Just downloaded Visual C++ and put in a hello world and its giving me the error:
LINK : c:\users\derek\documents\visual studio 2010\Projects\HelloWorld\Debug\HelloWorld.exe not found or not built by the last incremental link; performing full link
Here is the code, which doesn't result in any output...
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
cout << "Hello World!";
system("PAUSE");
return 0;
}
What am I doing wrong?
std::cout is buffered, meaning that it won't display data right away - even if you write to it. To get around the problem of the application potentially not printing anything you should add a new-line after your stated output, or flush it using std::endl or equivalent.
std::cout << "hello world" << std::endl; // new-line, and flush
The diagnostic you are referring to is not an error, but a mere warning/informational message.
It's related to incremental linking, which is a feature used by the compiler to get around the problem of having to rebuild every source involved each time you compile your application. If the linker cannot find a previous compiled exe, or there is some other issue, it will issue the stated diagnostic as if saying; "I need to do a full rebuild, hold on tight".
More can be read in the following Q&A:
As stated by the documentation:
Additionally, LINK performs a full link if any of the following situations occur:
The incremental status (.ilk) file is missing. (LINK creates a new .ilk file in preparation for subsequent incremental linking.)
There is no write permission for the .ilk file. (LINK ignores the .ilk file and links nonincrementally.)
The .exe or .dll output file is missing.
The timestamp of the .ilk, .exe, or .dll is changed.
A LINK option is changed. Most LINK options, when changed between builds, cause a full link.
- An object (.obj) file is added or omitted.
If you'd like to disable incremental linking you can do so by going into the project properties and remove /INCREMENTAL.
See the documentation:
The given file was either deleted or changed since the last incremental linking session. LINK attempted to correct the problem by running a full link to recreate the incremental status (.ILK) file.
Make sure the path is correct and the file exists. If nothing else works, maybe disable /INCREMENTAL on the project properties.
The reason your expected output (Hello World!) is not appearing is that you are not outputting a newline as required. The output is being buffered and either never getting displayed, or getting displayed in the split second after you press a key (to dismiss the pause) and the window disappearing.
Add an endl to your cout call:
cout << "Hello World!" << endl;
