Supplemental Tools#

These tools can help you build, check, test, document, and debug C++ programs. They are supplements, not replacements for the assignment instructions.

The current course syllabus, assignment instructions, programming standards, and applicable CSN or college policies take precedence over anything on this website.

You do not need to learn every tool on this page at the start of the course. Your instructor will introduce supplemental tools as they become useful. When a tool is introduced in class, this section is where you can find the stable reference instructions for using it.

Tool pages#

• Lint and Static Analysis
• Formatting, Spelling, and Documentation
• Building with Make and Makefiles
• Testing with Catch2
• Debugging with GDB
• Memory Checking with Valgrind

Before using supplemental tools#

Use the compiler first:

g++ $CXXFLAGS main.cpp -o main

If the program does not compile, read the compiler messages before using other tools. After that, use the tool your instructor has introduced or the tool that matches the problem you are trying to solve:

• Use lint and static analysis to find suspicious source code.
• Use formatting, spelling, and documentation tools to improve presentation.
• Use make when a project has several source files or repeated build steps.
• Use Catch2 when you need repeatable tests.
• Use GDB when the program runs but produces the wrong result or stops.
• Use Valgrind when you need to inspect memory errors or leaks.

Do not submit tool output in place of required source files. These tools help you inspect your work; they do not decide whether the assignment is complete.