Picking up an ancient software project in C++, edited in Microsoft Visual Studio for C++. Where to start? So I don’t have to work it out again, here are the basics:
- Double-click a [.dsw] file.
- That is a Workspace file, plain text, not a lot inside it.
- It includes a reference to a [.dsp] file, which is a Project file, plain text, serves as a Make file.
- Do not double-click a [.dsp] file directly.
- Now to compile. There are two Compile modes: Debug and Release. The former makes debugging easier and the latter is slimmer and fitter (more optimized, hence smaller and faster).
- To select mode, do [Build > Set Active Configuration]
- If select Release mode, then result, the expected [.exe] file and a bunch of clutter (some [.obj] files etc.) appear in a Release subfolder.