The Best C++ Compiler?

**Sastraxi** · Jun 27th, 2001, 03:56 PM

Is it MSVC++? That's what I'm about to use (using Dev C++ right now, lockups!!!), I just need to know what'll give me the most bang for my buck/dl time.

denniswrenn · Jun 27th, 2001, 04:01 PM

Dev C++ is free, so I recomend that if you don't have much money, but Visual C++ has all kinds of cool stuff, like resource editors and such... Borland C++ Builder is pretty good too, but I don't like the interface...

If you have the money, I think you should buy MSVC++.

**Sastraxi** · Jun 27th, 2001, 04:18 PM

Oh I've got MSV. Studio 6 so I have it already.. just wanted to know if I needed to buy borland. Dev C++ seems to suck pretty badly.

denniswrenn · Jun 27th, 2001, 04:22 PM

Don't buy Borland unless there is something specific in it that you need, I prefer VC++ to it.

**parksie** · Jun 27th, 2001, 05:59 PM

I prefer VC++, although egcs (GCC/G++) is pretty damn good, and I'm not sure which is actually better.

Visual C++ has the nicest IDE I've ever seen, though.

denniswrenn · Jun 27th, 2001, 06:27 PM

I think he may be talking of IDE's... The only difference I see between different compilers is Borland's really ****s up the function names in DLLs... Mike, what makes egcs so good? Is it run from the command line? And, where can I get it?

**parksie** · Jun 27th, 2001, 06:31 PM

The GNU compiler runs from the command line, as all Unix-derived tools do

It's in DJGPP and a few other packages (Cygwin for one). It's extremely popular.

www.cygwin.com

**abdul** · Jun 27th, 2001, 08:50 PM

The thing which I like about about vc++ is that when you are programming windows, it completes the parameter for you and it also shows a tooltip corresponding to certain function!

**parksie** · Jun 28th, 2001, 05:42 AM

Hehe mine doesn't do that. Still on VC++5 here so I have to know it all from memory, or use the PSDK constantly

denniswrenn · Jun 28th, 2001, 11:58 AM

Completes the parameter for you? Huh? Don't quite understand what you mean there...

**parksie** · Jun 28th, 2001, 12:27 PM

IntelliSense like in VB5 and VC++6.

denniswrenn · Jun 28th, 2001, 12:47 PM

Oh, you mean when you partially type in a variable name and hit Tab or Space or something?

VC++6.0 also has a drop down list of all the members of a class, when you type the dot(.) after an instance of a class.

wossname · Jun 28th, 2001, 01:19 PM

Sorry this is a bit off topic, but has anyone on this forum actually tried to create either a new programming language or a compiler (for an existing language)?

I'd love to create a simple new language, but I have neither the brains nor the insight as to what is required. I bow to those who create compilers! Surely that is the hardest thing to program?

**parksie** · Jun 28th, 2001, 01:23 PM

New languages are usually created to fulfil a specific "niche" requirement now. I don't think many people bother creating general-purpose languages anymore because C, C++, Pascal, and Basic seem to have it cornered now.

Writing a compiler has got a lot easier because at least we have compilers to start from

For example, the VC++ compiler is written in C++

denniswrenn · Jun 28th, 2001, 01:25 PM

Originally posted by parksie
New languages are usually created to fulfil a specific "niche" requirement now. I don't think many people bother creating general-purpose languages anymore because C, C++, Pascal, and Basic seem to have it cornered now.

Writing a compiler has got a lot easier because at least we have compilers to start from For example, the VC++ compiler is written in C++

Yeah, it must've been a ***** writing the first Assembler....

**parksie** · Jun 28th, 2001, 01:28 PM

Although at that time they were used to coding things by hand instruction by instruction.

denniswrenn · Jun 28th, 2001, 01:30 PM

Yeah, but it still must not've been fun...

**parksie** · Jun 28th, 2001, 01:37 PM

I suppose not

It's an iterative process, making compilers. You write a proto-assembler in machine code, and progressively make more and more complex assemblers using the one you've just created. Then, you write a compiler in ASM, and the process keeps going

denniswrenn · Jun 28th, 2001, 01:38 PM

Originally posted by parksie
I suppose not It's an iterative process, making compilers. You write a proto-assembler in machine code, and progressively make more and more complex assemblers using the one you've just created. Then, you write a compiler in ASM, and the process keeps going

I don't think anybody's going to try to make any serious compiler in VB though, *giggle*

wossname · Jun 28th, 2001, 01:39 PM

I agree, I think its getting crazy the amount of complexity in things like Visual Studio, how do MS keep track of it all....oh yeah thats right, they write a program to keep track of it. Uh oh, now we've got more complexity, "hey, someone please page the MetaProgramming department, we need a new program to keep tabs on the program that kept tabs on VStudio". etc...

