What is the best/ latest C++ compiler out there? I'm using Dev C++, is there anything wrong with that? What's the advantage of a 'good' compiler?
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What is the best/ latest C++ compiler out there? I'm using Dev C++, is there anything wrong with that? What's the advantage of a 'good' compiler?
What are your definitions of 'best' and 'good' - it's all rather subjective (like what's the best car?)
You get out there and test drive a few, then make a choice.
A good compiler for a beginner is any which supports the ANSI standard.
The dev-c++ environment is 'good enough' if you're just learning. If you progress onto developing serious apps in a commercial environment in a team other issues come into play, standard conformance, executable size, compile time, support, etc., in which case you'd probably want to consider the latest version of Microsoft's Visual Studio or something similar.
The best compilers in ANSI C++ compliance are usually the latest GCC version and the since recently the latest Microsoft C++ compiler (the one that comes with Visual Studio.Net 2003).
The Intel C++ compilers are quite good too. Version 8 is the latest I believe.
Intel are known to be the best optimizing, but have no visual frontend. Oftentimes, companies may use MSVS as the graphic frontend and an intel compiler as a backend.
I use GCC for everything. Period.
Borland, Borland, Borland.
I would much rather use Borland than use MSVC.
Depends on what you want to do:
Applications = Borland - by far the easiest and best GUI
Games/DirectX = MSVC - no compatibility problems like with Borland
Networking = Either MSVC or Borland
ActiveX/COM = Either MSVC or Borland
32-bit DOS = DJGPP - very good compiler and free
16-bit DOS: Turbo C/C++'s and Borland C++ 4.52
MSVC is a very good compiler but I've heard that Intel's is better - but this is hearsay as I've never tested or compiled anything with Intel compilers. MSVC has a very confusing interface as do most of MS products - information overload if you ask me. Also MSVC has some very very cryptic error messages. Stuff I'm still trying to figure out.
Borland has by far the best interfaces and best help files available. Very well put together and very nice frontend. Not good for DirectX because lots of alterations need to be done to get DirectX to work with Borland compilers. Data types and typedefs are different as well as a host of other things. MSVC works seamlessly with DirectX. But Borland compilers are very easy to use and their error messages are much more English than MSVC.
Okay, thx guys.:cool:
The Intel compiler is definitly the best at optimizing for Intel CPUs. The MS compiler is not as good there, but better for AMD.
The two are compatible, so you can simply replace VC++'s compiler with the Intel one.
Dr Dobbs had a survey of C++ compilers in October (running on Win32), which included gcc. Although it had good standard conformance, compile time was poor and it produced the slowest and fattest code.Quote:
Originally posted by bludstayne
I use GCC for everything. Period.
> Dr Dobbs had a survey of C++ compilers in October
Got a link for that?
I definately perfer GCC over MSVC. Much closer to ANSI standards (and it's open source). Free as in free beer, and free as in freedom.
The last incarnation of MSVC is surprisingly good considerring just how bad msvc was until at least the .net version. Borland I haven't used in years but from memory it was a capable compiler. I think the most standards conforming compiler at the moment is comeau computings front end for the EDG compiler.
GCC is okay although 3.2 has some conformance problems. Overall I prefer MSVC. Its perfect for my needs.
Unfortunately not. The Dr Dobbs site is at:Quote:
Originally posted by Salem
> Dr Dobbs had a survey of C++ compilers in October
Got a link for that?
http://www.ddj.com/
but I don't think you can view/download the articles without setting up a paid account. I have a copy of the magazine itself.