- After you've obtained the compiler and IDE,
the next step in your programming journey
is to ensure that everything is working right
and that you're ready to start coding in this course.
In this movie, I'll show you around the Code::Blocks IDE.
You'll also see how to incorporate the exercise files
for use in Code::Blocks throughout this course.
And perhaps do some configuring.
I assume that you already have Code::Blocks installed
on your computer, although you may not have run it.
If you don't yet have Code::Blocks,
please refer to the earlier movie on obtaining an IDE.
Open and run Code::Blocks.
If this is the first time you've run Code::Blocks,
you may see a prompt reminding you
that you've downloaded Code::Blocks from the internet.
Click the open or OK button.
This program is safe to use.
On the Macintosh and Linux, you may be prompted
to choose a default compiler.
If it's available, I recommend that you select
the LLVM Clang Compiler as the default compiler.
Otherwise, the GNU GCC Compiler is fine.
The main Code::Blocks window looks like this.
It's known as the workspace.
To the left is the management panel.
This lists projects.
The center is where you'll find the editor,
where you'll write the code.
At the bottom you see a host of tabs.
These can display messages or other useful information.
You should take a moment now to configure
a few Code::Blocks settings that will help
you use the IDE in this course.
First, some editor settings.
Choose settings editor.
Ensure that there is a check-mark
by the options "show line numbers".
All the other options shown here should be set,
which is the default.
Click the choose button in the font area to set the font.
I recommend using a mono-spaced font.
And I set my editor to a 12-point font,
which shows up better on my screen.
Here I'm going to choose 18 points,
so that you can better see the messages on this screen.
Click OK to close the general settings window.
Second, adjust the build messages text size.
Choose settings>environment.
Click the view icon.
Set the message logs font size value
to 10 or 12, which is better to see.
Here I'm going to set it to 16 or 18.
Which is going to show up really well on this screen.
Click OK.
Code::Blocks is now configured for this course.
You can quit Code::Blocks now if you like.
When you quit, you may be notified
that the perspective has changed.
Go ahead and save the perspective,
and click in the little box
so that you're not bothered with a message again.
The next step is to set up the project files.
Click the exercise files button on this page,
right up top, to download the archive.
Before expanding the archive, I recommend placing
the exercise files into a specific location
on your local storage system.
Open a folder management window on your computer.
Ensure that you're viewing your own personal folder,
which is known as the home folder in Unix,
or the user profile folder in Windows.
Do not use the library folder system in Windows.
Instead, click the address bar
to visit your accounts folder.
If you have a C programming folder, navigate to it.
Otherwise, create a new folder named C, or C programming.
Expand the archive into this folder.
Or you can expand the archive in the downloads folder,
and then move the resulting folder
into the C programming folder.
I've already downloaded the files
into the exercise files folder.
Now I'll copy them over to the programming folder.
And there are all the files.
Now you can delete the archive file you downloaded.
There's no need to retain it.
We're just going to work with the files here
in the C programming folder.