Issue with starting C++ development with visual studio code

Question

I am trying to start developing with C++ in microsoft's visual studio code.

I have visual studio build tools installed with the "desktop development with C++"

I have the C++ extension in vs code installed.

I get an error whenever I try to run a .cpp file

Pls help

I take the following steps:

• I run the developer command prompt for visual studio
• I navigate to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\BuildTools\projects\helloworld"
• I type "code ."
• visual studio code opens and I create a "main.cpp" file
• I enter the code:

    int main(){
        return 0;
    }

• I click "run C/C++ file" and select "C/C++: cl.exe build and debug active file"
• It attempts to run but pops up the error message "The preLaunchTask 'C/C++: cl.exe build and debug active file' terminated with exit code -1
• The full error message is as follows:

Starting build...
cl.exe /Zi /EHsc /nologo "/FeC:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\BuildTools\projects\helloworld\main.exe" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\BuildTools\projects\helloworld\main.cpp"
main.cpp
LINK : fatal error LNK1104: cannot open file 'kernel32.lib'

Build finished with error(s).

 *  The terminal process terminated with exit code: -1. 
 *  Terminal will be reused by tasks, press any key to close it. 

Answer 1

Another option is to compile it with Visual Studio Code. They have a great tutorial you can follow here. However, the part you would want to start is how to install MinGW-x64. Once that is done, the best way I have found to compile the programs is through the terminal window you can open in VSCode. Then run this g++ insert_code_name.cpp -o insert_code_name. Then, to run that code do ./insert_code_name. If you need any further help, just let me know!