Undefined Reference WinMain | Together C & C++ | Page 1

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:06 PM

#

So, I just started learning C++ and I wrote my first code in VS Code and when I wrote-
g++ .\01.cpp

Then it says- Undefined Reference WinMain

How do I fix it?

grim cobaltBOT Sep 29, 2025, 5:06 PM

#

When your question is answered use !solved to mark the question as resolved.

Remember to ask specific questions, provide necessary details, and reduce your question to its simplest form. For tips on how to ask a good question use !howto ask.

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:07 PM

#

willow root So, I just started learning C++ and I wrote my first code in VS Code and when I ...

do you have int main(){}?

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:07 PM

#

Yupp

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:07 PM

#

do control +s and recompile

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:08 PM

#

Did not work

#

I tried this too

g++ 01.cpp -o 01.exe

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:08 PM

#

just use visual studio community than. you probably installed the compiler incorrectly

#

visual studio community sets up the compiler for you

#

vscode forces you to install mingw64 and set it up yourself

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:09 PM

#

I installed the compiler from WinLib

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:09 PM

#

WinLib?

#

never heard

#

visual studio community just works \tm\

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:10 PM

#

WinLibs

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:11 PM

#

it has to be an issue with the compiler

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:11 PM

#

So, how do I download the compiler correctly?

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:12 PM

#

use visual studio community, it just works (tm)

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:12 PM

#

Okieee

#

Thank youu

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:12 PM

#

its what people tend to reccomend to new people

#

for good reason, it just works(tm)

#

https://tenor.com/view/todd-howard-it-just-works-bethesda-this-all-just-works-gif-20598651

Tenor

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:14 PM

#

!solved

grim cobaltBOT Sep 29, 2025, 5:14 PM

#

Thank you and let us know if you have any more questions!

This thread is now set to auto-hide after an hour of inactivity

formal bramble Sep 29, 2025, 5:16 PM

#

nooo A guy gets a basic error, and gets told to switch IDEs

formal bramble Sep 29, 2025, 5:16 PM

#

willow root Did not work

You either don't actually have int main(), or are compiling some other file, not the one you think you do

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:17 PM

#

if winMain isnt defined its an issue with the compiler, or int main isnt defined

#

maybe they are using a 32bit compiler in 64 bit system idk

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:31 PM

#

I downloaded MinGW from WinLibs

#

MinGW-w64 GCC x86_64-posix-seh

#

This is the zip file

#

#include<iostream>
int main(){
std: : cout«"Hello";
return 0;
}

formal bramble Sep 29, 2025, 5:35 PM

#

spiral owl if winMain isnt defined its an issue with the compiler, or int main isnt defined

It's basically never a compiler issue, it means that either main or WinMain is missing

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:35 PM

#

I have main in my code

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:35 PM

#

posix?

cobalt plume Sep 29, 2025, 5:35 PM

#

you are compiling your app as a windows application and not console application. Windows App require a different entry point

formal bramble Sep 29, 2025, 5:36 PM

#

willow root I have main in my code

You are probably compiling the wrong file then

#

Can you screenshot your terminal, with the command you're running and the output you're getting?

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:36 PM

#

win+shift+s is the shortcut for it

formal bramble Sep 29, 2025, 5:36 PM

#

cobalt plume you are compiling your app as a windows application and not console application....

This is a MSVC-only thing. MinGW supports both styles regardless of the subsystem

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:36 PM

#

very useful

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:36 PM

#

Ok wait!

cobalt plume Sep 29, 2025, 5:37 PM

#

formal bramble This is a MSVC-only thing. MinGW supports both styles regardless of the subsyste...

I see

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:44 PM

#

formal bramble Sep 29, 2025, 5:44 PM

#

Please don't clip your screenshots so much

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:44 PM

#

What am I doing wrong?

formal bramble Sep 29, 2025, 5:44 PM

#

Make the terminal wider and show the entire contents

#

Include the filename above the code in your screenshot

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:44 PM

#

Okk

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:45 PM

#

show what files are on the left

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:45 PM

#

languid lotus Sep 29, 2025, 5:46 PM

#

Make sure to save your file first.

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:46 PM

#

I have saved

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:46 PM

#

isn't circle on the file meaning he has not?

languid lotus Sep 29, 2025, 5:46 PM

#

No, the white dot indicates that it's not.

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:47 PM

#

ye click on the file and do control +S

#

vscode doesn't save by default

#

you have to do it manually

#

you can toggle autosave tho

formal bramble Sep 29, 2025, 5:47 PM

#

willow root I have saved

What did you do to save? Ctrl+S?

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:48 PM

#

I opened the folder with vs code then created the file

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:48 PM

#

that doesn't save, its empty until you save

#

can you get on vc?

formal bramble Sep 29, 2025, 5:48 PM

#

willow root I opened the folder with vs code then created the file

We told you to press Ctrl+S, and you said you did that thinkies

#

Press that and try compiling again

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:49 PM

#

Okk

#

It worked 🤡

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:50 PM

#

gotta toggle auto save

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:50 PM

#

I thought VS code saves the file automatically

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:50 PM

#

nahhh

#

that's like one of the first things you gotta toggle

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:51 PM

#

Okkkk

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:51 PM

#

i usually toggle it for windowChangeFocus

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:51 PM

#

Thank you so much 😊

formal bramble Sep 29, 2025, 5:51 PM

#

Also it stops being a problem when you start using tasks for compilation, or some other mechanism. Tasks autosave automatically

#

https://github.com/HolyBlackCat/cpp-tutorials/blob/master/tooling/articles/configuring_vsc_tasks.md

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:51 PM

#

shi i called it first too, did say control+s as one of the first things

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:51 PM

#

Sorry 😅

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:51 PM

#

its ok lil bro

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:52 PM

#

Thank you so muchh
Btw, can you give me some tips for learning cpp

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:52 PM

#

do projects

#

define the problem, your inputs and than an algorithm

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:53 PM

#

Okkk
We have Python in scl but I want to learn cpp 😅

spiral owl Sep 29, 2025, 5:53 PM

#

programming is like telling someone instructions, except its like talking to someone who takes everything super literally

willow root Sep 29, 2025, 5:54 PM

#

spiral owl programming is like telling someone instructions, except its like talking to som...

Yaa!!

#

Thank youuu

#

!solved

#Undefined Reference WinMain