How to use Docker to build a C++ application? - Stack Overflow

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How can I use Docker to build a C++ application?

For context, I am working on a Linux server which has an older version of gcc/g++ installed. (Version 12.)

This version does not support the latest C++ 23 features.

However, Version 14 does have support for some C++ 23 features.

I do not want to install Version 14 directly onto the server and replace the default Version 12 compiler. The reason is that this is one possible way to break the system, as there may be incompatiable changes between major versions of g++/gcc compiler releases.

The rest of the Operating System depends on having a compatiable compiler, therefore swapping one for the other is not advisable.

For example, how would I build this example C++ 23 application?

#include <print>

int main() {
    std::println("hello world");
    return 0;
}

How can I use Docker to build a C++ application?

For context, I am working on a Linux server which has an older version of gcc/g++ installed. (Version 12.)

This version does not support the latest C++ 23 features.

However, Version 14 does have support for some C++ 23 features.

I do not want to install Version 14 directly onto the server and replace the default Version 12 compiler. The reason is that this is one possible way to break the system, as there may be incompatiable changes between major versions of g++/gcc compiler releases.

The rest of the Operating System depends on having a compatiable compiler, therefore swapping one for the other is not advisable.

For example, how would I build this example C++ 23 application?

#include <print>

int main() {
    std::println("hello world");
    return 0;
}

• c++
• docker
• c++23

Share Improve this question Follow edited Jan 31 at 18:56 prapin 6,89855 gold badges2929 silver badges5454 bronze badges asked Jan 29 at 16:41 user2138149user2138149 17.8k3030 gold badges150150 silver badges299299 bronze badges 5

• 1 I recommend installing Ubuntu. It has third-party repos with up-to-date GCC and Clang. (The former coming from an "official" source I believe.) – HolyBlackCat Commented Jan 29 at 16:50
• @HolyBlackCat I agree. I personally think it's better. Unfortunatly now I have Debian on this machine I'm stuck with it. – user2138149 Commented Jan 29 at 16:54
• 1 I feel like my answer to your previous question covers this? Especially, if you install a second toolchain not as the system gcc and set environment variables CC=gcc-14 CXX=g++-14, that shouldn't affect your other applications but you should still build with the toolchain you need. – David Maze Commented Jan 29 at 19:16
• @DavidMaze Yes it does, but they are not the same question. Sorry, it's Stack Overflow rules. – user2138149 Commented Jan 29 at 20:19
• 1 I have wondered the same, how do I use C++23 features. Reopened and upvoted. – CPlus Commented Feb 7 at 19:24

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1 Answer 1

Sorted by: Reset to default -1

Please note that if an application is compiled inside a Docker container with a different compiler version to the default installed compiler version, then this application should also be run inside a Docker container with the same version of the standard library.

Note: This seems to have caused quite a debate in the comments. While it may be possible to run an application built inside a Docker Container on the host system, it is not generally advisable to do so, and this cannot be guaranteed to work. If you create an environment to build an application then you should also run it in an equivalent environment.

This is because, as mentioned in the question, there may be incompatiable changes between compiler versions.

The following example Dockerfile demonstrates one possible approach for how to construct a container image which can be used to build a C++ 23 application.

It can of course be modified for different C++ versions.

FROM ubuntu:24.04 AS build

RUN apt update
RUN apt install software-properties-common -y

RUN apt-add-repository ppa:ubuntu-toolchain-r/ppa

RUN apt update
RUN apt install build-essential -y
RUN apt install gcc-14 -y
RUN apt install g++-14 -y

RUN update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/gcc gcc /usr/bin/gcc-14 14
RUN update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/g++ g++ /usr/bin/g++-14 14

RUN apt install cmake -y

WORKDIR /workspace/my-project-name
COPY my-project-dir my-project-dir

RUN cd my-project-dir && cmake .
RUN cd my-project-dir && mkdir -p build
RUN cd my-project-dir && cmake --build build

FROM ubuntu:24.04

COPY --from=build /workspace/my-project-name/my-project-dir/build/a.out /usr/local/bin/a.out

CMD ["a.out"]

Of course, recommend you change a.out and the other directory names to something sensible.

I have assumed that you have a suitable CMakeLists.txt.

If you are using an alternative build system to cmake, then you will need to install the relevant build tools, and add the relevant build files.

As a trivial example, if you are calling g++ directly from a script, you could just copy the build script and run it inside the container.

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