Speak your completely subjective opinions
So I'm curious as to what people think. I'll say now please don't argue and flame each other, but I'd probably have my hopes too high to assume it won't happen at all. Sigh. Regardless, here goes...
What does everyone feel is the best (most comprehensive/adaptable/intuitive/whatever...state a reason) compiler for C++?
Personally I'm using MSVC++ 2008, but I'm new and I can't compare it to anything so I don't really think I can state an opinion here. In fact I'd prefer to only get responces from people who have used several compilers. Need perspective.
What does everyone feel is the best (most comprehensive/adaptable/intuitive/whatever...state a reason) compiler for C++?
Personally I'm using MSVC++ 2008, but I'm new and I can't compare it to anything so I don't really think I can state an opinion here. In fact I'd prefer to only get responces from people who have used several compilers. Need perspective.
If you're talking compiler in the strictest sense, then I haven't a clue. I know old versions of VS (VS6 and lower especially, but even early versions of VS.net) had lots of standards compliance issues -- compiling code that shouldn't compile, failing to compile code that should compile, etc. These days I pretty much just compile on GCC since that's what I have handy -- but I have a friend who test compiles on VS2008 for me.
But if you're talking IDEs, then it really doesn't get much better than VS.net + the Visual Assist plugin (google it). Other free IDEs like Code::Blocks and Dev-cpp are nice, but they don't come close to stacking up. I haven't tried Eclipse yet -- I heard that's totally awesome for Java -- I wonder if it's good for C++, too.
But if you're talking IDEs, then it really doesn't get much better than VS.net + the Visual Assist plugin (google it). Other free IDEs like Code::Blocks and Dev-cpp are nice, but they don't come close to stacking up. I haven't tried Eclipse yet -- I heard that's totally awesome for Java -- I wonder if it's good for C++, too.
Are you talking about IDEs or compilers?
I prefer Code::Blocks + g++ as they are free and cross-platform.
Code::Blocks is easier configurable than VC++ (Express), it doesn't have all those weird project settings and its project templates are more useful.
I prefer Code::Blocks + g++ as they are free and cross-platform.
Code::Blocks is easier configurable than VC++ (Express), it doesn't have all those weird project settings and its project templates are more useful.
(The following uses "free" as in "normal people-free", not "free" as in "Stallman-free".)
Of the free compilers for Windows, the best is VC++ (latest version). It has better compliance than both MinGW and Cygwin. I haven't noticed any difference in optimization quality. Those two other, however, are better when porting programs that use GNU build system.
The Intel compiler optimizes very well, but it's not free.
For non-Windows, GCC is unrivaled in compliance, optimization, and availability.
All is well as long as you stay away from Borland.
Of the free compilers for Windows, the best is VC++ (latest version). It has better compliance than both MinGW and Cygwin. I haven't noticed any difference in optimization quality. Those two other, however, are better when porting programs that use GNU build system.
The Intel compiler optimizes very well, but it's not free.
For non-Windows, GCC is unrivaled in compliance, optimization, and availability.
All is well as long as you stay away from Borland.
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closed account (z05DSL3A)
I used to like Watcom and codeWarrior but alas...
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closed account (z05DSL3A)
Integrated development environment, Single application to give you access to you editor, compiler, linker....
I would love to use an open source compiler such as code blocks but I have been using various ms visual studio projects for years. I'm more comfortable using the latest ms products (at least in terms of the free compilers I use in my spare time). I assume we are talking free compilers here.
The trouble I have with code blocks is that I don't have time to learn the user interface and I find it to be very annoying. I hate the debugger interface and when I want to write a program quickly I always defer to the comfort of the IDE that I have been using for many years. Every once in a while I try code blocks but I always revert back to the microsoft compiler. code blocks needs to have configurable hot keys so that I can reset the hot keys to what I am already used to. All of the FX buttons in code blocks are totally different from visual studio so using code blocks, for me, is like learning a foreign language.
The trouble I have with code blocks is that I don't have time to learn the user interface and I find it to be very annoying. I hate the debugger interface and when I want to write a program quickly I always defer to the comfort of the IDE that I have been using for many years. Every once in a while I try code blocks but I always revert back to the microsoft compiler. code blocks needs to have configurable hot keys so that I can reset the hot keys to what I am already used to. All of the FX buttons in code blocks are totally different from visual studio so using code blocks, for me, is like learning a foreign language.
So VC++ 08 is an IDE, correct? And a fairly good one from what I gather?
(I only ask because its what I'm already accustomed to ^_^)
(I only ask because its what I'm already accustomed to ^_^)
Oh, and as for IDEs, Eclipse is a fine choice for non-Windows. I love how configurable the keyboard shortcuts are. Some have said it's difficult to use, but I haven't seen that.
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@kempofighter
It has: Settings > Editor > Keyboard shortcuts
| code blocks needs to have configurable hot keys so that I can reset the hot keys to what I am already used to. |
If you are on a distro like Ubuntu you should install the package codeblocks-contrib ( http://packages.ubuntu.com/jaunty/codeblocks-contrib )
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