Compiling wxWidgets 2.6.2 to develop Code::Blocks (MSW)

From Code::Blocks

These are the instructions to compile wxWidgets do you can compile Code::Blocks on your own.

NOTE: These instructions are MS Windows (TM) specific, but because we are using MinGW it should be possible to use these instructions with some modifications on other platforms.

Install MinGW

If you don't have the Code::Blocks + MinGW bundle, grab the latest MinGW stuff from the MinGW site and install it under a directory you like. NOTE: In these instroctions we're calling the MinGW directory <MINGW>, so you have to replace that with you're own directory.

If you DO have the Code::Blocks + MinGW bundle, or have already installed MINGW on your own, you can skip this section.

NOTE: The files are compressed in the tar.gz format. You need a third-party extraction utility to unzip them. (like 7-zip)

You need at least the following files:

GDB is not really needed, but could be usefull for debugging.

After you install, make sure you have the following directories under your path:

  • <MINGW>\bin;
  • <MINGW>\mingw32\bin;

Download and Install the wxWidgets source code

The wxWidgets 2.6.1 distribution can be found at the wxWidgets website. (Note that ther e is also a winhelp file available.) You can get choose between an installer and a zip file. You can just get the zip file because the installer is also a zipped version.

If you use the plain zip version, make sure to unzip using the full path. Otherwise the directories won't be created correctly.

NOTE: In the rest of these instructions we are calling the wxWidgets directory <WXWIN> you have to change it to your own directory. (e.g. "c:\wxWidgets-2.6.1")

NOTE: you do not need MSYS. Furthermore, you cannot have MSYS in your path, or the wxWidgets compilation will fail. Thus if you have MSYS installed, ensure that <MSYS>\bin is not in your path before compiling wxWidgets. wxWidgets must be compiled from a "regular" command line (cmd.exe), not from a unix-like shell. BTW, The same problem would probably arise as well if cygwin is in the path.

Check make version

If you didn't install MingW yourself you have to make sure you have the right version of make. Open the command prompt and type: 

mingw32-make -v

If the version is 3.80 or greater it is allright to go on, else you have to install the new make.

Building wxWidgets

Now it is time to compile wxWidgets, open the command promt and change to the wxWidgets directory: 

cd <WXWIN>\build\msw

Now we are on the right place we are first going to clean up the source: 

mingw32-make -f makefile.gcc clean

NOTE: if you still have problems with compiling after cleaning, you may want to remove the directory in the build\msw directory. (it contains object files...) When everything is clean we can compile wxWidgets: 

mingw32-make -f makefile.gcc USE_XRC=1 SHARED=1 MONOLITHIC=1 BUILD=release UNICODE=0 VENDOR=cb

NOTE: these options are the official Code::Blocks options. When you want another version of wxWidgets (unicode or debug) you have to make sure you build a MONOLITHIC version. (One big dll) Now you can get a cup of coffee, or do something else, because this could take a long time.

Build the STC library

If you closed the command promt, you have to open it again. We are going to the STC directory 

cd ..\..\contrib\build\stc

We clean the source: 

mingw32-make -f makefile.gcc clean

And we going to compile it. Make sure you have the same build options as before. 

mingw32-make -f makefile.gcc USE_XRC=1 SHARED=1 MONOLITHIC=1 BUILD=release UNICODE=0 VENDOR=cb

So now everything is compiled for using codeblocks.

Copy libraries

When compilation is finished it is usefull to copy the libs to another directory. By doing this you can make several builds (e.g. debug and release).

  • So first we create a directory this could be done in <WXWIN>\lib.
  • Then we go to the directory <WXWIN>\lib\gcc_dll (could called diffrent when you changed the build options)
  • Now we move all the files (.a .dll) and the directory (msw) to the directory of your choice. (for me it is <WXWIN>\lib\codeblocks)

NOTE: Make sure you everything is removed from the directory <WXWIN>\lib\gcc_dll else you can get trouble when compiling another version.

