-
-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 0
Project vs Standalone Mode
techy4shri edited this page Nov 25, 2025
·
1 revision
CppLab IDE operates in two distinct modes, each optimized for different development workflows.
| Feature | Standalone Mode | Project Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Single file | Multiple files |
| Configuration | In-memory (session) | Persistent (cpplab_project.json) |
| Toolchain | Session default | Saved per project |
| Standard | Session default | Saved per project |
| Build Output | Temp directory |
build/ subdirectory |
| Workflow | Quick experiments | Full applications |
| File Browser | Hidden | Visible (project tree) |
Standalone mode is designed for:
- Quick experiments: Testing code snippets
- Learning: Trying out language features
- Single-file programs: Simple utilities
- Algorithm development: Focus on logic, not structure
Method 1: Open Single File
File → Open File... → Select .c or .cpp file
Method 2: New File
File → New → Select template
Method 3: Drag & Drop
Drag .c or .cpp file into IDE window
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ≡ File Edit Build Run Help 🔧 ⚙ │ ← Toolbar
├────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Toolchain: mingw32 ▼ Standard: C++17 ▼ │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ [Editor Area - test.cpp] │
│ │
│ 1 #include <iostream> │
│ 2 │
│ 3 int main() { │
│ 4 std::cout << "Hello!\n"; │
│ 5 return 0; │
│ 6 } │
│ │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ [Build][Problems][Console] │ ← Bottom Panel
└────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Key Points:
- No file browser on left
- Editor takes full width
- Toolchain/Standard selection in toolbar
- Bottom panel for build output
Build Directory: Uses temporary directory
Windows: %TEMP%\cpplab_build\<filename>\
Example: C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Temp\cpplab_build\test.cpp\
Build Command:
g++ test.cpp -o test.exe -std=c++17 -Wall -Wextra
Output Files:
test.cpp ← Source (in original location)
test.exe ← Executable (in temp dir)
test.o ← Object file (in temp dir)
Session-Level (not saved between IDE restarts):
- Toolchain selection
- Standard selection
- Editor state (cursor position, undo history)
Not Persisted:
- File path (must reopen)
- Build settings
- Run configurations
Step 1: Create test file
// test.cpp #include <iostream> int main() { std::cout << "Fibonacci: "; int a = 0, b = 1; for (int i = 0; i < 10; ++i) { std::cout << a << " "; int next = a + b; a = b; b = next; } std::cout << "\n"; return 0; }
Step 2: Open in standalone mode
File → Open File → test.cpp
Step 3: Build and run
Build → Build File (Ctrl+B)
Build → Run (Ctrl+R)
Output:
Fibonacci: 0 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34
Graphics File (with #include <graphics.h>):
// graphics_demo.cpp #include <graphics.h> int main() { int gd = DETECT, gm; initgraph(&gd, &gm, ""); circle(250, 200, 100); outtextxy(200, 200, "Hello Graphics!"); getch(); closegraph(); return 0; }
Auto-Detection:
- IDE scans for
#include <graphics.h> - Automatically selects mingw32 toolchain
- Adds
-lgdi32 -lcomdlg32 -luuid -loleaut32 -lole32linker flags
Build Command (automatic):
g++ graphics_demo.cpp -o graphics_demo.exe -std=c++17 ^ -lgdi32 -lcomdlg32 -luuid -loleaut32 -lole32
- ❌ No multi-file compilation
- ❌ No incremental builds
- ❌ Configuration not saved
- ❌ No custom build flags (without project)
- ❌ No project-wide refactoring
Project mode is designed for:
- Full applications: Multi-file programs
- Library development: Reusable components
- Long-term projects: Saved configuration
- Team collaboration: Shared project structure
- Custom build settings: Advanced compiler flags
Method 1: Create New Project
File → New Project
┌──────────────────────────────┐
│ Project Name: MyApp │
│ Location: C:\Projects\ │
│ Language: ◉ C++ ○しろまる C │
│ Standard: [C++17 ▼] │
│ Type: ◉ Console ○しろまる Graphics │
└──────────────────────────────┘
[Create]
Method 2: Open Existing Project
File → Open Project → Select folder with cpplab_project.json
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ≡ File Edit Build Run Help 🔧 ⚙ │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Toolchain: mingw64 ▼ Standard: C++17 ▼ │
├────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ PROJECT │ │
│ ▼ MyApp │ [Editor Area - main.cpp] │
│ src/ │ │
│ main.cpp │
│ utils.cpp #include <iostream> │
│ utils.h #include "utils.h" │
│ build/ │ │
│ main.o │ int main() { │
│ utils.o│ greet("World"); │
│ │ return 0; │
│ │ } │
│ │ │
├────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ [Build][Problems][Console] │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Key Points:
- File browser on left showing project tree
- Editor takes remaining width
- Bottom panel for build output
- All project files visible
Standard Console Project:
MyApp/
├── cpplab_project.json ← Configuration file
├── src/
│ ├── main.cpp ← Entry point
│ ├── utils.cpp ← Implementation
│ └── utils.h ← Header
└── build/ ← Build artifacts
├── main.o
├── utils.o
└── MyApp.exe
Graphics Project:
GraphicsApp/
├── cpplab_project.json
├── src/
│ ├── main.cpp
│ ├── drawing.cpp
│ └── drawing.h
└── build/
├── main.o
├── drawing.o
└── GraphicsApp.exe
File: cpplab_project.json
{
"name": "MyApp",
"language": "cpp",
"standard": "c++17",
"project_type": "console",
"toolchain": "mingw64",
