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# 1. CUDA + VSCode (Recommended)
I recommend the combination of cuda and VSCode for cuda programming, for the convenience I gained from it.

Here are some useful blogs.
- [Visual Studio Code的CUDA环境](https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/508810115) (Recommended)
- [使用VSCode搭建WSL + CUDA + C/C++开发环境](https://tieba.baidu.com/p/8014932367)
- [CUDA开发环境搭建](https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/488518526)

## 1.1. Install extensions

CUDA is designed based on C/C++, so you need to install extension `C/C++`. But for now, VSCode can only recognize file formats like `.c` and `.cpp`. Thus, extension `Nsight Visual Studio Code Edition` should be installed to support recognition of file format `.cu`.

- C/C++
- Nsight Visual Studio Code Edition

## 1.2. Configurations of the workspace

To compile cuda files and run test tasks, file `taks.json` is needed. Also, file `launch.json` is a must to debug cuda files. I paste the template for those two files below for your convenience. 

You should create a folder `.vscode` in the work directory, and put two files in it. The file can be organized like this. 
```
./
├── .vscode
│   ├── tasks.json
│   ├── launch.json
├── cudaByExample
│   ├── chapter03
│   │   ├── enum_gpu
│   │   ├── enum_gpu.cu
│   │   ├── hello_world
│   │   ├── hello_world.cu
├── mycuda
│   ├── task1
│   │   ├── corr.cu
...
```

tasks.json:
```json
{
    "tasks": [
/////////////////////////////////// cudaBuild //////////////////////////////////
        {
            "label": "cudaBuild",
            "detail": "Build for cuda c",
            "group": {
                "kind": "build",
                "isDefault": true, 
            },
            "type": "cppbuild",
            "command": "nvcc",
            "args": [
                "${file}",
                "-g",
                // "-lglut", "-lGLU", "-lGL",  // include lib for graphics
                "-o","${fileDirname}/${fileBasenameNoExtension}"]
        },
/////////////////////////////////// run ////////////////////////////////////////
        {
            "label": "run",  // Name of the task
            "detail": "Compile the file, then run it. Typical run task for cpp",
            "dependsOn": "cudaBuild", // Run compilation task `cudaBuild` before this test task
            "group": {
                "kind": "test",  // compared to "build"
                "isDefault": true
				// linked to the button `Run the C\C++` / command `Run tasks: Run test tasks`
                // whose shortkey can be set to "F4"
            },
            "type": "shell",
            "command": "${fileDirname}/${fileBasenameNoExtension}",
            "args": [],  
            // Warning "Matches multiple schemas when only one must validate." 
            // will show if this object ommited
            "presentation": {
                "focus": true,  // Default is false. Nonsenseless for build.
                // Controls whether the panel takes focus.
                "panel": "new",  // Default is shared.
                // Controls if the panel is shared between tasks, 
                // dedicated to this task or a new one is created on every run.
            },
        },
    ],
    "version": "2.0.0"
}
```

launch.json:
```json
{
    "configurations": [
        {
/////////////////////////////////// cudaDebug //////////////////////////////////
        {
            "name": "cudaDebug",
            "type": "cuda-gdb",
            "request": "launch",
            "program": "${fileDirname}/${fileBasenameNoExtension}",
            "preLaunchTask": "cudaBuild",  // The task run before debugging
        },
    ],
    "version": "2.0.0"
}
```

## 1.3. Validation of the configuration

Download the repository from [CUDA by Example](https://github.com/CodedK/CUDA-by-Example-source-code-for-the-book-s-examples-) , open one of the  cuda scripts in chapter 3 then click the button `Run C/C++ file` on the upper right corner. Hopefully, you will compile and run it successfully.

# 2. Is VSCode a must?

If you check the contents of file `tasks.json` carefully, you may find that all you need to compile a cuda script is the command `nvcc example.cu`. Then an executable file named `a.out` will be generated and you can run it by the command `./a.out`.

If you want to modify the name of the executable file, you will need the command `nvcc example.cu -o exeFileName`.

All in all, program `nvcc` will satisfy all your requirements.
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