The best C++ Compiler?

[Icyculyr]

I imagine some of you must use C++, and I am wondering which compiler you think is the best? I have not found one that is useful...

Does anyone know any good compilers...?

Thanks

[Paul M]

From what i know the Compiler shipped with VS2005 is by far the strongest and most standardized. I think there is a toolkit download that comes with it.

[Kasracer]

gpp and MS C++ are both very good. I have no idea which one is actually better but I believe both support the C++ standard very well.

I've heard gpp can make larger binaries than ms c++ but that probably depends on the circumstances.

Other than gpp and ms c++, there is Intel's which I think is highly optimizing but I don't know anything about it.

[Hack]

I have not found one that is useful...

I am curious about this statement.

What compilers have you tried, and what did you find about them that isn't "useful"?

[penagate]

gcc.

[Kasracer]

gcc.

Compiler Collection != Compiler

[Icyculyr]

May I ask what gcc stands for?

Edit: I am currently looking at the site for GCC
http://gcc.gnu.org/
Can anyone tell me where I can download it, I went to one of the mirror sites, but I did not understand what to download, do I download them all?
Edit: and yes I have looked at the installation guide thingy, which makes even less sense -.-.

If anyone could explain that for me, Thanks

I am curious about this statement.

What compilers have you tried, and what did you find about them that isn't "useful"?

I have tried (I think it was called) dev C++, and I tried to get another one, but it wouldn't download or install properly, I've looked for heaps and only found 2 or 3, and only 1 would download -.-,

and about dev C++, it was just, well, stupid, I want something that is 'helpful' that has some documentation or at least a forum where I can get help, the main reason I use VB is because it has lots of help files & vbforums ...

since I don't go to school, I don't have the option for joining a school project, or whatever you would call it...

I also found dev C++ annoying, I think I remember it did not have auto indent, which I DISLIKE about it...

Thats about it though, it's been a long time since I have looked, and I have broken my computer before downloading 'software' that I wasn't sure about... not for a compiler, but I would rather have someone who uses C++ tell me the best compiler, I think I remember being told about a compiler called MingW?.

So far I have three compilers I am thinking of..

MS C++
MingW (if it is even a compiler I am unsure)
and gcc (which I don't know what it actually stands for)

I have tried MS C++ I find it quite confusing, I don't understand how to do anything, it's kind of harder than using dev C++...

I wish VBForums had a more active C++ forum:P

Cheers all...

(I am still looking for any opinions on MS C++ MingW and GCC if you know of them, or any other compilers)

[k1ll3rdr4g0n]

I believe gcc is short for GNU C complier
I was sort of close, according to wikipedia it is:
GNU Compiler Collection (formerly, the "GNU C Compiler")

I think you are getting your marbles mixed up. DevC++ is an IDE for the C++ langauge. DevC++ uses gcc (I am 99.9% sure of that) complier (collection) to compile files. I find DevC++ extremly useful for when I need to quickly test out some code. However, I don't find it too friendly for when I need to use multiple files in a project. I lean more towards codeblocks IDE for stuff like that. The MS C++ IDE and compiler are free, though I think only dumbed down of the full thing.

There really isn't any documentation for DevC++ due to its simplicity (I'm talking out my rear end right?). I ctrl + n, then type in some code, hit F9 and bam I tested out or written what I needed. I don't like MS IDE's because they are soooooooo freaking complex and has to load so much stuff....

Just my two cents. You should go back to DevC++ though its very easy to work with. What couldn't you figure out about it?

If you are having trouble with the language study this site: http://cplusplus.com/ I think it is an invaluable resource.

[chemicalNova]

DevCPP is a horrible IDE. Stay away from it.

Borland compilers are horrid.

GCC IMO TBH ETC ETC.

chem

[Icyculyr]

Ok, well, can anyone point me in the direction of the download link for GCC? I have not been able to find where I can download it.

Thanks

[k1ll3rdr4g0n]

DevCPP is a horrible IDE. Stay away from it.

Borland compilers are horrid.

GCC IMO TBH ETC ETC.

chem

And why do you say DevCPP is a horrible IDE?
I say that and codeblocks are the two best ones out there.

GCC is the set of tools to compile, that is the worst advice to give to someone who wants to learn the language. Thats like saying to someone who wants to learn C++ using MS compiler, "here is the command line tools for MSVC++, have fun!".

I do believe GNU makes their own IDE, but I don't remember what its called. Though, it wasn't too spectacular.

[Kasracer]

May I ask what gcc stands for?

GNU Compiler Collection

I am currently looking at the site for GCC
http://gcc.gnu.org/
Can anyone tell me where I can download it, I went to one of the mirror sites, but I did not understand what to download, do I download them all?
Edit: and yes I have looked at the installation guide thingy, which makes even less sense -.-.

If anyone could explain that for me, Thanks

It's a compiler you have to use in the Command Line. If you're downloading it for Windows, then look for MinGW rather than GCC as MinGW is the port of GCC to Windows (GCC itself is Linux/Unix based)

I have tried (I think it was called) dev C++, and I tried to get another one, but it wouldn't download or install properly, I've looked for heaps and only found 2 or 3, and only 1 would download -.-,

and about dev C++, it was just, well, stupid, I want something that is 'helpful' that has some documentation or at least a forum where I can get help, the main reason I use VB is because it has lots of help files & vbforums ...

