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I'm thinking I'll go and buy Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 to use as my compiler program and all my tools. Good thing is I can get it for $40 at school:D Now my question is should I get this? Do you think they will recommend it or is there something else that is more widely used?
-Fool
The answer to your question really lies in answering this question.....
Do I want to learn win32 programming?
If you think that you answer that positively then go out and buy it. Visual c has some strange quirks but once you get used to them its an excellent compiler. It is the best compiler for windows programming and directx programming. Also MFC programming is easy with visual c and the help files are pretty good too.
On the downside it is basically a windows only compiler which is fine by me because thats what 80% of my work involves.
Also as Dean keeps pointing out Visual studio 7 will be out soon and you will be able to use the features of .NET with that but by the time you are ready to do that, Visual studio 9 may be out by then.
If windows programming is not your thing then buy a different compiler.There are also several free compilers on the web available for download.
VC++ is meant to be a very good compiler, there is apparently a trial version available from somewhere, though i have been unsuccessful in locating this and noone will tell me where it is. I am considering buying it on academic license myself.
Could some one please reply with a link to downloading the trial (intro) version of VC++6, then you can try it, if you like it buy it. You are getting a pretty hefty discount!
Iain check out the bookstore.......
ok I know buying a book isn't the same as free but you get a c++ reference and msvc for the price of a book!
Deitel and Deitel comes with msvc and other books do to.
Yeah but VC++ isn't just a compiler, it's an entire programming program, correct?
-Fool
By "programming program" you mean integrated development environment. Yes, Visual C++ is a nice IDE... the best one I've ever used. Very programming friendly... but I haven't used that many commerical compilers. IMO, It's worth $40, even if you aren't going to be programming specifically for windows.
Yeah, that's what I mean. Oh and yes, I'll be programming primarily for Windows.
-Fool
You should buy VC++ if your doing windows. Its not only a great compiler with incredible help and enviornment, its a very nice C++ enviornment. I can't stand using other compilers after ive used MSVC, it auto-formats the text and lets you do dynamic classview, plus it has most all of the windows functions built in to tell you syntax on the spot, and this even works for your own code! If I go:
void lala()
{
printf("HeLLO!");
}
then I type
void main()
{
lala(
A little box comes upo can tells me this:
"void lala()"
Letting you know the syntax of the function.
SPH
P.S. The "trial" version is what you get in the bookstore, a "Introductory Edition" is the name, its what I use, it gives a message saying its only a trial, but that can be corrected.
if you haven't by now BUY IT. For instance i started with the introductory edition which came the Deitel and Deitel's book, and I fell in love with it for windows programming. IMO it was was better than what I was using (Borland C++ 5.02...I should add that I have no experience with Borland C++ Builder. It apparently kicks tail) Okay, i'll get to the point. Recently i've begun to learn MFC and the Introductory edition was missing a few lib. i was so addicted that i felt the one hundred dollar asking price for the standard edition was worth it. Forty bucks...what a deal!
mix0matt
Would the Professional Edition be worth the $99 price tag or would the Standard Edition be all I need for awhile?
-Fool
The Standard edition is fine, hey even intro edition can me improved with like 2 minutes of work to work like any of the others, 'sall your choise.
SPH
How would you do that (short of using some serial off the internet)?
I gave him my "lib" directory from my STD version.
Have I said lately that I love that thing and I got it for only about $65 bucks?
Why not use gcc for free?
Not everyone (read, damn near no one) prefers a console to a GUI, or at least, nearly no one who uses windows.
Then the question becomes, why not use Dev-C++ which is free, vs Visual C++. Visual C++ is simply a more friendly enviroment. It is easier to browse classes/functions to find their definition and arguments, it automically formats code (as well as has built in functions to clean it up), puts up a list of arguements whenever you write a the opening parenthesis, (IE, you type in "sin(" and a little box will pop up saying double), has more friendly error messages (for things that aren't found, Visual C++ will say something like "undeclared identifier", while Dev-C++ will say "implicit declaraction of ". And that's just from memory... of someone who now uses Dev C++ and used to use MSVC.
You mean gcc in terms of DJGPP. Give the guy a break. He wants a nice IDE.
