C++ Game Development: Installing SDL3 & CMake on Windows (UCRT64) - Vcpkg Alternative
This tutorial covers the complete setup for a C++ executable project using the MSYS2 UCRT64 toolchain. We walk through installing necessary packages like CMake and Ninja, configuring IDE toolchains, and linking the SDL3 library
Command:
pacman -S mingw-w64-ucrt-x86_64-toolchain mingw-w64-ucrt-x86_64-cmake mingw-w64-ucrt-x86_64-ninja mingw-w64-ucrt-x86_64-sdl3
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Starting a new C++ project and adding a new window
0:24 - Accessing CMake profiles and toolchain management
1:06 - Finding the UCRT64 file location on Windows
1:45 - How to install CMake using pacman -S
2:56 - Installing SDL3 and Ninja packages
3:55 - Verifying installations with version check commands
4:32 - Configuring the UCRT64 path in the IDE
5:54 - Linking SDL3 in CMakeLists.txt using find_package
7:13 - Initializing SDL video and testing the setup
COMMANDS USED:
Install Package: pacman -S [package_name]
Check CMake: cmake --version
Check SDL3: pkg-config --modversion sdl3
CMAKELISTS CONFIGURATION:
find_package(SDL3 REQUIRED)
target_link_libraries(ProjectName PRIVATE SDL3::SDL3)
TAGS:
#C++, #SDL3, #MSYS2, #UCRT64 , #CMake,
#Ninja, #GameDev, #Windows, #Programming, #Tutorial, #Pacman, #Toolchain, #CLion, #CPlusPlus, #Coding, #vcpkg