Setting up paths

Everything is done now, and we can start compiling Code::Blocks, couldn't we? No! First we have to setup the paths. Open the codeblocks project (CodeBlocks-wx2.6.0.cbp) and go to the Build options. From there you have to go to the tab Directories and Compiler. Here you have to add the following paths (Remember to replace <WXWIN>)

  • <WXWIN>\lib\codeblocks\msw
  • <WXWIN>\include
  • <WXWIN>\contrib\include

The first path is used to find the right setup.h for the build you are using. The other two are for the normal include files.

Now go to the Linker tab and add the following path:

  • <WXWIN>\lib\codeblocks

NOTE: You have to replace this with the directory of your own choice in the previous section!

Finally, go to the resource tab and add the following path (Remember to replace <WXWIN>)

  • <WXWIN>\include

Now you are finished with the configuration and you can hit the compile button (CTRL-F9). Be aware that Code::Blocks is not officially support wxWidgets 2.6.1 so it is possible that new files are not yet in the project. You have to do this by your self.

Post compilation steps (before running C::B)

When compilation process is finished, simply run the update.bat script. It will ensure that all resource files (that C::B uses) are in the right place and up to date.

Note: This step requires appropriate zip command, which you likely have already set up and working. However, in case you have not, you should find something usable here.

Edit: I didn't see any update.bat script but no matter. Two changes to this howto to get everything to work.
1. When creating a wx project in codeblocks, the link stage fails with cannot find -lwxmsw. I needed to:
copy C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks\libwxmsw26.a to C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks\libwxmsw.a
copy C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks\libwxmsw26_stc.a to C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks\libwxmsw_stc.a

or mess with the autogenerated makefile (they don't use WX_VER anymore it seems...) which is more of a hassle.

2. You will still get --enable-auto-import errors. Looks like you just need to add a define:
project->build options->compiler->#defines
WXUSINGDLL

Lastly it will look for wxmsw26_gcc_cb.dll and not find it. Either put
C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks in your PATH, put wxmsw26_gcc_cb.dll and wxmsw26_stc_gcc_cb.dll in C:\windows\system32, or add C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks to compile->compiler options->programs->additional paths

Rebuild and everything should run ok.

Building wxWidgets 2.6.1 mingw32 & vc++ toolkit 2003


I'll just throw in my notes on the process for both compiler versions as getting vc++ toolkit to work is quite a pain. Code blocks needs a couple changes to support wxWidgets on the vc++ toolkit seamlessly.

for mingw32 compiler


cd <WXWIN>\build\msw
mingw32-make -f makefile.gcc USE_XRC=1 SHARED=1 MONOLITHIC=1 BUILD=release UNICODE=0 VENDOR=cb clean
mingw32-make -f makefile.gcc USE_XRC=1 SHARED=1 MONOLITHIC=1 BUILD=release UNICODE=0 VENDOR=cb
stc is no longer needed for latest codeblocks (cvs version) which uses wxscintilla:
cd ..\..\contrib\build\stc
mingw32-make -f makefile.gcc USE_XRC=1 SHARED=1 MONOLITHIC=1 BUILD=release UNICODE=0 VENDOR=cb clean
mingw32-make -f makefile.gcc USE_XRC=1 SHARED=1 MONOLITHIC=1 BUILD=release UNICODE=0 VENDOR=cb
cd <WXWIN>\lib; mkdir codeblocks_gcc; cd ..\gcc_dll; move * ..\codeblocks_gcc; move msw ..\codeblocks_gcc

codeblocks 

project->build options
	directories->compiler
		<WXWIN>\lib\codeblocks_gcc\msw
		<WXWIN>\include
		<WXWIN>\contrib\include
	directories->linker
		<WXWIN>\lib\codeblocks_gcc
	directories->resource compiler
		<WXWIN>\include
	compiler->#defines
		WXUSINGDLL

