Quick start for Visual Studio. Google "Download Visual Studio" and then download Visual Studio with support for C++ (not C#, see next paragraph now). In the past we just used Visual Studio Express, but now Visual Studio Community seems to be the one. If it asks, get the Desktop, not Web or other version. I recommend a Custom install, uncheck everything, expand "Programming Languages", expand "Visual C++" and selece "Common Tools for Visual C++...". If you somehow install without including C++, then you can simply do it later when you try to create a C++ project. It will ask and you can install it then. The following is approximate as it varies depending on which version you have. Run/Launch Visual Studio If it asks you to "Sign In" you can just click "Not now, maybe later" if you prefer Start a New Project File -> New -> Project... Choose: Win32 Win32 Console Application Choose a Name and Location Click "OK" Click "Next >" Choose: Make sure "Console application" is selected Unselect "Precompiled header" and ("Security Development..." if there) Then select "Empty project" Click "Finish" In the "Solution Explorer" (See View menu if it is not visible), right-click on "Source Files" "Add >" -> "New Item..." Select "Visual C++" "C++ File (.cpp) Give it a name Click "Add" Type your code in the editor window F7 to compile F5 to run with Debugging (closes window immediately on completion!) Ctrl-F5 to run without Debugging (window stays open after completion) F10 to single step F11 to step "into"