How to Install the Eclipse IDE with the CDT for C and C++

I believe the best first language to learn for programming is the C programming language.  I will qualify this by saying the student should be good in math and at least in middle-school, 6th grade being the youngest.  But the student needs a programming environment.  Here are detailed directions, with numerous screen shots, for installing the Eclipse IDE and its CDT (C/C++ Development Tool) plugin.  Follow the directions and you will have a functioning C/C++ Integrated Development Environment at the end.  You will also be exposed to a small amount of trouble-shooting.  I built-in a problem and solved it teach a few things about the development environment.

I suggest an adult install and setup Eclipse with its CDT.  Take special care when you modify the "Path" variable if you have never done that before.  You must add to the end of the list of items in the Path environmental variable.  You must first insert a semi-colon (;) at the end of the existing path and then add the information mentioned in the instructions.  If you mistakenly wipe out your Path variable, you will have grief, you will lose functionality, so be careful. The screen shots are from Windows 7.

I will explain some other time why I believe C is the best language to learn first for programming.

Robert