How to compile googletest on windows using mingw with msys?

To build libgtest.a without cmake/python, but only using mingw make, gtest now has a 'make' folder with a plain old makefile in it.

1. Make sure, mingw\bin is in the path (try running 'g++' or something).
2. Enter the gtest 'googletest\make' folder and run 'make'.
3. To test, run 'sample1_unittest' (gtest sample test output should appear).
4. To generate the library 'libgtest.a', run 'ar -rv libgtest.a gtest-all.o'

The library created is a full static library with no dll's generated.

That should be all.

By the way, this also works for building googlemock, just enter the googlemock folder instead of googletest, and follow the same procedure.

It took me some time but I figured it out. Here is the guide for anyone who face the same problem.

To be able to compile GoogleTest on Windows follow this instructions:

1. I assume you have MinGW with MSYS istalled.

2. Download and install CMake from the official site http://www.cmake.org/. Use the Win32 installer version. Once you have completed the installation process copy executable files from "xxx/CMake/bin" to "xxx/MinWG/bin".

3. Download and install Python from http://www.python.org/. Again, the Windows installer does the job fine. Once you have completed the installation process copy the "python.exe" form python folder to "xxx/MinWG/bin".

4. Download the latest stable GoogleTest from http://code.google.com/p/googletest/ and unpack it into some folder.

5. Run MSYS terminal and execute following commands.

   cd xxx/gtest-x.x.x
   cmake -G "MSYS Makefiles"
   make
   

6. If you have compilation errors from pthread follow these instructions.

7. Copy the include folder "xxx/gtest-x.x.x/include" into your MinGW gcc include. Copy the library files "xxx/gtest-x.x.x/*.a" into your MinGW gcc lib.

8. When you compile tests add "-lgtest" parameter to gcc.

EDIT Commentators are right. The coping of executables worked for me but generaly it is not a good practice. Try to use a symbolic link instead.