Initial Version

README.md

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+# build-zig-cpp
+
+An Example build.zig for a pure C++ project
+
+Simply: `git clone <this_repo> && zig build`
+
+Result is in `zig-out/bin`
+
+## Details
+
+1. All the magic happens in build.zig
+2. I provide a win.cpp and main.cpp to showcase different OS capabilities built into zig
+3. Most of this is not well documented yet, as of 0.13/0.14 zig era, places to get information:
+    1. https://ziglang.org/learn/build-system/ (less than helpful for C++ specific users like us)
+    2. https://ziglang.org/documentation/master/std/#std.Build (std.Build is the namespace where all the functions and types live - the meat of the discussion)
+
+## build.zig Explanation
+
+First, refer to [build.zig](./build.zig) in this repo.
+
+Now, we first #include the zig standard library in this build.zig:
+
+```zig
+const std = @import("std");
+```
+
+Then we write what is main() for `zig build`:
+
+```zig
+pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
+}
+```
+
+Then we set up default `.{}` target and optimization levels for my OS/build command. I.e. The system we're on.
+You can modify what you are targeting with your `zig build` command and this is where that magic is respected.
+
+```zig
+    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
+    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
+```
+
+`target` is documented [here](https://ziglang.org/documentation/master/std/#std.Build.standardTargetOptions), by clicking on [ResolvedTarget](https://ziglang.org/documentation/master/std/#std.Build.ResolvedTarget)
+You can then follow the chain down to how I found the string `.windows` for this if statement:
+
+```zig
+if (target.result.os.tag == .windows) {
+}
+```
+
+Below is Self-explanatory: We're declaring an executable with a name of "win", using the earlier target and optimization options. Nothing is added to this empty executable yet.
+
+```zig
+const exe = b.addExecutable(.{ 
+    .name = "win",
+    .target = target,
+    .optimize = optimize
+});
+```
+
+Now we add our single source file:
+
+```zig
+exe.addCSourceFile(.{ .file = b.path("win.cpp") });
+```
+
+Followed by actually linking against libc and libcpp, which is required to have `<iostream>` `<string>`, etc:
+
+```zig
+exe.linkLibC();
+exe.linkLibCpp();
+```
+
+Note by default this is a dynamic link. To change to static link, set it up in the target options:
+
+```zig
+const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{
+    .libc_static = true, // Enable libc static linking
+});
+```
+
+Finally, we tell it to install/create this executable:
+
+```zig
+b.installArtifact(exe);
+```
+
+

build.zig

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+const std = @import("std");
+
+pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
+    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
+    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
+    
+    if (target.result.os.tag == .windows) {
+        const exe = b.addExecutable(.{ 
+            .name = "win",
+            .target = target,
+            .optimize = optimize
+        });
+        
+        exe.addCSourceFile(.{ .file = b.path("win.cpp") });
+        
+        exe.linkLibC();
+        exe.linkLibCpp();
+
+        b.installArtifact(exe);
+    } else {
+        const exe = b.addExecutable(.{ 
+            .name = "exe",
+            .target = target,
+            .optimize = optimize
+        });
+        
+        exe.addCSourceFile(.{ .file = b.path("main.cpp") });
+        
+        exe.linkLibC();
+        exe.linkLibCpp();
+
+        b.installArtifact(exe);
+    }
+}

main.cpp

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+#include <iostream>
+int main() {
+    std::cout << "Hello, World!" << std::endl;
+    return 0;
+}

win.cpp

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+#include <windows.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string>
+#include <tchar.h>
+
+static TCHAR szWindowClass[] = _T("DesktopApp");
+static TCHAR szTitle[] = _T("Hello, Windows!");
+
+LRESULT CALLBACK WndProc(HWND, UINT, WPARAM, LPARAM);
+
+int CALLBACK WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine, int nCmdShow) {
+    WNDCLASSEX wcex;
+
+    wcex.cbSize = sizeof(WNDCLASSEX);
+    wcex.style = CS_HREDRAW | CS_VREDRAW;
+    wcex.lpfnWndProc = WndProc;
+    wcex.cbClsExtra = 0;
+    wcex.cbWndExtra = 0;
+    wcex.hInstance = hInstance;
+    wcex.hIcon = LoadIcon(hInstance, IDI_APPLICATION);
+    wcex.hCursor = LoadCursor(NULL, IDC_ARROW);
+    wcex.hbrBackground = (HBRUSH)(COLOR_WINDOW + 1);
+    wcex.lpszMenuName = NULL;
+    wcex.lpszClassName = szWindowClass;
+    wcex.hIconSm = LoadIcon(wcex.hInstance, IDI_APPLICATION);
+
+    if (!RegisterClassEx(&wcex)) {
+        MessageBox(NULL, _T("Call to RegisterClassEx failed!"), _T("Test app"), NULL);
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    HWND hWnd = CreateWindow(szWindowClass, szTitle, WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW, CW_USEDEFAULT, CW_USEDEFAULT, 1200, 900, NULL, NULL, hInstance, NULL);
+    if (!hWnd) {
+        MessageBox(NULL,
+            _T("Call to CreateWindow failed!"),
+            _T("Test app"),
+            NULL);
+
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    ShowWindow(hWnd, nCmdShow);
+    UpdateWindow(hWnd);
+
+    MSG msg;
+    while (GetMessage(&msg, NULL, 0, 0)) {
+        TranslateMessage(&msg);
+        DispatchMessage(&msg);
+    }
+
+    return (int)msg.wParam;
+}
+
+LRESULT CALLBACK WndProc(HWND hWnd, UINT message, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam) {
+    switch (message) {
+    case WM_DESTROY:
+        PostQuitMessage(0);
+        break;
+
+    default:
+        return DefWindowProc(hWnd, message, wParam, lParam);
+        break;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}