Fixing the `cannot open source file "bits/stdc++.h" C/C++ (1696)` error for VSCode on MacOS

October 6 2023

This is a really annoying error that has plagued me for years. I could not find a single solution to resolve this error searching on the entire internet. It’s also really surprising as well, does nobody competitively program on MacOS?

However, as of October 6th, 2023, (with the help of ChatGPT-4), I’ve finally come to a solution which I believe to be optimal.

It boils down to the following steps:

Install gcc via homebrew
Download stdc++.h from the official gcc repository and put it into the include path of the homebrew installed gcc
Change the c++ compiler of the vscode C/C++ extension to the homebrew installed g++.

Installing `gcc` via `homebrew`

I’ll assume you already have homebrew installed. If not, get it at https://brew.sh/.

Then, open a terminal, and run the following command:

brew install gcc

Finding the “Include Path” for the Homebrew installed `gcc`

Run the following command

brew list gcc

Now look for the line with the following format:

/opt/homebrew/Cellar/gcc/X.Y.Z/include/c++/

Note the X Y and Z values and copy the directory path.

Now cd into that directory, then the major version (X) subdirectory, then the bits subdirectory, or in one command as follows:

cd /opt/homebrew/Cellar/gcc/[X.Y.Z]/include/c++/[X]/bits # X Y Z may vary

Once inside the above directory, create the stdc++.h file.

touch stdc++.h
nano stdc++.h # or open the file with your favorite text editor

Now, the gcc we installed via homebrew does not include the official stdc++.h file by default. To get the official version of this file, we have to go to the official gcc repository and copy the contents of that file into our text editor (or download it, but I find copying easier).

Goto https://github.com/gcc-mirror/gcc, press t to search files, then type stdc++.h and click on the first file that shows up. I’ve included the link to this file as of October 6th 2023, but that file will change in the future so best to find it for yourself.

I’ve also include the contents of the file below: (found by searching for stdc++.h in the gcc-mirror/gcc repository on github)

// C++ includes used for precompiling -*- C++ -*-

// Copyright (C) 2003-2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
//
// This file is part of the GNU ISO C++ Library.  This library is free
// software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
// terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
// Free Software Foundation; either version 3, or (at your option)
// any later version.

// This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
// GNU General Public License for more details.

// Under Section 7 of GPL version 3, you are granted additional
// permissions described in the GCC Runtime Library Exception, version
// 3.1, as published by the Free Software Foundation.

// You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License and
// a copy of the GCC Runtime Library Exception along with this program;
// see the files COPYING3 and COPYING.RUNTIME respectively.  If not, see
// <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

/** @file stdc++.h
 *  This is an implementation file for a precompiled header.
 */

// 17.4.1.2 Headers

// C
#ifndef _GLIBCXX_NO_ASSERT
#include <cassert>
#endif
#include <cctype>
#include <cfloat>
#include <ciso646>
#include <climits>
#include <csetjmp>
#include <cstdarg>
#include <cstddef>
#include <cstdlib>

#if __cplusplus >= 201103L
#include <cstdint>
#endif

// C++
// #include <bitset>
// #include <complex>
#include <algorithm>
#include <bitset>
#include <functional>
#include <iterator>
#include <limits>
#include <memory>
#include <new>
#include <numeric>
#include <typeinfo>
#include <utility>

#if __cplusplus >= 201103L
#include <array>
#include <atomic>
#include <initializer_list>
#include <ratio>
#include <scoped_allocator>
#include <tuple>
#include <typeindex>
#include <type_traits>
#endif

#if __cplusplus >= 201402L
#endif

#if __cplusplus >= 201703L
#include <any>
// #include <execution>
#include <optional>
#include <variant>
#include <string_view>
#endif

#if __cplusplus >= 202002L
#include <bit>
#include <compare>
#include <concepts>
#include <numbers>
#include <ranges>
#include <span>
#include <source_location>
#include <version>
#endif

#if __cplusplus > 202002L
#include <expected>
#include <stdatomic.h>
#if __cpp_impl_coroutine
# include <coroutine>
#endif
#endif

