Turbo C++: Intro & Installation

Milan Kathiriya
6 min readNov 28, 2023
From Wikipedia

Turbo C++ is a legendary integrated development environment (IDE) and compiler for the C and C++ programming languages. Developed by Borland, Turbo C++ gained immense popularity in the late 1980s and 1990s, especially among students and hobbyist programmers. Here’s a brief introduction to Turbo C++:

1. Historical Significance:

  • Turbo C++ was first released by Borland in 1990. It was a successor to Turbo C, which was specifically for the C programming language.

2. Integrated Development Environment (IDE):

  • Turbo C++ provided an integrated environment for writing, compiling, and debugging C and C++ programs. It featured a text editor, compiler, linker, and debugger in a single package.

3. DOS-Based Environment:

  • Initially designed for MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System), Turbo C++ operated in a command-line environment. Users interacted with the software through a text-based interface.

4. User-Friendly Interface:

  • Turbo C++ was known for its simple and user-friendly interface, making it accessible to beginners. It had a straightforward menu system and a compact layout.

5. Standard Template Library (STL):

  • Turbo C++ included an early version of the Standard Template Library (STL), a powerful set of C++ template classes to provide general-purpose classes and functions with templates that implement many popular and commonly used algorithms and data structures like vectors, lists, queues, and stacks.

6. Popularity in Education:

  • Turbo C++ gained popularity in educational institutions due to its ease of use and simplicity. Many students and programming enthusiasts learned their first steps in coding using Turbo C++.

7. Transition to Windows:

  • As computing environments evolved, Turbo C++ faced challenges in adapting to graphical user interfaces and 32-bit Windows operating systems. Borland later developed newer IDEs like Borland C++ Builder.

8. Legacy and Nostalgia:

  • Despite its eventual obsolescence, Turbo C++ remains a nostalgic and iconic part of the history of programming tools. Many developers who started their coding journey in the 1990s have fond memories of Turbo C++.

Installation of Turbo C++

Step-1: Download Turbo C++

You can Download Turbo C++ from here, just click on Download Turbo C++ and you will be taken to the download page.

When you click on Download Turbo C ++ you will see the following web page.

Step-2: Installation Process

First, Right click on turbo C++’s download file and then click on Extract All.

After clicking on Extract file you will see a wizard like the one shown below.

After clicking on the Extract button, the extraction of your download file will start automatically.

Step-3: Open extracted folder

After the extraction process is complete, the extracted file automatically comes to the side from your downloaded file.
Your extracted file can be seen as shown in the Wizard below.

Once the extraction process is complete, open the
extracted folder.

Step-4: Open setup.exe file

Once the file is extracted, open it and after opening, the following window will appear.

After opening the extracted folder, double click on the setup icon.

Step-5: Begin installation process

After opening the setup, you will see the following Wizard box.

After clicking Next > button, you will see the following Wizard box.

After choosing I accept the terms in the license agreement and clicking Next > button, you will see the following Wizard box.

After clicking Install button, you will see the following Wizard box.

Now press on Finish button.

Step-6: Exploring Turbo C++

After clicking Finish button, you will see the following Wizard box.

After pressing Start Turbo C++ button, you will see the Turbo C++ screen.

After clicking File menu, you will see the following popup menu.

Now press on New button for Create a new File.

After creating a new file, you will see the following blue screen.

Now you can see the top left square green box and right side green arrow.

Square green box is used for close current file.

Green arrow is used for maximize/minimize current file size (Blue screen area).

After clicking a green arrow, you will see the following blue screen.

Also you will minimize blue screen by clicking right side green arrow.

After clicking on square green box, you will see that file is closed.

Go to File menu and click on Open… button or Press F3.

After clicking on Open… button, you will see the following Wizard box.

Now Enter The path and file name and click on Open button.

Go to the file menu and click on Save option or Press F2.

Now enter the path and file name, after entering path or file name click on OK button.

How to compile code:

  • Go to the Compile menu.
  • After click on compile menu, you will see the following Wizard box.
  • Now click on Compile button or press Alt + F9 for Compile code.

How to run code:

  • Go to Run menu and select Run option for run the code for output.
  • You can also press Ctrl + F9 to run the code.

It’s worth noting that while Turbo C++ itself is less commonly used today due to advancements in development environments and the evolution of programming languages, its influence on the early programming education and the developer community is undeniable.

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