Is main.cpp required?

Question

I was trying to compile a program with cmake, and I ended up deleting my main.cpp file, which I had just compounded into another file which held the name of my project (i.e., I just cut and pasted the main function into that one). The problem is that I got a main.cpp not found error, and wasn't sure whether or not in C++ a file known as main.cpp is required, or can I have a file with a different title which contains the function main instead?

Edit I should note that I have removed any specification to main and have recompiled this program.

Solution 1

No, you don't need a file named main.cpp. You don't need a file containing main() unless you are building an application. That is, if you were just building a library of functions or a standalone object file you would not require main().

Solution 2

Name of the source file has nothing to do for a program successful build. All you need a source file that has main function. How ever, naming the file as main.cpp is just a programming practice to just easily locate where the main function is.

Solution 3

No the main method doesn't have to be in a file called main.cpp.

Comments

[Benjamin Lindley]

What does your CMakeLists.txt file look like? Does it specifically mention main.cpp?