Windows Installation#

This section guides first-time contributors through installing FLINT development environment.

Before proceeding further, make sure you have set up the project using Git by following our guide Git and GitHub Guide. Also make sure you have the following prerequisites set up.

Prerequisites#

Now that you have all the necessary prerequisites, you can proceed with the Installation.

Using vcpkg to install required libraries#

Start cmd in the Vcpkg repository folder (that you had cloned earlier) and use the following commands:

# bootstrap
bootstrap-vcpkg.bat

# install packages
vcpkg.exe install boost-test:x64-windows boost-program-options:x64-windows boost-log:x64-windows turtle:x64-windows zipper:x64-windows poco:x64-windows libpq:x64-windows gdal:x64-windows sqlite3:x64-windows boost-ublas:x64-windows fmt:x64-windows libpqxx:x64-windows
Installing required packages using vcpkg in Command Prompt

Installing required packages using vcpkg in Command Prompt#

Setting up the FLINT development environment#

  • Clone the FLINT repository in the moja-global folder from here

  • After cloning the FLINT repository, switch to develop branch.

Develop branch of FLINT

Develop Branch of FLINT#

  • Start cmd in the FLINT folder of your system and run command:

cd FLINT
git checkout develop

Using CMake to build the project#

Start cmd in your FLINT core repository folder. Now use the following commands to create the Visual Studio solution:

# Create a build folder under the Source folder
cd Source
mkdir build
cd build

# from ..\moja\FLINT\source\build
# now create the Visual Studio Solution (2019)
cmake -G "Visual Studio 16 2019" -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=..\..\.. -DVCPKG_TARGET_TRIPLET=x64-windows -DENABLE_TESTS=OFF -DENABLE_MOJA.MODULES.ZIPPER=OFF -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=..\..\..\vcpkg\scripts\buildsystems\vcpkg.cmake ..

# OR Visual Studio Solution (2017)
cmake -G "Visual Studio 15 2017" -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=..\..\.. -DVCPKG_TARGET_TRIPLET=x64-windows -DENABLE_TESTS=OFF -DENABLE_MOJA.MODULES.ZIPPER=OFF -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=..\..\..\vcpkg\scripts\buildsystems\vcpkg.cmake ..

Note

All paths used below with C:\Development\moja-global need to be modified to match your system build location of the moja project.

Building the FLINT#

Run cmd and navigate to the build folder.

  • Type moja.sln in the command prompt. Visual studio is launched.

  • After Visual Studio has loaded completely, move to the Solution Explorer in the top right, expand the CMakePredefinedTargets and select ALL_BUILD.

  • Right click on ALL_BUILD and click on Build in the menu.

ALL_BUILD of Visual Studio

Solution Explorer in Visual Studio#

  • If the output says Build 7 succeeded as shown in the image below, FLINT has built successfully.

Successful Build

Successful Build of FLINT#

  • To see the freshly compiled FLINT executable, open the build folder and in the command prompt type: cd bin\debug.

  • Type moja.cli in the command prompt.

  • You see this output:

Output after Successful FLINT run

Output after Successful FLINT run#

Running the project#

Running ``moja.cli.exe`` in Visual Studio Debugging All properties page

Running moja.cli.exe in Visual Studio Debugging All properties page#

We are running the moja.cli.exe from the moja.FLINT project here. In order to make edits to the Visual Studio Solution we can use the CMake GUI.

Edit solution using CMake GUI#

  • Launch the CMake GUI

  • In the Where to build the binaries field click Browse Build… and select the folder you created above (i.e. C:\Development\moja-global\FLINT\Source\build). The Where is the source code: field should update, if not, set it correctly.

  • You should be able to edit any CMake setting now (i.e. ENABLE flags like ENABLE_TESTS), then click Configure – assuming all libraries and required software has been installed you should have no errors. Now click Generate and the Solution with adjustments should be ready to load into Visual Studio.

FLINT Core Installation Video Tutorial#

The above steps for installation of FLINT on Windows with Visual Studio can also be followed along with the video tutorial: