Thread: Is VC++ worth buying?

  1. #1
    Banned nickname_changed's Avatar
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    Is VC++ worth buying?

    Greetings all, I'd like to ask you who thinks its worth buying VC++? I have Borlands C++Builder 6, as well as Dev C++ and DJGPP. I find all of these nice to use, especially CBuilder, but I find with CBuilder I am forced to supply tonnes of dll and bcl files along with my own program, which can easily triple the size of it all.

    Does VC++ have a way to include such libraries in the executable generated, and do you think it is worth purchasing as a compiler? I notice a LOT of programming tutorials on things such as DirectX and OpenGL all seem to expect the user uses VC++. Any help on this decision would be greatly appreciated.

    ~ Paul

    Edit: Also, I expect it comes with inline assembly or something like that, but can it generate stand alone code (in the way that GCC does), for things such as operating system development?

  2. #2
    Redundantly Redundant RoD's Avatar
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    I dont know alot about the extent of VC++ abilities, but i use it and its all i use (also tried borland). I would reccomend you get hold of a demo of VC++, or one of the beta's, and toy round with it. See if you like it. As for wether its worth buying, i would say no. Not because i dont like it, but because the prices are steep. I purchased .NET Enterprise Architecht but i got a deal i couldnt pass up.

  3. #3
    Skunkmeister Stoned_Coder's Avatar
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    yes visual c is worth buying BUT if i were you i would wait for the next incarnation codenamed everett which is out in beta now and as far as im aware fully standards compliant at last ( except maybe export, not sure about that and dont care much either) and will finally support partial template specialisations.
    Free the weed!! Class B to class C is not good enough!!
    And the FAQ is here :- http://faq.cprogramming.com/cgi-bin/smartfaq.cgi

  4. #4
    Banned nickname_changed's Avatar
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    Well I found I could get the academic version for AUD$127, so the price is no big deal, I'd just like to hear your thoughts on it.

  5. #5
    Skunkmeister Stoned_Coder's Avatar
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    if you do not need fairly advanced templates then it is good. But i would really wait for the next version it should be out by the end of the year i think.
    Free the weed!! Class B to class C is not good enough!!
    And the FAQ is here :- http://faq.cprogramming.com/cgi-bin/smartfaq.cgi

  6. #6
    Redundantly Redundant RoD's Avatar
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    For that price i would purchase it. .NET is solid, and i love it.

  7. #7
    Skunkmeister Stoned_Coder's Avatar
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    .net is not solid.....

    try to compile something as simple as this. Its valid c++ according to the standard. gcc should compile it with no trouble.
    Code:
    template < class A >
    class a {};
    
    template < class A >
    class a<A*> {};  // partial specialisation for pointer types
    
    template < class A >
    class a<const A*> {}; // ditto pointer to const
    
    template <>
    class a<char> {};
    
    template< class T >
    void f(T)
        {}
    
    template< class T >
    void f(T *)
        {}
    
    template<>
    void f(char)
        {}
    
    int main()
    {
       a<int> a1;
       a<char> a2;
       a<char*> a3;
       a<const char*> a4;
       f(1);
       f('1');
       f("1");
       return 0;
    }
    Free the weed!! Class B to class C is not good enough!!
    And the FAQ is here :- http://faq.cprogramming.com/cgi-bin/smartfaq.cgi

  8. #8
    Redundantly Redundant RoD's Avatar
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    Ok, perhaps solid was the wrong word. I have never done templates, allow me to rephrase:

    For what i have done in VC++ .NET, it seems to be solid.

  9. #9
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    i would recommend it.....its pretty much all ive ever used, and i havent had any problems with most tasks...incase there ever is a problem tho, i have Borland, Dev, and Codewarrior as backups

  10. #10
    Hardware Engineer
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    I believe it's the #1 selling compiler. (Borland is the most popular free compiler.) That doesn't make it the best, but if you were looking for a job, it wouldn't hurt to say "I use MSVC++", because the odds are that they use it too. If I was taking a beginning class, I'd want to use whatever the instructor and/or most of the other students were using.

    I don't think it's the easiest compiler to learn to use, because of all the features and the particular IDE user interface... But, I've never used a compiler that worked the first time! There's always some "trick", or something to re-configure.

    I'd say yes, it is worth the $100... if you have the cash. (There are lots of students who don't have the "extra" $100.)

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