How to compile googletest on windows using mingw with msys?

Question

My need is simple. I have to compile and use googletest on windows using MinGW with msys. Has anyone some experience doing this?

Thanks for answers.

Answer 1

From the README of https://github.com/google/googletest/tree/master/googletest : When building Google Test as a standalone project, the typical workflow starts with:

mkdir mybuild       # Create a directory to hold the build output.
cd mybuild
cmake ${GTEST_DIR}  # Generate native build scripts.

If you want to build Google Test's samples, you should replace the last command with

cmake -Dgtest_build_samples=ON ${GTEST_DIR}

Answer 2

It took me some time but I figured it out. Here is the guide for anyone who face the same problem.

To be able to compile GoogleTest on Windows follow this instructions:

1. I assume you have MinGW with MSYS istalled.

2. Download and install CMake from the official site http://www.cmake.org/. Use the Win32 installer version. Once you have completed the installation process copy executable files from "xxx/CMake/bin" to "xxx/MinWG/bin".

3. Download and install Python from http://www.python.org/. Again, the Windows installer does the job fine. Once you have completed the installation process copy the "python.exe" form python folder to "xxx/MinWG/bin".

4. Download the latest stable GoogleTest from http://code.google.com/p/googletest/ and unpack it into some folder.

5. Run MSYS terminal and execute following commands.

   cd xxx/gtest-x.x.x
   cmake -G "MSYS Makefiles"
   make
   

6. If you have compilation errors from pthread follow these instructions.

7. Copy the include folder "xxx/gtest-x.x.x/include" into your MinGW gcc include. Copy the library files "xxx/gtest-x.x.x/*.a" into your MinGW gcc lib.

8. When you compile tests add "-lgtest" parameter to gcc.

EDIT Commentators are right. The coping of executables worked for me but generaly it is not a good practice. Try to use a symbolic link instead.