A powerful VS Code extension that streamlines C++ GTK4 development on Windows using MSYS2. It provides a complete integrated development environment with one-click build/run controls, automated CMake configuration, package management, and theme installation.
Features
🚀 Integrated Build System
- Status Bar Controls: Convenient buttons in the status bar for Clean, Build, Run, and Build & Run.
- Build Modes:
- CMake Project: If a
CMakeLists.txt file is present, the extension uses CMake for building. Click CMake Setup in settings to generate one.
- Single File: If no
CMakeLists.txt exists, it falls back to a single-file build using the compiler and flags defined in settings. Use the C++ IntelliSense button to configure VS Code for this mode.
- MSYS2 Integration: Seamlessly executes commands within your specified MSYS2 environment (UCRT64, MINGW64, CLANG64).
- IntelliSense Setup: One-click configuration of
c_cpp_properties.json to link MSYS2 headers with VS Code's C++ IntelliSense.
⚙️ Comprehensive Configuration UI
- Visual Settings: A rich web-based settings panel to configure your toolchain without editing JSON files manually.
- Toolchain Control: Select your compiler (
g++, clang++), C++ standard (C++17, C++20, etc.), and CMake generator (Ninja, Makefiles).
- Environment Variables: Easily manage environment variables like
GSK_RENDERER, GTK_THEME, and GST_PLUGIN_PATH.
📦 Package & Theme Manager
- MSYS2 Package Browser: Search for and install MSYS2 packages (e.g.,
gtk4, libadwaita, glade) directly from the extension.
- Theme Installer: Browse, preview, and install popular GTK themes (Nordic, Dracula, Arc, etc.) from GitHub.
- GStreamer Support: One-click installation for the entire GStreamer multimedia suite.
- UI Designer: Quick launch button for Glade interface designer.
- Project Exporter: Export your current project setup as a reusable template extension.
- Debug Support: Configurable debug output and build types (Debug/Release).
Requirements
- VS Code (v1.75.0 or higher)
- MSYS2 installed on your Windows machine.
- C/C++ Extension (ms-vscode.cpptools) recommended for IntelliSense.
Getting Started
- Install MSYS2: If you haven't already, download and install MSYS2.
- Configure Extension:
- Click the Settings gear icon in the status bar (or run
GTK4 Toolbar: Open Settings).
- Set your MSYS2 Path (e.g.,
C:/msys64).
- Select your Environment (recommended:
UCRT64).
- Install Dependencies:
- Go to the Plugins tab in the settings panel.
- Install GTK4, LibAdwaita, and Toolchain packages.
- Create Project:
- Open a folder with a
.cpp file (e.g., main.cpp).
- Click CMake Setup in the settings panel to generate
CMakeLists.txt.
- Build & Run:
- Click the Build & Run button in the status bar.
Extension Settings
This extension contributes the following settings:
gtk4Toolbar.msys2Path: Path to your MSYS2 installation directory.gtk4Toolbar.msys2Environment: The MSYS2 environment to use (UCRT64, MINGW64, CLANG64).gtk4Toolbar.compiler: Compiler to use (g++ or clang++).gtk4Toolbar.pkgConfigLibraries: Space-separated list of libraries to link (e.g., gtk4 libadwaita-1).gtk4Toolbar.gskRenderer: GTK renderer backend (cairo, vulkan, gl, ngl).gtk4Toolbar.cmakeGenerator: CMake generator to use (default: Ninja).
Commands
GTK4 Toolbar: Build: Build the project using the configured build task.GTK4 Toolbar: Run: Run the built executable.GTK4 Toolbar: Build & Run: Build and immediately run the application.GTK4 Toolbar: Clean: Remove build artifacts (.exe, .o, build/).GTK4 Toolbar: Open Settings: Open the visual configuration panel.GTK4 Toolbar: Export Project Template: Export the current project structure as a new extension.
Troubleshooting
- CMake not found: Ensure the
mingw-w64-ucrt-x86_64-cmake (or equivalent for your env) package is installed. The extension attempts to install it automatically.
- Linker Errors: Check that all required libraries are listed in the
pkgConfigLibraries setting and installed in MSYS2.
- "GetIfTable" Error: This is a known issue with some Windows network libraries. The extension automatically links
iphlpapi to resolve this.
License
MIT
This extension is developed primarily using advanced AI models, with careful monitoring and testing. However, bugs may exist. Please report any issues on GitHub.
We believe in the power of human creativity to revive GTK, simplify its development, and foster a deeper understanding of C/C++. Your contributions and feedback are vital!
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