Re: Windows: Problem building EPICS base, using MSYS2 & mingw

[Ralph Lange via Tech-talk <tech-talk at aps.anl.gov>]

On Thu, 9 Sept 2021 at 14:54, Luka Krmpotic via Tech-talk <tech-talk at aps.anl.gov> wrote:

Following instructions here:
https://docs.epics-controls.org/projects/how-tos/en/latest/getting-started/installation-windows-msys2.html

in order to build EPICS base on Windows, using MSYS2 (x64) & mingw (x64).
Build failed looking for <direct.h>

The problem was that compiler being used was
/usr/bin/gcc.exe
instead of
/mingw64/bin/gcc.exe

I solved the problem by prepending /mingw64/bin: to $PATH in my ~/.bashrc,
which wasn't part of the $PATH in the default install.

That setting is done when you open the terminal through the appropriate links called "MSYS MinGW 64-bit" or "MSYS MinGW 32-bit".

If you use the generic terminal, you get the settings for the common MSYS layer, including the compiler that the common layer is built with.

The instructions you are referring to say:

Once installation is complete, you have three options available for starting a shell. The difference between these options is the preset of the environment variables that select the compiler toolchain to use. Launch the “MSYS MinGW 64-bit” option to use the MinGW 64bit toolchain, producing 64bit binaries that run on 64bit Windows systems. The “MSYS MinGW 32-bit” option will use the MinGW 32bit toolchain, producing 32bit binaries that will run on 32bit and 64bit Windows systems.

I'm open to suggestions for a better wording.

Cheers,
~Ralph