Dev C++ uses MinGW as the compiler (GCC) so manually downloading GCC/MinGW isn't going to change the compiler that Dev C++ used.

C++ has quite a bit of documentation. C++ is still used today in almost all high-end applications so there is no shortage of documentation on the MSDN and many forums if you need help (we have a C++ forum here and CodeGuru is practically dedicated to C++).

Dev C++ isn't "stupid". While its errors are not as plain as VB's, a quick Google search will help resolve them. Besides, you should learn the C++ language rather than trying to fix thing when the compiler reports an error otherwise you'll never learn the language.

I also found dev C++ annoying, I think I remember it did not have auto indent, which I DISLIKE about it...

Compilers don't indent. I believe you're referring to a development environment or an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) in which case I've never used a C++ IDE that didn't auto indent so I'm not sure what you used (though dev C++'s auto indent behaves... oddly at times).

So far I have three compilers I am thinking of..

MS C++
MingW (if it is even a compiler I am unsure)
and gcc (which I don't know what it actually stands for)

MS C++ is a solid compiler though you are probably thinking about using Visual Studio / Visual C++ rather than just the compiler alone (Visual Studio / Visual C++ are IDEs that have the MS C++ compiler integrated into them).

MinGW and GCC are the same and are used by Dev C++. MinGW is the port of GCC to Windows.

DevCPP is a horrible IDE. Stay away from it.

Dev C++ is a great IDE. It gives you auto completion, startup projects, an insanely easy way to add libraries (what's easier than installing the wxWidgets package? Visual C++ requires a ton of settings to modify which is annoying and confusing at best), and some documentation. It's basically the same thing as Visual C++ except that Microsoft's IDE behaves nicer with indenting and intellisense.

[Icyculyr]

So let me get this straight,

MinGW is for windows, GCC for Linux,
MinGW & GCC are compilers, not actual IDE's..

so which is better to do? MS C++ or DEV C++?

[Kasracer]

so which is better to do? MS C++ or DEV C++?

There is no "better". Just try both. Both include solid C++ compilers but the IDEs tailor to different people.

Both IDEs are free, btw. Why not install both and try both?

[chemicalNova]

Dev C++ is a great IDE. It gives you auto completion, startup projects, an insanely easy way to add libraries (what's easier than installing the wxWidgets package? Visual C++ requires a ton of settings to modify which is annoying and confusing at best), and some documentation. It's basically the same thing as Visual C++ except that Microsoft's IDE behaves nicer with indenting and intellisense.

So you agree with me. DevCPP is a horrible version of CodeBlocks

Codeblocks has about 40000000 project templates, for everything from console apps, to Irrlicht projects. Aswell as SDL templates, OpenGL templates, etc (even wxWidgets templates). DevCPP's indenting is horrible.. I don't think I ever had it indent something properly and easily in the 2 weeks or so I put up with it.

The settings and placement of everything was just off for me.

CodeBlock's has auto-complete and intellisense, which can be upgraded, downgraded, and turned on or off. I have my CodeBlocks build a code database everytime I close it to speed up the process next time.

It indents properly.. the layout is just lovely.. its just super-fantastic.

CodeBlocks

chem

[Icyculyr]

What is codeblocks?

[k1ll3rdr4g0n]

What is codeblocks?

A C++ IDE, http://www.codeblocks.org/

So you agree with me. DevCPP is a horrible version of CodeBlocks

Codeblocks has about 40000000 project templates, for everything from console apps, to Irrlicht projects. Aswell as SDL templates, OpenGL templates, etc (even wxWidgets templates). DevCPP's indenting is horrible.. I don't think I ever had it indent something properly and easily in the 2 weeks or so I put up with it.

The settings and placement of everything was just off for me.

CodeBlock's has auto-complete and intellisense, which can be upgraded, downgraded, and turned on or off. I have my CodeBlocks build a code database everytime I close it to speed up the process next time.

It indents properly.. the layout is just lovely.. its just super-fantastic.

CodeBlocks

chem

Actually codeblocks only comes with a handful of templates. I don't know the exact number but no where near '40000000'.
I'll give you the fact that DevC++'s indenting is screwed up.
The setting and placement was off because its a whole different IDE. Thats like using MSVC IDE and since everything is more complicated than it should it will be off for you too.

Though, codeblocks wont officially release any version on their site above 1.0rc2. Any newer version you have to grab from the forums and for the life of me I could not get them to work. Though under ubuntu it works fine...

[tr333]

gpp and MS C++ are both very good. I have no idea which one is actually better but I believe both support the C++ standard very well.

I've heard gpp can make larger binaries than ms c++ but that probably depends on the circumstances.

Other than gpp and ms c++, there is Intel's which I think is highly optimizing but I don't know anything about it.

According to my linux man pages, gpp is a general-purpose preprocessor and not a C++ compiler. I believe gcc is both a C and C++ compiler since C is strictly a subset of C++.

[Kasracer]

According to my linux man pages, gpp is a general-purpose preprocessor and not a C++ compiler. I believe gcc is both a C and C++ compiler since C is strictly a subset of C++.

GCC isn't a compiler but a collection of compilers. gpp (or g++), I believe should be the C++ compiler (at least that's how I understood it).