How to set up Google C++ Testing Framework (gtest) with Visual Studio 2005

(These instructions get the testing framework working for the Debug configuration. It should be pretty trivial to apply the same process to the Release configuration.)

Get Google C++ Testing Framework

1. Download the latest gtest framework
2. Unzip to C:\gtest

Build the Framework Libraries

1. Open C:\gtest\msvc\gtest.sln in Visual Studio
2. Set Configuration to “Debug”
3. Build Solution

Create and Configure Your Test Project

1. Create a new solution and choose the template Visual C++ > Win32 > Win32 Console Application
2. Right click the newly created project and choose Properties
3. Change Configuration to Debug.
4. Configuration Properties > C/C++ > General > Additional Include Directories: Add C:\gtest\include
5. Configuration Properties > C/C++ > Code Generation > Runtime Library: If your code links to a runtime DLL, choose Multi-threaded Debug DLL (/MDd). If not, choose Multi-threaded Debug (/MTd).
6. Configuration Properties > Linker > General > Additional Library Directories: Add C:\gtest\msvc\gtest\Debug or C:\gtest\msvc\gtest-md\Debug, depending on the location of gtestd.lib
7. Configuration Properties > Linker > Input > Additional Dependencies: Add gtestd.lib

Verifying Everything Works

1. Open the cpp in your Test Project containing the main() function.

2. Paste the following code:

   #include "stdafx.h"  
   #include <iostream>
   
   #include "gtest/gtest.h"
   
   TEST(sample_test_case, sample_test)
   {
       EXPECT_EQ(1, 1);
   }
   
   int main(int argc, char** argv) 
   { 
       testing::InitGoogleTest(&argc, argv); 
       RUN_ALL_TESTS(); 
       std::getchar(); // keep console window open until Return keystroke
   }
   

3. Debug > Start Debugging

If everything worked, you should see the console window appear and show you the unit test results.