"compile_flags": ["-Wall", "-Wextra", "-O2"],
"link_flags": [],
"include_directories": [],
"library_directories": [],
"libraries": [],
"sources": [
"src/main.cpp",
"src/utils.cpp"
]
}Field Descriptions:
| Field | Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
name |
string | Project display name | "MyApp" |
language |
string |
"c" or "cpp"
|
"cpp" |
standard |
string | Language standard |
"c++17", "c11"
|
project_type |
string |
"console", "graphics", "openmp"
|
"console" |
toolchain |
string |
"mingw32" or "mingw64"
|
"mingw64" |
compile_flags |
array | Additional compiler flags | ["-O2", "-g"] |
link_flags |
array | Additional linker flags | ["-static"] |
sources |
array | List of source files | ["src/main.cpp"] |
Build Directory: Project subdirectory
MyApp/
└── build/
├── main.o ← Object files
├── utils.o
└── MyApp.exe ← Final executable
Build Command (multi-file):
# Compile each source file g++ -c src/main.cpp -o build/main.o -std=c++17 -Wall -Wextra -O2 g++ -c src/utils.cpp -o build/utils.o -std=c++17 -Wall -Wextra -O2 # Link g++ build/main.o build/utils.o -o build/MyApp.exe
Incremental Builds:
- Only recompiles changed files
- Checks modification timestamps
- Speeds up large projects
Fully Persisted (saved in cpplab_project.json):
- Toolchain selection
- Standard selection
- Project type
- Compile/link flags
- Source file list
- Include/library paths
Session-Level:
- Editor state (cursor position)
- Open files
- Undo history
Step 1: Create project
File → New Project
Name: Calculator
Type: Console
Language: C++
Standard: C++17
Step 2: Project structure created
Calculator/
├── cpplab_project.json
└── src/
└── main.cpp
Step 3: Add source files
// src/main.cpp #include <iostream> #include "math_ops.h" int main() { std::cout << "10 + 5 = " << add(10, 5) << "\n"; std::cout << "10 - 5 = " << subtract(10, 5) << "\n"; return 0; }
// src/math_ops.h #ifndef MATH_OPS_H #define MATH_OPS_H int add(int a, int b); int subtract(int a, int b); #endif
// src/math_ops.cpp #include "math_ops.h" int add(int a, int b) { return a + b; } int subtract(int a, int b) { return a - b; }
Step 4: Build project
Build → Build Project (Ctrl+F7)
Output:
Building project: Calculator
Compiling src/main.cpp... [OK]
Compiling src/math_ops.cpp... [OK]
Linking... [OK]
Build succeeded in 1.2 seconds
Executable: Calculator/build/Calculator.exe
Step 5: Run
Build → Run (Ctrl+R)
Output:
10 +たす 5 =わ 15
10 -ひく 5 =わ 5
Auto-Configuration:
{
"name": "GraphicsDemo",
"project_type": "graphics",
"toolchain": "mingw32",
"link_flags": [
"-lgdi32",
"-lcomdlg32",
"-luuid",
"-loleaut32",
"-lole32"
]
}Automatic When:
- Project type set to "Graphics"
- OR source contains
#include <graphics.h>
Auto-Configuration:
{
"name": "ParallelApp",
"project_type": "openmp",
"toolchain": "mingw64",
"compile_flags": ["-fopenmp"],
"link_flags": ["-fopenmp"]
}Automatic When:
- Project type set to "OpenMP"
- OR source contains
#pragma ompdirectives
[x] Use standalone when:
- Learning C/C++ basics
- Testing small code snippets
- Solving programming challenges
- Writing single-file utilities
- Rapid prototyping
- No need to save configuration
❌ Don't use standalone for:
- Multi-file applications
- Long-term projects
- Team collaboration
- Complex build requirements
[x] Use project mode when:
- Building full applications
- Working with multiple source files
- Need persistent configuration
- Custom compiler/linker flags
- Team-based development
- Version control integration
❌ Don't use project mode for:
- Quick experiments (overhead)
- Single-file tests
- Temporary code snippets
Scenario: You wrote calculator.cpp in standalone mode and want to convert it to a project.
Steps:
-
Create project:
File → New Project Name: Calculator Location: C:\Projects\Calculator -
Copy standalone file:
Copy calculator.cpp to C:\Projects\Calculator\src\ -
Update project config:
{ "sources": ["src/calculator.cpp"] } -
Build as project:
Build → Build Project
Scenario: You want to test a single file from a project in isolation.
Steps:
-
Open file directly:
File → Open File → src/main.cpp -
Note: Opens in standalone mode (ignores project context)
-
Build as standalone:
Build → Build File (Ctrl+B)
File: src/cpplab/app.py
def is_project_mode(self) -> bool: """Check if currently in project mode.""" return self.current_project is not None def load_project(self, project_path: Path): """Load project and switch to project mode.""" config_file = project_path / "cpplab_project.json" if not config_file.exists(): raise FileNotFoundError("Not a valid project") with open(config_file) as f: self.current_project = json.load(f) # Update UI self._populate_project_tree() self._update_toolchain_combo() self._update_standard_combo() self.fileTreeDock.show() # Show project browser def open_standalone_file(self, file_path: Path): """Open file in standalone mode.""" self.current_project = None self.editor.open_file(file_path) # Update UI self.fileTreeDock.hide() # Hide project browser
def _populate_project_tree(self): """Populate file tree with project contents.""" if not self.current_project: return project_root = Path(self.current_project["root"]) self.fileTreeModel = QFileSystemModel() self.fileTreeModel.setRootPath(str(project_root)) self.fileTreeView.setModel(self.fileTreeModel) self.fileTreeView.setRootIndex( self.fileTreeModel.index(str(project_root)) )
Next: Build System Details
Previous: Language Standards Support