Don't rush into Windows programming with VC++. It would be a better idea to build Win32 Console applications in MSVC++6 'introductory version'. This way you can study the definition of 'C' or 'C++'. In a few months MSVC++6 will be dead in terms of Windows programming because there have been so many radical changes that are going to be introducted in Visual Studio.NET. Infact Visual C++ is not the native language of the compiler. Now you will have C# which is a technical marvel to behold.
Therefore, indeed don't hesitate to purchase the 'introductory version', but don't get the standard edition, nor the professional, nor the enterprise editions.
As soon as you upgrade your computer to a Microsoft Next Generation operating system such as WinXP, than buy the 'academic edition' of Visual Studio.NET. (see link on my signature)
>Now you will have C# which is a technical marvel to behold. <
Aka what Java was 5 years ago, and still is today. C# is a cheap ass rip off of Java. Deal with it Witchboy, thats the way it is.
Ahem, DJGPP has lots of gread IDEs, r.ex. Rhide.Quote:
You mean gcc in terms of DJGPP. Give the guy a break. He wants a nice IDE
I'm however using both Rhide and Borland 5.02 for writing code and DJGPP and make for compiling. Works great.
Would you classify Win2000 Pro (what I use now) as "next generation"? Also, I went to the VS.net link but I don't see a price. About how much does the student version run? I think the normal price is around $1000, right?Quote:
Originally posted by Witch_King
As soon as you upgrade your computer to a Microsoft Next Generation operating system such as WinXP, than buy the 'academic edition' of Visual Studio.NET. (see link on my signature)
-Fool
There is no price for Visual Studio.NET academic version because it is not available yet. One would think that the price would be reasonable, since it will be made for students.
You can run the Visual Sudio.NET beta 2 on Win2k but you have to download the .NET framework from microsoft.com for it to function properly.
At this point nobody has WinXP, although I can get a copy. But anyway, it's difficult to say if Win2k will be enough. For example, there will be a version of WinXP professional that runs on I64 technology. Therefore I won't predict if Win2k professional will be enough. In a couple months the answer will be obvious but for now it wouldn't hurt to get the 'introductory version' of Visual C++6
More information about Visual Studio.NET academic
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/ne...y/academic.asp
I was sort of joking though...
Anyway I would certainly make sure what version your buying.
Obviously you havn't had error messages with
visual c++'s templates.
Quote:
then I type
void main()
{
lala(
It didn't warn you about void main ?
>>onw ould have thought the price to be reasonable as it is for students
sorry, but when have the words 'Microsoft' and 'reasonable price' ever been used in the same sentence?
The Visual C++ 6.0 is pretty good in price:D
-Fool
I checked out this site
http://www.provantage.com/FFCPLNG_.HTM I don't
think the standard vc++ is a optimizing compiler.
Even if that were true it does not matter because it should be a 'temporary' compiler. Read my newly updated link in my signature about VS.NET academic. It says that it will be as powerful as the profesional edition of VS.NET which I would interpret to be an optimizing compiler. VC++6 'introductory' version is the safest bet though. I wouln'd invest in the standard version, but even if you did, it's not going to cost a lot of money anyway.
Nick, you web site has it right. The only real difference that i can see between the introductory and standard edition is the full MFC library. You HAD ( "had" because i've yet to read Witch_King's link on the academic version of .NET) to pay out the arse for Microsoft's optimizing compilers.
I really don't think students need to worry whether or not their compiler optimizes code. They need to really concentrate on writing cleanly and efficiently without the aid of compiler optimization. I really do think VC++ (std or intro) is a great product for Windows programming. Ease of use and rich documentation are big reasons for me.
mxr
If you can afford the $99 BUY IT. It's a very nice Windows IDE. Class
browser, debugger, wizards, MFC...
I work with it every day ( enterprise edition, after all,
my employer pays it :) ) and I wouldn't want to use
another tool for the job.
I'm thinking I'll just get the $40 one for class. Thanks for all the replies!
-Fool
don't listen to Dean about VS.NET. I wouldn't normally tell you to totally disregard someone, but Dean has some strange mentality that C# will be publicly released, and everyone will completely stop doing work on windows with any language. Now how funny is that? pretty funny. :) I wouldn't change my VC++6 in for VS.NET any time soon. And if I want to play with it, all I need is MSDN magazine and I get the beta for about 6 bucks!
Yeah, the standard edition is great. It's all I ever really use. Just don't get suckered into MFC and thinking "Duh...I do windows!" It reminds of VB. ugh :(. Try the API before you even think about polluting yourself with MFC.