Using or runnig a written code

[cauchylouis]

I found a code that is shared on the internet performing my demands. I downloaded it. It is a folder that includes some cpp and h files. So how can I run this code now?
You know, we usually work on visual studio by creating a new project. But this is already a created project. How can I visualize it in visual studio and How can I build and run it?

Platform: Windows, VS 2017

Thank you..

[Niccolo]

First, you have to look to see if there are any build instructions.

A number of open source projects are built using CMake, which can create a Visual Studio solution for you.

[jonnin]

and it depends on what it was. It may be unix code, it may not have a gui, it may require a library you don't have, and so on. Some projects can be as much work to get them to compile as it would be to rewrite it! Others just work, if you build a project and add the code or run their makefile or open their vs project or whatever.

Go back to where you got it and look for a how to...