compile->compiler options
	programs->additional paths
		C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_gcc
-OR- copy C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_gcc\wxmsw26_gcc_cb.dll
     to application exe directory or c:\windows\system32
-OR- change project->properties->targets->execution working dir
     to C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_gcc (not recommended)

copy C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_gcc\libwxmsw26.a
to C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_gcc\libwxmsw.a
copy C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_gcc\libwxmsw26_stc.a
to C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_gcc\libwxmsw_stc.a

compile->rebuild

for vc++ toolkit 2003 compiler

install VCToolkitSetup.exe
install PlatformSDK
install .NET Framework SDK Version 1.1
run PlatformSDK->Set Windows XP 32-bit Build Environment (Retail)
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual C++ Toolkit 2003\vcvars32.bat (not needed)

set DOTNETSDK=C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\SDK\v1.1 (not needed)
set MSVC=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual C++ Toolkit 2003
set MSSDK=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Platform SDK
set VC7=C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003\Vc7
set INCLUDE=%MSVC%\include;%MSSDK%\include
set LIB=%MSVC%\lib;%MSSDK%\lib;%VC7%\lib
set PATH=%MSVC%\bin;%MSSDK%\bin;%PATH%
set PATH=%PATH%;%MSSDK%\bin\Win64

cd <WXWIN>\build\msw
nmake -f makefile.vc USE_XRC=1 SHARED=1 MONOLITHIC=1 BUILD=release UNICODE=0 VENDOR=cb clean
nmake -f makefile.vc USE_XRC=1 SHARED=1 MONOLITHIC=1 BUILD=release UNICODE=0 VENDOR=cb
stc is no longer needed for latest codeblocks (cvs version) which uses wxscintilla:
cd ..\..\contrib\build\stc
nmake -f makefile.vc USE_XRC=1 SHARED=1 MONOLITHIC=1 BUILD=release UNICODE=0 VENDOR=cb clean
nmake -f makefile.vc USE_XRC=1 SHARED=1 MONOLITHIC=1 BUILD=release UNICODE=0 VENDOR=cb
cd <WXWIN>\lib; mkdir codeblocks_vc; cd ..\vc_dll; move * ..\codeblocks_vc; move msw ..\codeblocks_vc

codeblocks 

project->build options
	directories->compiler
		<WXWIN>\lib\codeblocks_vc\msw 
		<WXWIN>\include 
		<WXWIN>\contrib\include
	directories->linker
		<WXWIN>\lib\codeblocks_vc
	directories->resource compiler
		<WXWIN>\include
	compiler->#defines
		WXUSINGDLL
	compiler->compiler flags
		enable c++ exception handling (or other options: /GX [same as /EHsc])
	compiler->other options
		delete -D__GNUWIN32__
	linker->link libraries
		delete ctl3d32

compile->compiler options
	programs->additional paths
		C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_vc
-OR- copy C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_vc\wxmsw26_vc_cb.dll
     to application exe directory or c:\windows\system32
-OR- change project->properties->targets->execution working dir
     to C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_vc (not recommended)

compile->compiler options
	programs->additional paths
		C:\Program Files\Microsoft Platform SDK\Bin
 	directories->compiler
		add C:\Program Files\Microsoft Platform SDK\Include		
	directories->linker
		add C:\Program Files\Microsoft Platform SDK\Lib

copy C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_vc\wxmsw26.exp
     to C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_vc\wxmsw.exp
copy C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_vc\wxmsw26.lib
     to C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_vc\wxmsw.lib
copy C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_vc\wxmsw26_stc.exp
     to C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_vc\wxmsw_stc.exp
copy C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_vc\wxmsw26_stc.lib
     to C:\wxWidgets-2.6.1\lib\codeblocks_vc\wxmsw_stc.lib

compile->rebuild


building from the commandline (wxwidgets demos)
nmake -f makefile.vc SHARED=1 MONOLITHIC=1 BUILD=release

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