CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++syntaxprogram-entry-point
zeboidlund
zeboidlund

Reputation: 10137

Is main.cpp required?

I was trying to compile a program with cmake, and I ended up deleting my main.cpp file, which I had just compounded into another file which held the name of my project (i.e., I just cut and pasted the main function into that one). The problem is that I got a main.cpp not found error, and wasn't sure whether or not in C++ a file known as main.cpp is required, or can I have a file with a different title which contains the function main instead?

Edit I should note that I have removed any specification to main and have recompiled this program.

Upvotes: 12

Views: 14650

Answers (4)

Duck
Duck

Reputation: 27552

No, you don't need a file named main.cpp. You don't need a file containing main() unless you are building an application. That is, if you were just building a library of functions or a standalone object file you would not require main().

Upvotes: 14

talnicolas
talnicolas

Reputation: 14053

No the main method doesn't have to be in a file called main.cpp.

Upvotes: 1

Mahesh
Mahesh

Reputation: 34625

Name of the source file has nothing to do for a program successful build. All you need a source file that has main function. How ever, naming the file as main.cpp is just a programming practice to just easily locate where the main function is.

Upvotes: 5

Daniel
Daniel

Reputation: 31579

You can use any file name you want, you just need to update it in the makefile

Upvotes: 0

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