nnxion

But it comes with a compiler, which is also very comfortable.
An IDE is an Integrated Development Environment.

Just a text editor with some other things so one can be more productive at programming/developing.

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bl00dninja

the IDE is the graphical interface you see. it will usually make some of your words pretty colors and might indent for you. visual studio might show a note at the bottom of the screen saying "what the fuck are you doing?" (intellisense).

it lets you click a button to compile, debug, or run. it's all the little extras that make things easier. it's "integrated" because it integrates a text editor, a compiler/linker, and a runtime environment.

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Twilight

The VS Express Editions also autocomplete like crazy. You type one letter, and it guesses (fairly well actually) at what word you were going to type, assuming you had defined it earlier. It also warns you about errors before you compile, which while annoying at times, helps you find stupid mistakes like forgetting a semi-colon or brace.

lectricpharaoh

Don't forget third-party extensions. For example, if you have a penchant for pain and CASE (Computer Aggravated Software Engineering), you can 'integrate' a product like Irrational Rose with it, and 'leverage technology to improve productivity'.

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ikuvhb

I am new to programming too and just picking up C++ but even I know some of these things. Take the time to read tutorials and practice writing code. Then come back and you wont ask such stupid questions.

nnxion

They're not particularly stupid questions. They are newbie questions though, and may also indicate lazyness from the OP.

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Mocker

It's not a bad question really. I've been programming for a while, but until I started using VS for the IDE more and less as just another text file and compiler, I did not really see why the price difference.

I really recommend picking up a copy of the free version and looking around in it. I'm still only using a small fraction of the options it gives, but learning to use the debugger has made it soo much easier to see where the data in my program is going. Also, I love the autocomplete. I've started trying to get my programs as modular as possible, which means a lot of classes, a lot of inherited classes and then a lot of data members within data members. Without the autocomplete I would be spending a lot of time fixing typos because I referenced a data member incorrectly or got the variable type wrong.

It really does not have that much to do with windows as most of the features help with any api

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badbasser98

If you are on a tighter budget, you can also get VC++ .NET 2003 Standard for under $100 if you'd be interested in that. I got mine from PC connection last year for $110, I believe they sell it now for $70.

-BB98

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bl00dninja

if you send me $299 i'll send you the full version

that's a DOLLAR OFF!!!!!

:p

__________________
i put on my robe and wizard hat...

Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?...Morons.