ERROR: "undefined reference to `_WinMain@16'" when compiling in Cygwin

[Micko1]

Hello there :)

I have been using Visual Studio on a program which I have just completed, however I need to have it compiling using a unix based compiler, when I try in cygwin, I get the following error:

undefined reference to `_WinMain@16'

I have tried searching for a workaround, although I am not a programming guru, and I find it difficult to comprehend the discussions on this topic :)

Any help is appreciated.

[Micko1]

Try adding -mwindows to your gcc compiler command.

Take a look at this link http://www.ee.adfa.edu .au/staff/hrp/webDesignHelp/cygwin-ug-net-nochunks.html#O V-EX-WIN for more info. Refer to section 4.1.2

I tried adding that command into my make file ( I think i did it right) but to no avail.

this is my make file:

all: nurseryTest
all: nursery
clean:
    rm *.o nurseryTest
    rm *.o nursery
 
nursery.o: nursery.cpp nursery.h
    g++ -c nursery.cpp
 
nurseryTest.o: nursery.cpp nursery.h
    g++ -c nurseryTest.cpp
 
nurseryTest: nurseryTest.o nursery.o
    g++ -o nurseryTest.cpp nursery.o -o nurseryTest
 
 

As you see I have 3 files:

nursery.h
nurseryTest.cpp
nursery.cpp

I am not even sure if the makefile itself is correct, but I'm assuming it is because it creates the object files. When I add the gcc -mwindows line I get lots of errors, perhaps I am adding it wrong.

Cheers

[RRick]

Try adding the -mwindows to the g++ command. I would suggest also adding -Wall (turns on warnings). If you plan to debug the program using one of the GNU debuggers, then the following is useful (-g -O0) <--Oh-zero. These options are usually put just after the command and before the file information.

You will need the -mwindows option only for the command that makes the program. The other options are needed for all compilations.

The url link also used the program's resource file (xxx.res) during the linkage of the program. I'm not real familar with the .res file, but I know it is used for windows gui applications.

[mseneta]

I was receiving the same error, and I think it was due to having my main function in the wrong format.

I had originally had it formatted like this:

void Main()
{
}

When I changed the format to the following, the error went away:

main() {
}

[JosAH]

Main != main (C and C++ are case sensitive languages) and congrats for
resurrecting a thread that has been dead for almost 13 months.

kind regards,

Jos

ps. and make that 'int main()' as well if you don't want to look silly.

[boxfish]

I'm glad you fixed your error, but it doesn't have anything to do with where the braces are. However, I do approve of having the opening brace on the same line as the function name. main should be written like this:

int main() {
    // Code here.
    return 0;
}
 

[TamusJRoyce]

Ah. Thread has been down for over 6 months?

C++ is case sensitive and must have been trying to use the Main() Function which I believe is a backwards WinMain() used back in the Windows 3.1 era, but not sure about that.

I would offer you to use MinGW if you are wishing to do c++ programming with an open source compiler. Cygwin has many problems that can happen with it. Though this is my opinion.

I'd use:
1. CodeBlocks (supersedes Dev-Cpp & cross OS compatable)
- This uses MinGW as opposed to cygwin
2. Visual Studio Express
3. CoLinux/AndLinux - use linux kernal/OS on top of windows

Oh well. Don't mind replying to a re-opened thread.

[htake]

Hi there.

I just got the same error in cygwin/gcc and found this thread. As noted the reason is that the "main" function with the proper signature was not supplied. I am using the following though, thanks anyway.

int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
{
    //...
    return 0;
}