hervens48

Hello, im not a c++ expert, but im desperate on becoming one. I currently use the dev c++ compiler. Ive been checking out some new compilers, and i found the microsoft visual c++ compiler costing over 300 dollards!!.
Now my question is, what more does it give u that my compiler wont give.
My definition of a compiler is a program that executes a code. And my current compiler does that very well.
I honestly would be willing to pay that 300 dollards if i knew what the visual c++ compiler will give me that my free dev c++ compiler wont give me. Another reason y i pay so much attention to that, is because every professional c++ programmer all seem to have those exepensive compilers.

So can someone please show me the difference.

And also, i think i know everything i need to know about console programming in dos. Now i wanna move on to windows programming, but i dont know where to start. Ive already red c++ for dummies, and sams teach yourself c++ in 21 days. So if u guys could reccomand a book that will teach me how to make my own microsoft word, or my own doom 3 along or in a group, i will be very thankful.

Thx in advance fellow programmers

Twilight

Well, as far as I'm aware, all VC++ offers is an easier ability to create windows forms, with buttons and text boxes and such. However, C# was built specifically to do that kind of stuff, and is fairly similar to C++.

If you wanna try VC++ to see what's different though, download Visual C++ Express Edition, which is the free version, and probably holds all the features someone new to programming is looking for. You can also get C# Express Edition from the same place.

Also, forgive me if you find it insulting, but I highly doubt you know everything there is to know about console style programming. I've been taking Uni courses for almost 2 years now, and I don't even come close to knowing it all.

hervens48

twilight:
yeah, i doubt that theres still things i dont know yet. And when i mean console programming, i mean programming in dos, where the black window shows up. And yeah, i know all about pointers, arrays, classes, functions, u name it.
I even made a very addictive text based rpg. (its 1200 lines long)

DaWei

There's one of your problems. It's no such thing. Perhaps you should invest in a good technical dictionary, or a tad of research. When you're sure you know all you need to know about console programming, come see me. I'll hire you just for the pleasure of giving you a pink slip a tad later.

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Booooze

The real difference between the compiler you are using, and one that a professional coder uses, is functions and tools. If you try VC++, you will see tools and functions that Dev-C++ doesn't have. Some of the tools it provides makes programming much easier, and some of them ... well.. arn't so great . If you have ever tried Photoshop, you would know that it is a hell of a lot more advanced than paint. That's why photoshop costs a mean $500+ (I think it's more like 700), where as paint if free with MS OS's. :p

lectricpharaoh

You can apply a similar argument to many parallel pieces of software. Visual Studio/Visual C++ are Microsoft products, and commercial software. DevC++ is free, and the compiler backend (MinGW, a port of GCC) is open source, to the best of my knowledge (not sure about the DevC++ IDE itself, though I believe it may well be open source, too- in any case, it's free). You're comparing apples to oranges.
As mentioned, it will make laying out GUIs much easier, though much of this is more aimed at Visual Basic and Visual C# than it is at C++. You also get comprehensive online help covering all the functions, methods, and objects that make up the runtime environment. If you use VS.NET, you also get the ability to target other Win32 platforms, like Windows Mobile found on some PDAs and cellphones, though I believe this support is limited to VB and C# (you can download eMbedded VC++ free from MS if you want to write native code and use the raw API).
Executes a code? If you mean it executes instructions, that's not strictly true. The computer (more precisely, the CPU) executes instructions. A compiler, like any other program, is a collection of such instructions.

Nitpicking aside, there are pros and cons for both. The main advantages to DevC++/MinGW are that a) it's free, and b) the system requirements are substantially lower (and thus, the compile/link process can be noticably faster on low-end systems). The main disadvantage, as I see it, is the lack of comprehensive API documentation, though you can certainly find this elsewhere on the net, like I did. Main advantages to VS/VC++ are as described previously, and the main drawback is the cost, so take your pick.

Having said all that, there is another angle: if you're planning on taking any computer science and/or information technology courses in post-secondary school, you might want to check if your school is part of the MSDNAA (Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance). If it is, you can probably get a copy of Visual Studio (and other things) for dirt cheap. That's what I did, and it was a good deal. How good? Let's put it this way: the shipping and handling cost more than the software. Of course, there are limits on what you're allowed to do with it (no reselling it, using it to make commercial software, etc), but it's still an option worth exploring.

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bl00dninja

yeah i got the latest VS pro for free because of school. i'd just try the express edition and see how you like it, if you intend on going to school later you'll probably be able to get it free also.

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hervens48

yeah, thx people
but im still having doubts on getting it cause of the $300+ price tag.

OopSheMishtamesh

visual studio is not a compiler, it's a very comfertable IDE ....


although many of my linux addicted friend preffer thing like DDD because it can draw the memory in diagrams and things like that, wich alow you pretty easly to find bugs in things like linked list AVL trees.. and any data structure..

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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