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How do i compile BZFlag!

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:15 pm
by calderhutchins
So i want to compile BZFlag using Microsoft Visual C++ Express 2010 annnnd i have no idea how, the README's do not help at all. I am 16 and do not know C++ of course but have experience with Python, BATCH, and VBS so i guess i am not totally clueless.

Can anyone tell me how to compile BZFlag in the easiest way possible?

Re: How do i compile BZFlag!

Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:14 pm
by JeffM
The Readme.Windows file should have all the information you need, specially the current one in SVN. The process is very simple, get the direct X SDK, open the project file, build.

The question to ask is why are you wanting to build bzflag on windows? If you do not know C++ then you are not building it to develop, so there would be no other reason. The build process does assume some developer knowledge since that is its intended target.

Re: How do i compile BZFlag!

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 2:57 am
by calderhutchins
Trying out the "Turret Plugin" created by whatshisface. Also for some experience.

Re: How do i compile BZFlag!

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:02 am
by JeffM
You should note that not all third party plugins are made with windows support since nobody ever hosts real servers on windows. You may need to build a project file for the plugin you want to build.

Re: How do i compile BZFlag!

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:08 am
by calderhutchins
O well i am lost so i'll be youtubin' for a couple hours :) v Thank-you for all the help. I will post if i have any questions.


EDIT: O god a 571MG download, the directX SDK. My internet speed is 112KB/s.
EDIT: Your icon looks like a M10 Wolverine or possibly a M36 Slugger/Jackson.

Re: How do i compile BZFlag!

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 5:40 am
by calderhutchins
Ok so i have no idea what im doing still and i found a file called "full build" using Visual C++ Express 2010. I Pressed F7 to "build" it and i had a few errors regarding "libcurl" (still no idea what i am doing) So i try to run it after it builds, (does that mena compile?) and it won't run because libcurl can not be found. The README offer's no instructions.. it say's......README for Windows (32- and 64-bit) platforms
---------------------------------------------

**Compilers**
BZFlag uses Microsoft Visual C++ for its prebuilt binary
releases and project files are provided for it. The current
compiler used is Visual C++ 2010 (VC10). Both the full
and express versions will build just fine.

Visual Studio 6.0, 7.1, 8.0 and 9.0 support has been discontinued,
and no projects are provided for these versions.


It is also possible to build on Windows using MinGW/MSYS or
Cygwin, both of which use a unix-style autotools build system;
for details, see README.MINGW32 (for MinGW) or the main
README (for Cygwin).

The most common way to build on windows is to use Visual C++.
The freely available VC10 EE edition is well suited to users
who wish to compile the client for personal use. It can be found at
http://www.microsoft.com/express/download/. Please note that the
free versions of Visual C++ do not allow for the re-distribution
of compiled applications, and link to runtime libraries that only
exist on systems that have the same VC EE version. If you wish to
distribute pre-made binary images of bzflag, then you will have to
ether use the full (retail, or student) versions of the compiler
or use one of the other free solutions (minGW). For more info
on compiling with minGW please see the README.MINGW32 that was
included in this source package. The rest of this document will
refer to the build process using Visual C++ 10.0 (2010).

**Targets**
There are a total of 4 build targets in the VC projects.
Release and Debug targets are configured so that they will
"build out of the box" for the majority of users. Both targets
are provided for both 32 and 64 bit binaries.

Please note that there is no real performance advantage in having
a 64 bit BZFlag client, the game does not use that much ram.

**Required Libraries**

You will need the windows DirectX SDK
(download at hhttp://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.a ... en&id=6812)

You may also need to install curses and NSIS to do a full
distribution build. Public Domain Curses is at
http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdcurses/files/ . The release notes
file there explains which .zip file to use.

**Running and Debugging**
By default the compiler will copy the compiled executables to the root level
of the source drive ( the same place that the data dir is at). From there
you can simply double click the application to run it. If you wish to debug
the program, you must set the debug executable path and working directory
inside VC to use this executable and path.

**Installer**
If you wish to build the full release package using the fullbuild solution,
you will need to have NSIS installed. The built installer will be placed in
the _bin folder for the target in the root of the source tree.

Re: How do i compile BZFlag!

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:25 am
by blast
Again, we assume that people building the code are going to be developers. We do not spoon feed the exact steps to correct every possible issue.

Re: How do i compile BZFlag!

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:56 pm
by calderhutchins
I am going to be a developer eventually and how can i learn to compile if no one teaches me how?

Re: How do i compile BZFlag!

Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:06 pm
by JeffM
This is not a forum for basic C++ tutorials, You need to start by learning the basics of C++ first before you move onto complex projects such as bzflag.

Re: How do i compile BZFlag!

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 4:34 am
by calderhutchins
Anyway, after a while of pressing buttons i thought looked important i was able to find something called "bin_Win32" which had BZFlag in it and had the stuff i added too it working. I took the while source onto my USB and put it on my school computer to host a LAN party and it would not open. I was using Visual C++ Express 2010 and i think i need that program to run it but.. not sure.

Re: How do i compile BZFlag!

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 4:48 am
by JeffM
You have not provided any information that we can use to understand your problem

There are several reasons that it would not run, but no, you do not need the full version to run on another computer. If you want to play at school I recommend using the normal download, not the one with the modded code we know you applied.