#if _GLIBCXX_HOSTED
// C
#ifndef _GLIBCXX_NO_ASSERT
#include <cassert>
#endif
#include <cctype>
#include <cerrno>
#include <cfloat>
#include <ciso646>
#include <climits>
#include <clocale>
#include <cmath>
#include <csetjmp>
#include <csignal>
#include <cstdarg>
#include <cstddef>
#include <cstdio>
#include <cstdlib>
#include <cstring>
#include <ctime>
#include <cwchar>
#include <cwctype>

#if __cplusplus >= 201103L
#include <ccomplex>
#include <cfenv>
#include <cinttypes>
#include <cstdalign>
#include <cstdbool>
#include <cstdint>
#include <ctgmath>
#include <cuchar>
#endif

// C++
#include <complex>
#include <deque>
#include <exception>
#include <fstream>
#include <functional>
#include <iomanip>
#include <ios>
#include <iosfwd>
#include <iostream>
#include <istream>
#include <iterator>
#include <limits>
#include <list>
#include <locale>
#include <map>
#include <memory>
#include <new>
#include <numeric>
#include <ostream>
#include <queue>
#include <set>
#include <sstream>
#include <stack>
#include <stdexcept>
#include <streambuf>
#include <string>
#include <typeinfo>
#include <utility>
#include <valarray>
#include <vector>

#if __cplusplus >= 201103L
#include <array>
#include <atomic>
#include <chrono>
#include <codecvt>
#include <condition_variable>
#include <forward_list>
#include <future>
#include <initializer_list>
#include <mutex>
#include <random>
#include <ratio>
#include <regex>
#include <scoped_allocator>
#include <system_error>
#include <thread>
#include <tuple>
#include <typeindex>
#include <type_traits>
#include <unordered_map>
#include <unordered_set>
#endif

#if __cplusplus >= 201402L
#include <shared_mutex>
#endif

#if __cplusplus >= 201703L
#include <any>
#include <charconv>
// #include <execution>
#include <filesystem>
#include <optional>
#include <memory_resource>
#include <variant>
#endif

#if __cplusplus >= 202002L
#include <barrier>
#include <bit>
#include <compare>
#include <concepts>
#include <format>
#include <latch>
#include <numbers>
#include <ranges>
#include <span>
#include <stop_token>
#include <semaphore>
#include <source_location>
#include <syncstream>
#include <version>
#endif

#if __cplusplus > 202002L
#include <expected>
#include <spanstream>
#if __has_include(<stacktrace>)
# include <stacktrace>
#endif
#include <stdatomic.h>
#include <stdfloat>
#endif

#endif // HOSTED

Copy the text of the stdc++.h file, from github or from this blog above.

Now paste into the nano editor (or your editor of choice) by pressing control + shift + v at the same time. Then press control + x and y to accept saving the file.

Make VSCode use the homebrew-installed `g++`

First, find the path of the binary. Open a terminal and type

brew list

again. Find the line that looks like

/opt/homebrew/Cellar/gcc/X.Y.Z/bin/g++-X

and note the X version down.

Now open VSCode. Press command + shift + p at the same time. Type in Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON) and press enter.

Before the last JSON } bracket, add the following information (where XYZ is your gcc version):

"C_Cpp.default.compilerPath": "g++-X",

Save and close the file.

Now close and open vscode again. Intellisense should now be working, and so should running your cpp program inside VSCode with #include <bits/stdc++.h>. Congrats!

Addendum: Running From the Terminal

If you want to compile your single file cpp program inside the terminal and run it, simply make sure you’re in the same directory as your file and type the following

g++-13 [yourfile.cpp] && ./a.out

Profit!

If you have any questions you can email me at awesomenessisgolden@gmail.com and I’d be happy to try and help you.

Fixing the `cannot open source file "bits/stdc++.h" C/C++ (1696)` error for VSCode on MacOS

Installing gcc via homebrew

Finding the “Include Path” for the Homebrew installed gcc

Make VSCode use the homebrew-installed g++

Addendum: Running From the Terminal

Installing `gcc` via `homebrew`

Finding the “Include Path” for the Homebrew installed `gcc`

Make VSCode use the homebrew-installed `g++`