Question

Let’s say I have a simple project in MSVC++ 2010.
All there is in it is main.cpp, its code being something simple like this:

    // include macros
    #define WIN32
    #include <FL/Fl.H>
    #include <FL/Fl_Window.H>
    #include <FL/fl_ask.H>
    // main function
    int main()
    {
        // init window
        Fl_Window *window = new Fl_Window(250, 250, "Derp Window"); 
        // show window, run window
        window->show();
        int result = Fl::run();
        fl_message("Goodbye...");
        // release pointers
        delete window;
        // return
        return result;
    }

It’s easy to make a Windows compatible version, all I have to do is set the mode to release and the build it. But, as I have recently found out, the generated .exe file would not work on a Mac or Linux OS. This surprised me because all I am using is plain old c++ and FLTK, which is cross platform.

So, my question is, how would I take this code and compile it in a way that it would work on a Linux OS, and the a Mac OS? Or, is it even possible to keep the same code and compile it in a different way so it works on another OS? If it is not possible, what would I have to change?

PS. The code is pretty straight forward but if you’re wondering the #define WIN32 is there because without it, the compiler freaks out about a missing header file, something like “X/X11.h”

Answer 1

If you don’t have access to a Linux or Mac OSX computer, you have to cross-compile it. To do this you have to either find a existing cross-compiler, you download the source to e.g. GCC and build it your self. Do some searching from “cross compiler” (or similar) and you will find some easy to follow tutorials.

If you do have access to a Linux or Mac, then just copy the code and build it in that environment. Be careful with Linux through, as different distributions have different versions of some libraries.

And finally, there are environments such as Wine which will allow Windows programs to run on other platforms.