How to compile SDL_bgi programs with Dev-C++

These instructions show how to compile an SDL_bgi program using Dev-C++; we will use fern.c, provided in the demo/ directory.

Let’s assume that Dev-C++ is installed in C:\Dev-Cpp, and that the SDL2 development libraries for MinGW are installed in C:\SDL2-*. If you installed the software in different directories, change the following instructions accordingly.

The procedure was tested with Orwell Dev-Cpp 5.11, TDM64-GCC 10.3.0, and SDL2-devel-2.24.2-mingw.tar.gz. Newer releases of these packages should work.

Links:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/orwelldevcpp/

https://libsdl.org/download-2.0.php

https://jmeubank.github.io/tdm-gcc/

Upgrading Dev-C++’s Compiler

By default, Dev-C++ ships with TDM-GCC 4.9.2; this is a very old version of gcc that is not compatible with current SDL2 development libraries. To compile SDL_bgi programs, you must upgrade TDM-GCC to a newer release.

• remove the directory C:\Dev-Cpp\MinGW64

• install TDM64-GCC in C:\Dev-Cpp\MinGW64

• start Dev-C++. A window will appear, reporting missing compiler directories. Click on Yes

• from menu Tools/Compiler Options.../Compiler set to configure, click on the ++ icon (Find and automatically configure compilers)

• when asked to Clear current compiler list?, click on Yes

• TDM-GCC 10.3.0 64-bit release will be set as the Compiler set to configure. Click on Ok

• test Dev-C++ and make sure that you can compile programs.

Installing SDL_bgi

• copy bin/Dev-Cpp/SDL_bgi.dll to
  C:\Dev-Cpp\MinGW64\lib

• copy src/SDL_bgi.h to
  C:\SDL2-*\x86_64-w64-mingw32\include\SDL2

• copy src/graphics.h to
  C:\SDL2-*\x86_64-w64-mingw32\include

How to compile

• Run Dev-C++ and start an empty project called Fern: menu File/New/Project..., tick “C Project”, select “Empty Project”, insert the name “Fern”, click on Ok, then save the project file

• in the left-hand pane, click on tab Project, remove Untitled, right click on Fern, click on Add to project..., then pick fern.c

• menu Project/Project options..., tab Parameters, tab Linker: add the string -lmingw32 -lSDL_bgi -lSDL2main -lSDL2 -mwindows

• menu Project/Project options..., tab Parameters, tab Linker: click on Add library or object and select SDL_bgi from
  C:\Dev-Cpp\MinGW64\lib

• tab Directories, tab Include Directories: add
  C:\SDL2-*\x86_64-w64-mingw32\include\SDL2 and
  C:\SDL2-*\x86_64-w64-mingw32\include

• tab Library Directories: add  C:\SDL2-*\x86_64-w64-mingw32\lib and
  C:\Dev-Cpp\MinGW64\lib then click on Ok

• compile the program: menu Execute/Compile

• copy `C:\SDL2-*\x86_64-w64-mingw32\bin\SDL2.dll and
  SDL_bgi.dll to the same directory as fern.exe

• run it: menu Execute/Run.

Note 1: if you release your compiled program, you must also provide SDL2.dll and SDL_bgi.dll in the same directory.

Note 2: if your code uses functions provided by stdio.h (e.g. printf(), scanf(), etc.) you must also run a terminal. Remove the option -mwindows from the linker parameters.

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