Totally Newb question

[Will2k]

Anytime I compile and run a program the command prompt pops up and then closes quickly. Is there anyway I can make it so.....it doesn't close on me?

[gpraghuram]

Hi,
Before returnng from the main use the function getchar()
Until u type in something the console wont close.

Thanks
Raghuram

[xoinki]

or u can also use getch() at the end of the program..
getch() waits for a character input from the user. as soon as u press some key it takes as input and terminates the program..
xoinki

[Banfa]

It is doing it because you are running it via the debugger, the debugger does not pause when the program exits.

If instead of running it via the debugger you execute it (which runs it via the system) then (on Windows certainly) the system will pause the console after the program exits so you can view the output.

Putting getchar() or getc() or whatever at the end of the program is a poor solution because it is not actually desired behaviour of the program. If you run this program from a console window (once you have finished deleloping) then you will unnecessarily have to hit enter to get the program to exit back to the command prompt. If you double click it from an explorer window (I'm assuming Windows OS) then you will have to hit enter twice to get the program to exit, once for the CherChar and once for the pause the system does for you.

The point is this is about how you use your IDE, learn how it works properly don't alter you code to get round your lack of knowledge.

[weaknessforcats]

If you are using Visual Studio.NET, then the flashing black window was your program executing after you selected "Start".

If you select "Start Without Debugging", Visual Studio will pause after main() completes with:

Press any key to continue...

What happens is that unless you specify, your executable is compiled with code to run the debugger. By selecting "Start", you are telling Visual Studio to just run the code. The implication is that you ahve built-in breaks to stop the program. By selecting "Start Without Deubgging", you are telling Visual Studio that you are not using your debugger. Now Visual Studio will pause at the end of main() so you can see what happened.