hello.cpp D:\extra\cpp && g++ hello.cpp -o test.out && ./test.out < input.txt > output.txt && rm *out && rm hello.cpp'" failed to launch (exit code: 1).

Terminal will be reused by tasks, press any key to close it.

5hfT • Sep 15 '20

Recently i have added some changes for windows hope this will help. Please check this out

github.com/jspw/VS-Code-Config/iss...

Vijay • Sep 15 '20

Hmm. I moved the cpp file in there own folder as mentioned in the link. But still no luck :(

5hfT • Sep 15 '20

give me a ss of your base folder

Vijay • Sep 15 '20

attached

dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/...

5hfT • Sep 15 '20 • Edited

did you change the task.json file try this as i have said that i make some edits.

Vijay • Sep 15 '20

I can see your last commit is 4 days ago. I'm using the recent one. Still not working. Do I need to use the older one ?

5hfT • Sep 15 '20

Note : Make sure your mouse cursor is clicked or focused on the cpp file editor while you are running your code or pressing control+shift+b

5hfT • Sep 15 '20

The error you are facing must be solved using the updated task.json file for windows.

Vijay • Sep 15 '20

I'm focusing the file while running it. Also I'm using the latest file.

dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/...

Vijay • Sep 15 '20

With closer look on the error. I feel like git shell in not converting file path properly.

${file} -> d:\extra\cpp\cod\hello.cpp (I guess this one not converting well. Notice the directory name case)
${workspaceFolder} -> D:\extra\cpp (Correct one)

Vijay • Sep 15 '20 • Edited

I figured it out. Problem was same. Git shell was not recognizing the path. The path parameter should be in quotes. Below is the fix.

In args, make these changes.

"${file}" -> "'${file}'"
"${workspaceFolder}" -> "'${workspaceFolder}'"
"${fileBasename'" -> "'${fileBasename}'",

"args": [
        "cp",
        "'${file}'",
        "'${workspaceFolder}'",
        "&&",
        "g++",
        "'${fileBasename}'",
        "-o",
        "test.out",
        "&&",
        "./test.out",
        "<",
        "input.txt",
        ">",
        "output.txt",
        "&&",
        "rm",
        "*out",
        "&&",
        "rm",
        "'${fileBasename}'"
      ],

5hfT • Sep 16 '20

thats great if you have figured it out but i have tested my previous task.json file and it is working fine with other machines!
I think windows have some issues with file management system though its all working file in Linux.

akib35 • Dec 30 '20 • Edited

I had same problems too. After adding extra ( ' ' ) made it successful suggested by kikit.
Thanks.

5hfT • Dec 31 '20

Most welcome.

5hfT • Dec 31 '20

I will check it and will update the repo

Mahdi Hasan • Jun 28 '22 • Edited

this modification in task.json is working with git bash

"args": [
          "cp",
          "'${file}'",
          "'${workspaceFolder}\\${fileBasename}'",
          "&&",
          "fileName=\"${fileBasename}\"",
          "&&",
          "objectFile=\"${fileName%.*}.out\"",          
          "&&",
          "g++",
          "'${fileBasename}'",
          "-o",
          "${objectFile}",
          "&&",
          "./${objectFile}",
          "<",
          "input.txt",
          ">",
          "output.txt",
          "&&",
          "rm",
          "${objectFile}",
          "&&",
          "rm",
          "${fileBasename}",
        ]

soham04 • Jul 25 '20

Your .json file link is not working, I got my work stoped in between due to that !!!

5hfT • Jul 25 '20

Did you use this one ?

soham04 • Jul 25 '20

these tasks.json will be only valid for this folder and its subfolder only ?

5hfT • Jul 25 '20

not like that. Let me see you this

for different workspaces you have to make the tasks.json file once.

Comment deleted

5hfT • Jun 2 '20

What do u mean setup vim??

Eren Yaeger • Jun 26 '23

This is what I'm getting...

5hfT • Jul 16 '23

what is your default shell in this vscode space ?

Virajas Mane • Jun 11 '20

It is showing hello.cpp : No such file or directory
and also fatal error no input files
can you please help??

5hfT • Jun 11 '20

did you create input.txt in the same directory as the hello.cpp??

soham04 • Jul 25 '20

Will is save out code in github repo also ?

Amrita Kadam • May 31

Yes thank you so much I just learned that I did not create a folder in the base folder and then the file.cpp.
This worked.

Eren Yaeger • Jun 26 '23

Please someone help me out as this is not working in my vscode

saksham08jain • Oct 26 '22

I am getting this error,any help is greatly appreciated

Rooghz • Dec 30 '23

[
        "cp",
        "\"${file}\"",
        "${workspaceFolder}\\jspwTest.cpp",
        "&&",
        "g++",
        "${workspaceFolder}\\jspwTest.cpp",
        "-o",
        "${workspaceFolder}\\jspwTest",
        "&&",
        "${workspaceFolder}\\jspwTest",
        "<",
        "input.txt",
        ">",
        "output.txt",
        "&&",
        "rm",
        "${workspaceFolder}\\jspwTest.exe",
        "&&",
        "rm",
        "${workspaceFolder}\\jspwTest.cpp"
      ]

Try this it will work..You just have to mention where this 'jspwTest.exe/cpp' file will be present.

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DEV Community

Live Input Output (Competitive Programming) setup in VS CODE for C/C++ (WINDOWS)

How to install and setup vs code for competitive programming with c/c++ for Windows Users

install vs code

Setup environment for c/c++

Install git

Run a programme for testing :

Setup Vs Code

This will be the final look of your vs code

Now create a folder and create your file .cpp inside the folder and give inputs in input.txt and press `Ctrl+Shift+b` and your output will be in the output.txt file

Folders should be like this or similer :

Not This

Press `Ctrl+Shift+b` and your output will be in the output.txt file

Happy coding :3

Top comments (44)

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How to install and setup vs code for competitive programming with c/c++ for Windows Users

install vs code

Setup environment for c/c++

Install git

Run a programme for testing :

Setup Vs Code

This will be the final look of your vs code

Now create a folder and create your file .cpp inside the folder and give inputs in input.txt and press Ctrl+Shift+b and your output will be in the output.txt file

Folders should be like this or similer :

Not This

Press Ctrl+Shift+b and your output will be in the output.txt file

Happy coding :3

Read next

Trying to do Larger contributions to Open Source

Collaborating to Slack as an Open-Source Developer: Part 2

Launched a Social Page for every Software Engineer

Proper Contributions - 2

Now create a folder and create your file .cpp inside the folder and give inputs in input.txt and press `Ctrl+Shift+b` and your output will be in the output.txt file

Press `Ctrl+Shift+b` and your output will be in the output.txt file