WDK, intellisense and C: "command-line error: exception handling option can be used only when compiling C++ driver"

Question

I want to write a kernel driver using Visual Studio 2015, so I installed the Windows 10 SDK and WDK alongside with VS 2015.

I created empty kernel driver project and main.c inside the project.

However, intellisense does not work and error list shows:

"command-line error: exception handling option can be used only when compiling C++ driver"

I suppose VS wants me to code my project on c++ but I don't want to code on c++. I hate casting when allocating memory etc. Are there any workaround for this?

Thanks

if you use C++ memory allocators then you do not need to cast... — M.M
But I have other reasons not to write c++ in a such project (and how can i specify the type (e.g. paged, non-paged memory or user-mode, kernel-mode memory) via c++'s allocator) — Burak Tamtürk
It almost never makes sense to choose C over C++ since C++ can be written as a "better C." There is no law that says you have to use OO constructs, or that you can't use malloc, the OS memory APIs, or anything else you choose. I've got drivers written in C++ that you would have a hard time telling from C just by looking, but they enjoy the benefits that C++ brings to the table. — Carey Gregory

John Ziobro John Ziobro · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-03T19:35:01

C++ is usually not used in kernel mode drivers because it is not supported. I use some C++ in my drivers but that is the exception.

I see this same issue with VS 2015. Just create a blank C file in your project and you will see the intellisense (~) at the first column of the first line. This means intellisense is essentially broken for all C source files now.

WDK, intellisense and C: "command-line error: exception handling option can be used only when compiling C++ driver"

4 Answers