c-env-bootstrap — A streamlined, one-click automation tool for deploying C/C++ environments on Windows.

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This script eliminates manual configuration by orchestrating the installation of the compiler, IDE, extensions, and system pathing in one execution.

Overview

Setting up a C++ environment on Windows often involves fragmented steps (installing MSYS2, configuring MinGW, manually editing Environment Variables, and setting up VSCode JSON files). This script automates the entire pipeline to ensure a consistent environment for students and developers.

Key Features

• Automatically Set Up: Silent installation of Visual Studio Code and MSYS2.

• Toolchain Provisioning: Automated MSYS2 environment initialization and mingw-w64-x86_64-gcc synchronization.

• Extension Management: Auto-installs Essential C++ Tools and Code Runner.

• Intelligent Pathing: Dynamically updates the User PATH without requiring a system reboot.

• Best-Practice Configuration: Injects optimized settings.json (Integrated Terminal, Auto-save, Output clearing).

• Sanity Test: Automatically generates a "Hello World" project to verify toolchain integrity.

Components Included

Component	Version / Source	Purpose
VSCode	Latest Stable (x64)	IDE
MSYS2	Latest Rolling	Software Distribution & Package Management
MinGW-w64	GCC Toolchain	Compiler, Linker, and Debugger
Extensions	C/C++ Tools, Code Runner	IntelliSense & One-click Execution

Prerequisites

• OS: Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit).

• Permissions: You must run the scripts as Administrator.

• Network: Active internet connection for downloading components (~300MB+).

Installation

1. Download the Release Package

1. Go to the repository Releases section.

2. Download the latest release ZIP file (c-env-bootstrap.zip).

2. Extract the ZIP File

Important

⚠️ Do NOT drag the script file out of the ZIP and run it directly. This may cause encoding issues or corrupted output.

Instead:

1. Right-click the downloaded ZIP file.

2. Select "Extract All..."

3. Choose a destination folder.

4. Click Extract.

After extraction, open the extracted folder.

3. (If Required) Allow Script Execution for This Session

If you see an execution policy error, do:

1. Right-click the Start button.

2. Select Terminal (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).

3. Click Yes if prompted by UAC.

Then run:

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope Process

4. Run the Installer (Administrator Required)

1. Inside the extracted folder, locate: run_setup.bat

2. Right-click it and select "Run as administrator"

3. Click Yes if prompted by UAC

The setup process will then start automatically.

What the Installer Does

The installer will automatically:

• Install Visual Studio Code (if not installed)
• Install required extensions
• Install MSYS2
• Install GCC toolchain
• Configure environment variables
• Create a Hello World project on the Desktop

Notes

• Administrator privileges are required.

• Do not run the script directly from inside the ZIP file.

• On some systems, PowerShell execution policy restrictions may apply.

License

This project is licensed under MIT license, so feel free to use it for educational or professional purposes.