Thread: free and light compiler software

  1. #1
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    free and light compiler software

    Hi

    I have been using Dev-C++ for the last few weeks. I'm an outright outsider to this programming world. The good things about Dev-C++ are it's free and light - doesn't require much space and resources. There is also a portable version of Dev-C++ available, though I haven't used it. Now I have noticed the stable release of the Dev is from 2005. It means it's almost more than six years old.

    I have also downloaded and installed Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition. Actually I haven't used it so far. But the bad thing about it when compared to Dev-C++ is that it require much space and resources. Don't want to use it.

    Is there some free compiler software of Dev-C++ kind which is light and is still in active development? Please inform me if there is one.

    Thank you for your help and time.

    Regards
    Jackson
    I'm an outright beginner. Using Win XP Pro and Code::Blocks. Be nice to me, please.

  2. #2
    spurious conceit MK27's Avatar
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    Try Gcc / MinGW -- one of the most widely used compilers in the world, it will be in active development as long as you are
    C programming resources:
    GNU C Function and Macro Index -- glibc reference manual
    The C Book -- nice online learner guide
    Current ISO draft standard
    CCAN -- new CPAN like open source library repository
    3 (different) GNU debugger tutorials: #1 -- #2 -- #3
    cpwiki -- our wiki on sourceforge

  3. #3
    Registered User Codeplug's Avatar
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    >> ... it require much space and resources. Don't want to use it.
    Are you saying your PC is a dog and can barely run VS 2008?

    >> Actually I haven't used it so far.
    Oh, I guess not. Reminds me of the time I made my yoot try broccoli for the first time - one of his favorite foods ever since.

    You don't have to use an IDE at all. Use notepad or similar. Compile directly from the command line using VC++ or MinGW (or both - I recommend using both compilers anyway). For debugging, you can use gdb (GNU) or cdb (MS) from the command line. Once you can do that, the IDE becomes a tool to achieve graphically what you already know how to do on the command line.

    MinGW compiler is here - http://tdm-gcc.tdragon.net/
    Other IDE's that use MinGW (and are maintained):
    http://www.codeblocks.org/
    http://wxdsgn.sourceforge.net/

    gg

  4. #4
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    Thank you, MK27, Codeplug.

    Are you saying your PC is a dog and can barely run VS 2008?
    Yes, it's a dog. You can call it so if you like. BTW, what does really "dog" mean here? The dictionary didn't help me.

    You don't have to use an IDE at all. Use notepad or similar. Compile directly from the command line using VC++ or MinGW (or both - I recommend using both compilers anyway). For debugging, you can use gdb (GNU) or cdb (MS) from the command line. Once you can do that, the IDE becomes a tool to achieve graphically what you already know how to do on the command line.
    I don't know if you call it an IDE environment. In the first post when I said "of Dev-C++ kind" what I really means was I need everything in one place as Dev-C++ has. I don't want to run separate programs for each thing. I hope you understand. It must be light and in active development. Thank you.

    Regards
    Jackson
    I'm an outright beginner. Using Win XP Pro and Code::Blocks. Be nice to me, please.

  5. #5
    Registered User Codeplug's Avatar
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    >> what does really "dog" mean here?
    Sorry - it's a shortening of the expression "slow as a dog".
    http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=1922871

    gg

  6. #6
    C++ Junkie Mozza314's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jackson6612 View Post
    I have also downloaded and installed Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition. Actually I haven't used it so far. But the bad thing about it when compared to Dev-C++ is that it require much space and resources. Don't want to use it.
    I commend this. I wish there were more light software available like you are seeking. For me it's not enough that your machine can run the software - it has to be able to run it smoothly, even when running several other applications, there shouldn't be any observable delay for reasonably simple tasks. Visual Studio isn't like that, it's big and bulky, and IMHO it shouldn't be so readily accepted.

    You may be interested in looking through this list:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compari...ts#C.2FC.2B.2B
    Last edited by Mozza314; 03-28-2011 at 09:20 PM.

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    I like Visual Studio as an IDE, if only it would be cross-platform and support GCC.

  8. #8
    C++まいる!Cをこわせ!
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    Visual Studio 2008 should not be used anyhow. If you're going to use Visual Studio, you should use the latest version (2010).
    Anyhow, it seems that you're looking for something like Code::Blocks. There is pre-package that is bundled with MinGW, a compiler, as well. You should just be able to install it and away you go.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mozza314 View Post
    I commend this. I wish there were more light software available like you are seeking. For me it's not enough that your machine can run the software - it has to be able to run it smoothly, even when running several other applications, there shouldn't be any observable delay for reasonably simple tasks. Visual Studio isn't like that, it's big and bulky, and IMHO it shouldn't be so readily accepted.

    You may be interested in looking through this list:
    Comparison of integrated development environments - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Quote Originally Posted by Elysia View Post
    Visual Studio 2008 should not be used anyhow. If you're going to use Visual Studio, you should use the latest version (2010).
    Anyhow, it seems that you're looking for something like Code::Blocks. There is pre-package that is bundled with MinGW, a compiler, as well. You should just be able to install it and away you go.
    Thanks, everyone.

    Yes, Elysia, I have been to the list linked by Mozza. Code::Blocks is one of with the most "Yes's" there. Will try it, I think.

    Regards
    Jackson
    I'm an outright beginner. Using Win XP Pro and Code::Blocks. Be nice to me, please.

  10. #10
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    Hi

    I have downloaded Code::Blocks. It was close to 70MB and Dev-C++ was 7MB. Any reason for this 'big' size of Code::Blocks file compared to Dev's size?

    Thanks.
    I'm an outright beginner. Using Win XP Pro and Code::Blocks. Be nice to me, please.

  11. #11
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    About 50meg of download file size is the MinGW Compiler; C::B 10.05 is a little under 25Megs download file size.

    Edit: wxDev-C++ is a replacement for Dev-C++ from http://wxdsgn.sourceforge.net/ no idea how large is download or install size.

    Tim S.
    Last edited by stahta01; 03-30-2011 at 09:14 AM.

  12. #12
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    Just remember codelite an user said code::blocks was not what they wanted and created codelite as a result.
    CodeLite IDE Main/Home Page

  13. #13
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    Thanks a lot for your recommendations, stahta01.
    I'm an outright beginner. Using Win XP Pro and Code::Blocks. Be nice to me, please.

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