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Tutorial for person new to IDEs

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LowWaterMark:
I recently installed Code::Blocks (codeblocks-8.02mingw-setup.exe) and am teaching myself C language.  I am absolutely new to programming and the use of compilers/IDEs.

I did not want to post this but after several days of trying to do it on my own the closest thing I could find to a tutorial was the Wiki WxSmith tutorial on creating GUI apps in Code::Blocks for the wxWidgets platform.

I desperately need something more fundamental.

Can anyone point me to a tutorial that (simply) explains the use of Code::Blocks.  I very much appreciate the Code::Blocks user manual but I found its 64 pages a bit advanced for me, presupposing knowledge and vocabulary that I do not possess.

All ideas and suggestions will be sincerely appreciated.

Take care.

thomas:
If you're only just learning C and want nothing else, here's your tutorial:
1. click on "create a new project" on the "start here" page
2. select "console application"
3. select "C"
4. type in a name for your project
5. an editor has opened, type in your C code, whatever you want
6. press the blue gear to compile, and the green wedge to run your program
6a. alternatively, press the gear-with-wedge symbol to do both

Later, much later, when you write more complex programs that have more than a single file, add them to the project (right-click on the manager window to the left), so they're compiled as well. Everything that should go into one program goes into one project (so, for another program, make another project).
Still later, you will find that the more complex your programs get, the more mistakes you make, and the harder it is to find them. That's when you will want to learn how to use the debugger. Read the manual then.

Pecan:
CUNY CodeBlocks Student Manual
http://www.sci.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~goetz/codeblocks/codeblocks-instructions.pdf

Takes some time to load, but is a very good beginners manual.

LowWaterMark:
Wonderful -very wonderful.  Hey Pecan, the CUNY Brooklyn .pdf is just what I need following the straightforward tutorial courtesy of Thomas.  I appreciate your time.

One follow-up question.  I was surfing the YouTube videos on code::blocks and one of the contributors said that it was a mistake to install the IDE in Program Files (as the default installation settings has you do).  It was suggested that it go up a level so as to be a root folder [C:/CodeBlocks], or else "you will get yourself into trouble later".  No elaboration.  Mine is already installed as per the default instructions in my Program Files folder.

Any reason to uninstall and move it closer to the bone?

thomas:
Once upon a time, there was an issue with spaces in pathnames, not with Code::Blocks, but with one of the MinGW tools (I forgot which one). So, if people installed MinGW into the Code::Blocks folder, and that one inside "Program Files", it would eventually bite them. To the best of my knowledge, this isn't an issue any more with recent versions.
Code::Blocks as such doesn't care where it is installed. You can move the folder around as you like, too... no need to uninstall/reinstall anything.

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