Can I use third-party compilers with the VS IDE?

Can I use third-party compilers with the VS IDE?

• jcollake

  Since this post is nearly two years old I am wondering if there has been any changes to the possibility to integrate Gcc and GDB with VS2005 projects

  If not will this be possible with VS2008

  Any links to further information would be appreciated.

  Thanks, Randy

  
  

• Bransam72783

  You can save your customized project as a template (File|Export Template...). Similarly, you can export a cpp file as an Item template.
  
  Your custom templates will then appear in the New Project... and New Item... dialog boxes for future reuse.
  
  Good luck!
  
  Jordan Jossifov
  

• SirKnight

  In VC 6 you could, in the dsp file, write:
   
  CPP=mycompiler.exe
  LINK32=mylinker.exe
  
  I don't know if this was documented or not, but it was possible. Isn't it possible to do a similar thing in Vs 2005
  
  
  Regards,
  Asger
  

• asitkk

  I found the answer myself: It's possible to setup a cusom build rule for .c+.cpp files that will use a different compiler. Unfortuately it's not possible to setup a linker the same way. -You *could* setup a rule for .o (GCC object files) but that requires the .o files to be included in the project which, of course, isn't desirable.
  
  Moreover, you cannot create new project platforms (only solution platforms) which means that event if you'd like you cannot have 1 project file for multiple platforms (gcc, intel c++, etc.).
  
  My conslusion is that it's not possible, eventhough the 2005 version was promoted partly on this claimed possibility.
  
  I certainly hope this will be corrected asap in an update.
  
  
  Regards,
  Asger
  

• eax

  I see. However, that will only setup a makefile for the whole project.
  
  I would like to just setup a default makefile for a cpp file once and for all, and the n. Doing it the other way I would still have to modify the makefile each time I add/remove files from my project.
  
  
  Regards,
  Asger
  

• rumrunner

  Yes.  You can accomplish this by File/New/Project From Existing Code.  Choose the Visual C++ as the language of the project.  On the screen after specifying the folders for the source code, choose the option for an Extenal Build system and fill in the details for GCC on the following page.
  
  Thanks,
  Sean Laberee
  http://blogs.msdn.com/vseditor

  
  
  
• Can I use third-party compilers with the VS IDE?