Urgh, I get the feeling that Bill Gates found the last great opportunity in this world and pounced on it bigtime. Lucky *****rd. Whats left for us?

wossname · Jun 28th, 2001, 01:41 PM

hey, dont get me wrong, i wasnt thinking of a full scale mega language, just an interpreter or something like that (dare I say it, something akin to *.bat files!!).

**parksie** · Jun 28th, 2001, 01:41 PM

Umm...pork scratchings

denniswrenn · Jun 28th, 2001, 01:44 PM

pork scratchings?

I don't want to know what you do in your free time Mike...

**parksie** · Jun 28th, 2001, 01:57 PM

He asked what was left for us

Zaei · Jun 29th, 2001, 06:02 PM

It is extremely easy to write an interpreted language in VB, because of all the nice little string functions.

Writing a compiler isnt as hard as it sounds. You just have to know how to turn whatever kind of code into assembly. Then just take the next step, and convert each ASM instruction into binary (which is already done for you, because each instruction has a corresponding bytecode). If you really want to know what it is like, there is a Script Tutorial over at Flipcode, which takes you from designing the language to writing the compiler for it.

Z.

Zaei · Jun 29th, 2001, 06:03 PM

oh, yeah... MSVC++6.

Z.

**kedaman** · Jun 29th, 2001, 06:23 PM

On the very first computers they programmed using physical components, one per instruction. I'd prefer having VC++6 around though

It's fun thought writing your own languages, or make emulators for them, i've made for both epsilon and befunge

**Sastraxi** · Jul 1st, 2001, 01:01 PM

Well thanks, but by the 3rd post I had installed MSVC++6 so I'm pretty much set, thanks for the help. If only there was a VB->C++ compiler

.

Although you can't really translate per say VB to C++ or vise versa, because of all the different thingeys and such. God pointers are the best

**parksie** · Jul 1st, 2001, 01:13 PM

Finally...someone else who likes pointers

I love 'em...dead nice

Make sure you install SP5 *now* though - it's very important for VC++ (much more so than VB). It fixes problems with the libraries and headers that can really cripple your development.

**kedaman** · Jul 1st, 2001, 01:45 PM

too

it's the next best thing after virtual inheritance and templates

Zaei · Jul 1st, 2001, 08:00 PM

Who DOESN'T like pointers? Although there was some guy on the GameDev forums wondering what they were good for o.0. People are strange...

Z.

**Sastraxi** · Jul 2nd, 2001, 09:46 AM

I mean it's ALMOST like using ByRef, but VB's psuedo-pointers are no match for true pointers. The only instance in VB I've actually used pointers in is GetLockedArray. I'm pretty sure that's a pointer.

**kedaman** · Jul 2nd, 2001, 03:21 PM

Strings and Arrays in UDT's can be used as fake pointers

**PsyVision** · Jul 2nd, 2001, 03:35 PM

VC++
VC++
VC++
VC++
VC++
VC++
VC++
VC++
VC++
VC++
VC++
VC++
VC++
VC++
VC++

Tho i only have SP3

**parksie** · Jul 2nd, 2001, 03:38 PM

Heh. VC++5 no service pack - because I'm too lazy to wait for all 150MB or so to download (it's free but takes too long).

denniswrenn · Jul 2nd, 2001, 04:13 PM

I think I've got SP5... either that or no SP.. I downloaded SP5, but I can't remember if I installed it...

**Sastraxi** · Jul 2nd, 2001, 10:03 PM

Right now I'm waiting for a book to learn (not just from a refrence manual !!) actual C++. So I was wondering what book should I get?

denniswrenn · Jul 2nd, 2001, 10:48 PM

Sams Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days... There are also several others in the FAQ that are great as well..

**MorbuZ** · Jul 3rd, 2001, 09:20 AM

Here ya go wossname:
http://65.108.84.199/files/writeyour...nglanguage.zip

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i'm deeply in love with pointers

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