C++ Ide

Could anyone suggest a free C++ IDE that works on Vista please? I used to use Bloodshed but it doesn't work on Vista. Tried NetBeans but it requires me to have my own compilers. Thank you.

VS Express?

Thanks zacs7. I didn't know that it's free. Will give that a try.

Code::Blocks doesn't work on Vista?

Thanks Maxorator. I haven't heard of Code::block before. Yeah according to their web site it works on Vista. Do you know if I need to download a compiler separately? They mention that they support multiple compilers so it looks like I will have to supply one myself. Thank you.

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Do you know if I need to download a compiler separately?

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They have the MinGW port of GCC bundled as an option.

Personally, though, I find it quite easy the install the MinGW port of GCC using the installer, so having to install it separately should not be an obstacle anyway.

DevC++ will work onVista. Having it in the Program Files directory causes some issues tho. You have to give the dev c++ folder read, write and exeute permissions. If you have dev c++ installed you will also have g++ which you can get netbeans to use to compile your code.

eww netbeans is weak sauce. Go for VS Express or Code::Blocks. Both are great IDEs and are free.

Thanks so much everyone. I finally decided to install Visual C++ express... just need to figure out how to use it now =)

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Originally Posted by laserlight

They have the MinGW port of GCC bundled as an option.

Personally, though, I find it quite easy the install the MinGW port of GCC using the installer, so having to install it separately should not be an obstacle anyway.

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For the release they have the bundle but now that they're getting back on with the Nightlies it'd be better to have MinGW installed separately.

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Originally Posted by alois_rone

Thanks so much everyone. I finally decided to install Visual C++ express... just need to figure out how to use it now =)

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It may not hurt to have GCC also. You'd be surprised that what may compile in Microsoft's compiler will give you a long list of warnings and errors in GCC.

If you aren't writing Windows projects, you might get away with disabling the language extensions in the project settings (and turn up warnings to max, as well!), and you should get closer to standards compliant code.

> and you should get closer to standards compliant code.
Or at least some twisted Microsoft version :)

Well, the closer to the standard, the better, and that's what counts, right? :p

The latest Microsoft compilers are very standards compliant. You just have to make sure you aren't using their extras (it isn't that hard, just start with an Empty Project). The same applies to gcc. If you want standard and portable code you have to avoid using their extensions.

It's a little more difficult when writing GUI applications or "real", non-console projects since their headers is littered with extensions.

Well, any GUI application is non-standard by definition, so of course it will be hard to port between compilers.