macOS Local Setup

Install Homebrew GCC 15 for Chemeketa projects. The project settings select this compiler instead of Apple's Clang compiler.

Install the command-line tools

Open Terminal and run:

xcode-select --install

This installs Make, Git, and other command-line tools required by Homebrew and VS Code.

Install Homebrew and GCC

  1. Follow the installation command at brew.sh.
  2. Follow every shell-configuration instruction Homebrew prints after installation.
  3. Close and reopen Terminal.
  4. Install the GCC version used by the templates:
brew install gcc@15

Test the compiler and other command-line tools:

g++-15 --version
make --version
git --version

This demonstration shows the Xcode tools, Homebrew, and GCC installation process. Follow the current commands above if the Homebrew output or GCC version shown in the video differs:

Install VS Code and extensions

Install Visual Studio Code. Open the Extensions view with Cmd+Shift+X and install:

ms-vscode.cpptools
cschlosser.doxdocgen
usernamehw.errorlens
ascholer.chemeketa-gitdoc
davidkaiser.kaiser-project-zip
vadimcn.vscode-lldb

Configure Git

Git was installed with the Xcode command-line tools. Complete the Git identity setup before starting a local project.

Verify the complete setup

Create or download a fresh Basic Project, open its entire folder in VS Code, and run the Run Program (Mac) configuration.

The templates expect Homebrew at /opt/homebrew, the normal location on Apple Silicon Macs. On an Intel Mac, or if which g++-15 reports another location, use C/C++: Select IntelliSense Configuration in the Command Palette and select the installed g++-15. See Troubleshooting if the project builds but VS Code shows include errors.