title: How to build Google's protobuf in Windows using MinGW?
body: <p>I'm using Codeblocks as my IDE with MingGW. 
  I'm trying to use google protocol buffers, 
  but I'm having trouble building the protobuf.</p>
  
  <p>The readme file for protobuf says:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>If you are using Cygwin or MinGW, 
    follow the Unix installation instructions, above.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>The Unix instructions says:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>To build and install the C++ Protocol Buffer runtime and  the Protocol
    Buffer compiler (protoc) execute the following:<code>
    $ ./configure
    $ make 
    $ make check 
    $ make install</code></p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I don't know how to perform these in Windows 
  because "configure" is a Unix script and 
  I don't know how to execute it, or the rest of the commands.</p>
  
  <p>Can someone explain in more detail how 
  I can build protobuf using MinGW on Windows?</p>