Code:Blocks + MinGW = Magically knows headers and libraries?

[bloodangel]

      I downloaded and installed the Code::Blocks + MinGW bundle (after getting MinGW separately first... lol). I created an empty project and made a basic Win32 application. I don't like a lot of extra crap in my projects so I like to start from scratch. What I'm concerned about is how the IDE seems to magically know what libraries my project needs. That creeps me out quite a bit and leaves me with a sense of no control over my project. My build options information is absolutely blank, the way it started out. I need to know that I'm in control of my projects. If any one would be kind enough to give me an explanation I'd be very grateful. I wouldn't even mind being shown how much of a moron I may be in order to obtain said explanation.

[thomas]

Very easy answer: It doesn't know anything, and there is no magic.

A few things such as linking to the correct C++/STL/runtime object files "just work" because the compiler knows them.
Everything else, you have to do yourself.

[bloodangel]

Thank you for your response. I just wanted to know that I wasn't going crazy. I guess for the sake of compliance I should add my needed libraries anyway. I speculate that it has something to do with "mingw32-c++.exe." I'm pretty sure that "gcc.exe" and "g++.exe" are super ignorant. I discovered that Code::Blocks runs "mingw32-c++.exe" when I renamed my MinGW folder for "debugging" purposes per say.