Visual C++ and C++ comparison
 

http://en.allexperts.com/q/C-1040/difference-b-w-c.htm

In his answer to the question, David says that Visual C++ is a "program development environment". I don't understand exactly what he means by this, and everything I can find on google is over my head. Can anyone explain as simply as possible, and briefly?

Also, I have a class on C++ next semester. Visual C++ looks interesting. Does anyone have a different/better explanation of the differences between visual C++ and C++ ? Most importantly, which should I learn first considering my class is a C++ class?

Thanks for your time guys.

Writing a C++ progam, particularly one with a GUI, usually requires a whole lot of extra tools beyond just the compiler and the debugger. Think of say a designer for doing up the interface layout, an image editor for icons, and things like that.

So an IDE, (integrated) development environment, is just the name given to a program which combines all those things together in one environment and generally make a programmers life much easier (though un fortunatly it can become very easy to develop unportable habits if you don't spread your wings, but that is not for a beginner to worry about initially).

Visual Studio (now ver. 2005) is MS's massive IDE, and Visual C++ is the subsection of it which uses C++ as the core language.

In other words, Visual C++ is a tool, not a language. It deals with the C++ language. Your question is somewhat like asking the difference between a sound system and English.

Ahh. I understand now. An analogy, I suppose, might be powerpoint: on one hand, you have plain text; on the other hand, you can use powerpoint for formatting and other things. Not a perfect analogy but I understand what you guys are explaining.

Anyway, I think learning to use Visual C++ wouldn't be a bad idea, and I will also learn to use C++ while doing so. Appreciate the help.

Well, if you use Visual C++, you will either be using C or C++. It doesn't do Perl. If you go to Visual Studio, you can add a few other things.

I would use Visual Studio. You can use C, C++, and VB, as well as C# and other .NET languages. But its too expensive if you have a conscience, so in that case just get a cheap used copy of the latest Visual C++

I'm not sure why, but I was able to download Visual Studio for free.. from a Microsoft website. I probably have an old edition or something. Either way, I have no idea how to use it or even where to start. I've been looking for a good online tutorial.

Unless you discovered something a lot of people are missing out on, you have the Express edition, which is just individual languages...


Or you have an MSDN subscription, but those cost...a lot.

yeah its prolly express. thats not bad. i used the express version for AP Computer Science and J# it worked out fine..

Why did you use J#? The AP's language is Java. I hope you did not use Visual J# for Java IDE?