What's the best, free, compiler/IDE that I can use to create applications with a GUI for Windows?
What's the best, free, compiler/IDE that I can use to create applications with a GUI for Windows?
I would suggest taking out the red bit; last time someone asked that, it was weeks cleaning up the blood.
But: both Visual Studio and the MinGW port of GCC (available in Dev-C++ and Code::Blocks) can create GUI applications for Windows. There are certainly others, but those are the ones I have/used.
Everyone will have different opinions on what's best, so the best thing is to try out for yourself.
Here's a few free IDEs: http://cpwiki.sf.net/IDE
The most complete is now, by far, VS 2008
VS Professional Edition is used in all big companies
IMO. A combination is in use. I use three versions ATM, v6 (legacy app), 2003 mostly and some 2005 for web clients.
I think MSVC 2008 would be very rare. I think MSVC 6 would be most common.
Most complex applications take a long time to convert to newer versions of MSVC and may not work exactly the same. Most companies don't want the risk of creating a new problem in released software getting a minor patch/upgrade (nor the time it takes).
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I found the Visual C++ Express Edition for free, do I need that plus Visual Basic 2008? I am also a student. How would I go about getting the Professional edition for free?
https://downloads.channel8.msdn.com/
Visual Studio has Visual Basic, C/C++ and other things in one package.
So if I download Visual Studio 2008 Pro edition I will have all the tools in one package to make Windows programs?
Of course, you may wish to use libraries not provided along with Visual Studio, and these you would obviously need to obtain separately.
Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart WayOriginally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
With VS I can make programs that have a GUI, correct? Thank you very much for all your help. I do apologize for so many questions. Thanks again.
IExpress I believe doesn't come with mfc, but windows forms which is Win32 trickled up to .net, while mfc is just a C++ wrapper for win32. It has a nice designer with a lot of functionality as well.
I use codeblocks which is a free open source IDE.
I signed in to download VS 2008 Pro, but my school (its a community college) is not listed. So that means I cannot get it free?
I'll also check out codeblocks