C++ Compilers and generators

Hi

Im new to C++ so new that I dont even know a single thing about it.

I was wondering what is the best application to download which allows you to program C++ (eg, borland c++ etc) and also which comiler is the best (eg blooddev etc)


if anybody could give me a really good guide to this I would be most greatful

Thanks in Advance

that makes 2 of us

In my own opinion ( I am new also) I really like using Turbo C++ 4.5 by Borland, you can write code in C and C++ with it and it seems to be very user friendly, for me being new it's very nice.

James

That makes 4, I'm new also. I like the free Borland C++ Compiler 5.5 thing... i aslo have the Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 introdcuery edition, but i dont use it...

I've been doing C++ since the begining of the school year, and by no means am I an expert. But as you start to try to do more advanced things, Turbo 4.5 won't cut it. I like Bloodshed Dev. It's the only free compiler I've tried and I don't see a reason to change. But if you are willng to spend some money or are willing to get it illegally, I would get Visual C++ in the future.

http://www.bloodshed.net for devC++, its excellent

DevC++ is an IDE and NOT a compiler. The compiler that DevC++ ships with is MinGW, a windows port of the open-source linux gcc. Cygwin also works with DevC++ and is also a port of gcc. There is a linux version of DevC++ of which I know nothing other than that it exists. The version of mingw that DevC++ ships with is 295.2 while the latest stable mingw release is 295.3, now conveniently packaged as MinGW 1.1 You can use mingw to build apps but note that even the latest releases has a LOT of stuff missing from the headers (the libs, *.o, are ok). This is not as bad as it may initially appear.

Borland's bcc5.5 command line tools is the core of Borland Builder 5 ie no IDE nor any libraries such as VCL (visual component library) or mfc (microsoft foundation class). Because it is the heart of a major commercial compiler, the command line tools can be used to build robust apps for windows. The only noticeable downside is a slightly larger exe size and the registration process. The help files that come with it are ok and it's pretty easy to use once you get used to it. Some of its tools are really good eg implib.

Since both mingw (with or without DevC++) and bcc5.5 cmd line tools are free, get both. DevC++ 5 is nearing completion and a beta will be released soon.

A really excellent tool that is great for using with mingw and can be readily adapted for use with the bcc5.5 cmd line tools is JFE (it's free too):

http://home.t-online.de/home/Jens.Altmann/jfe_eng.htm

There are also inumerable free 'syntax highlighting' editors available.

To get Mingw: http://www.mingw.org

I believe there is a review of compilers to be found on this site (cprogramming) and Bloodshed (home of devC++) has a huge page of compiler links somewhere in its resource section.

does bloodshed Dev 4 allow the use of visual forms to be easily made using drag and drop functions or do you have to program where abouts you want buttons to appear on a form and such.

dev-c allows you to get by with things microsoft's visual C++ will not.