Is there any real reason to spend the extra money on microsoft's Visual C++ IDE? Are there any specific features that make it much better than an IDE I can use for free, like RHIDE (I've already got it for C)?
Visual C++: is it worth it?
Is there any real reason to spend the extra money on microsoft's Visual C++ IDE? Are there any specific features that make it much better than an IDE I can use for free, like RHIDE (I've already got it for C)?
It has handy syntax hilighting and tool tips. Additionally, if you install the MSDN, you can hilight anything and press F1 and get the function information, etc. It's a fairly nice IDE.Originally posted by Draco
Is there any real reason to spend the extra money on microsoft's Visual C++ IDE? Are there any specific features that make it much better than an IDE I can use for free, like RHIDE (I've already got it for C)?
If you don't care about the MSDN, or its project building features, just get an editor with syntax hilighting. There are lots of free code editors out there.
Quzah.
Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.
Well, Visual C++ is a good IDE, much better than RHIDE. The thing about VC++ is that if you download the source for a large Windows application( which can be hard to find ), you will almost always find a Visual C++ project file in there, which makes it very easy to work with the source for the project. VC++ also has some other perks. But, is it worth the money? I don't know exactly how much it costs, but as far as I'm concerned...no.
It also depends on how often you develop windows apps, what kinds of windows apps, and how often you have to finish them. If you need to rapidly develop simple applications, for example, as development tools for a larger project, VC++ has MFC, which can easily cut your time in half or more for small projects which use common controls.
Yeah Cat has a good point. It's just my opinion that it's not worth the money because, well I'm mostly a Linux user( plus I'm not a huge fan of Microsoft ). But in the period that I did use MSVC, I found it to be very useful. However, even if I were a Windows programmer, I would still have a hard time forkin over the money for it.
thanks for the advice, guys. If I ever get a job where I need to develop windows apps, it won't be for a while. If I really need MSVC I'll fork over the money then. I'll see if I find something I like better than RHIDE.
You can use DevC++. It has a very nice Windows based IDE, syntax highlighting, code completion, etc.Originally posted by Draco
thanks for the advice, guys. If I ever get a job where I need to develop windows apps, it won't be for a while. If I really need MSVC I'll fork over the money then. I'll see if I find something I like better than RHIDE.
However, it does not support visual application building, but thats an advantage if you don't want to to that. =)
The one thing I was impressed with when I got the visual C++ is that it was simple. I mean I have got borland C++ builder dev C++ and all the command line compilers, and either you have to run them from the command line. OR they like adding bits to your code.
Visual C++ was the first comiler I found that you said you wanted a blank source file in a windows environment and thats all it gave you. Not one thats full to the teeth of code. This surpirsed me because lets face it, its not microsofts style.
Those premade things are templates, and it DevC++ you can define them as you wish. in about a minute you have have the code be empty, or have your own template there.
Last edited by Iamien; 08-25-2003 at 04:37 PM.
Dev-C++ uses, by default, the MinGW compiler system. The compiled file size is a lot larger than other compilers, and the execution speed isn't that great as well. In my opinion the Borland C++ Compiler is the best free compiler available, even though it lacks an IDE.You can use DevC++. It has a very nice Windows based IDE, syntax highlighting, code completion, etc.
You might try-out some other free compilers first. There is a list at TheFreeCountry.Com I bought VC++ because, at the time, I didn't know you could get a free Windows compiler.
Possible reasons to get MSVC++ :
1 - You're not happy with any of the free ones you've tried.
2 - Everybody you know is using MSVC++, and you want to be "on the same page".
3 - You're taking a class, and that's what the instructor is using.
4 - You're looking for a job, and you want to have experience with the most popular commercial compiler.
VC++ will do this too, if you have the wrong settings... The first time I used it, It made a shell-Windows program with a bunch of "\\ Your code goes here..." comments !they like adding bits to your code.
[EDIT]
Some reasons NOT to get MSVC++ :
1 - You don't have an "extra" $100.
2 - You think Microsoft is evil.
3 - You would rather spend your money on programming books, computer hardware, music CDs... or something.
Last edited by DougDbug; 08-25-2003 at 04:51 PM.
