====== MinGW Compiler ======

I have been using [[http://www.mingw.org/|MinGW (Minimalist GNU for Windows)]] to build my code for Windows platform. It has changed a bit since I last used it to build a cross compiler for my class. So, I want to keep a note on how I build using latest binaries. The project has moved [[https://osdn.net/projects/mingw/|here]].

Installing MinGW:
  * Get the 'package manager' from [[https://osdn.net/projects/mingw/releases/p15522|here]]
    * version 0.6.3 (beta) at the moment
    * I prefer the [[https://osdn.net/projects/mingw/downloads/68260/mingw-get-0.6.3-mingw32-pre-20170905-1-bin.zip/|standalone binary]] (no setup)
  * Pick a location and extract the zip file
    * I choose ''C:\Users\Public\Tool''
    * change the folder name so that we have ''C:\Users\Public\Tool\mingw\bin\mingw-get.exe''
  * Prepare to use mingw-get binary
    * ''cd C:\Users\Public\Tool\mingw\var\lib\mingw-get\data\''
    * ''copy defaults.xml profile.xml''
  * Open a command prompt and update catalogue 
    * ''cd C:\Users\Public\Tool\mingw\bin\''
    * ''mingw-get.exe update''
  * Get stuffs (compiler with Unix-like environment) without using GUI
    * ''mingw-get.exe install gcc g++ gmp mpfr mpc msys msys-wget-bin''
  * To get GUI interface install mingw-get (apparently, we are NOT running mingw-get! 8-))
    * ''mingw-get.exe install mingw-get''
    * now, a window will come up when you run ''mingw-get''

//**Note20211207** Current software versions {gcc:9.2.0,binutils:2.32}//

Some useful things to do:
  * Get [[https://github.com/my1matrix/mingw4user|helper script(s)]] - I wrote that for personal use
    * copy everything (except LICENSE, README.md and msys2.vbs) to ''C:\Users\Public\Tool\mingw''
    * allows environment to be used on shared computer (no need for admin account)
  * Running ''msys.vbs'' (*Hint*: double-click) will install (or remove if already installed) a pop-up context menu entry (MinGW Shell) whenever you right-click on a folder in Windows Explorer
    * edit ''C:\Users\Public\Tool\mingw\msys\1.0\etc\profile'' and comment (place '#' at the beginning of) the last line with ''cd $HOME'' command
  * To have git in MinGW shell, install Git-for-Windows at ''C:\Users\Public\Tool\Git''
    * edit ''C:\Users\Public\Tool\mingw\msys\1.0\etc\profile'' and insert ''PATH="/c/users/public/tool/git/bin:$PATH"'' before the block containing an ''export PATH'' line(s)
  * Running ''mingw-setup.bat'' sets up normal command prompt for command-line compilation
    * place ''mingw-term.bat'' script in any folder - when executed, it will open a command prompt (with MinGW path properly configured) in that folder
  * Running ''mingw-clear.bat'' cleans up settings created by ''mingw-setup.bat''

====== Installing wxWidgets ======

This is what I recommend to my students when developing cross-platform GUI solution. I now compile from source because I can never completely download the pre-built binaries... problem with my uni's network maybe? :-(

Obviously, MinGW must already be installed.

  * Get the source file from [[https://www.wxwidgets.org/downloads/|here]]
    * since we are compiling on MinGW, get the 'source for Linux...' (I got wxWidgets-3.0.3.tar.bz2)
    * extract (can be done in MinGW shell: ''tar xf <file>'')
  * Compile... (//**note**: '$' is the prompt//)<code>
$ ./configure --prefix=/c/Users/Public/Tool/wxwidgets --disable-shared
$ make
$ make install
</code>

//work in progress...//