Which free C++ compiler?

[vikingm03]

cygwin for me. It is a linux terminal simulator for windows, and it comes with a lot of linux like binaries (programs) that you can use, particularly it has some compilers. To use, download the installer, and when you get to the part where it asks you what packages to include, make sure to search for and find the gcc compiler and add it (not included by default). Optional: Once it is installed, there should be a "bin" folder in it's install directory. Add this folder's path to the windows "Path" environment variable, so that you can call these programs from the command prompt. Also, I believe this is needed for eclipse to be able to compile c++ as it just tries a bunch of known compilers from a command line?

Feel free to send me a PM if you need help! Good luck =)

[ibanezfoo]

The problem is a lot of IDE's are like photoshop. They are very powerful but a bear to do simple things when starting out. You spend more time fighting your IDE than learning how to program. Both are good skills to master but doing it at the same time is a bit overwhelming.

I agree with this. The same reason I still do my web programming (or any programming really) in vi or notepad instead of something like Dreamweaver. I really don't like these massive programs or anything that tries to "help me out". I'm sure they are great once you learn them but I don't have that kind of desire let alone the time. My friend that works at Boeing says they won't even let you use anything like that, at least the division that he works. Its all vi.

[ibanezfoo]

Someday you'll learn a real programming language like straight C...


;-)

Pffft. C.... My initial entry into programming was assembler...

[orangeusa]

I was using NDK to access the hardware. But yes, Android is JIT compiled Java, which is pretty impressive to me.

If you do go the NDK route - tis a lot of trial and error.

Android development is actually done in Java. You can use C++ via the NDK, but unless you are writing a program that does a lot of CPU intensive calculations (with little memory usage), it's a waste of time to do so and provides no real benefit (but a lot of downsides).

For programming in C++, you can't beat a POSIX environment in my opinion (unless you're programming for Windows of course). Any Linux distribution will work well. I used Anjuta (http://projects.gnome.org/anjuta/) when I was doing a lot of C++ programming and really liked it. I don't know how it is these days though, it's been years.

In Windows I use Eclipse, but I'm doing Android stuff so I'm using Java.

[AAShooter]

Oh, please, everyone knows that REAL MEN program in assembly language! Wimpy-a** languages like C can have a powerful effect upon the weak-minded. :-)

Real men flip switches on a PDP!



And use one of these:

[Cowboy T]

Someday you'll learn a real programming language like straight C...


;-)

Oh, please, everyone knows that REAL MEN program in assembly language! Wimpy-a** languages like C can have a powerful effect upon the weak-minded. :-)

[bwiese]

Someday you'll learn a real programming language like straight C...


;-)

[AAShooter]

really? And I always thought that entire purpose of IDE make it easier to program and avoid learning curve on project management (make files)....

The problem is a lot of IDE's are like photoshop. They are very powerful but a bear to do simple things when starting out. You spend more time fighting your IDE than learning how to program. Both are good skills to master but doing it at the same time is a bit overwhelming.

[ibanezfoo]

Whatever happened to Borland? Thats what I used in my C++ class back in the day. Nowdays if I ever need to code anything I just use gcc.

[mblat]

I think it depends how new you're to programming

If you're completely new to programming, command line actually is a lot
more simple, since you don't have to learn the new IDE (Integrated Development
Environment) Using an IDE usually requires you to create a project and
setup various dependent files within the IDE's framework before you can write
the first line of code. The learning curve would take time away
from learning how to program.

really? And I always thought that entire purpose of IDE make it easier to program and avoid learning curve on project management (make files)....

[Ralgha]

2. Noodling around with Android development - which is C++

Android development is actually done in Java. You can use C++ via the NDK, but unless you are writing a program that does a lot of CPU intensive calculations (with little memory usage), it's a waste of time to do so and provides no real benefit (but a lot of downsides).

For programming in C++, you can't beat a POSIX environment in my opinion (unless you're programming for Windows of course). Any Linux distribution will work well. I used Anjuta (http://projects.gnome.org/anjuta/) when I was doing a lot of C++ programming and really liked it. I don't know how it is these days though, it's been years.

In Windows I use Eclipse, but I'm doing Android stuff so I'm using Java.

[sonnyt650]

If this book is going to be your guide, use what it uses.

+1 -- Microsoft's base tools are just as free as Eclipse but better integrated, and their books got me started in languages a couple of decades ago now. I'm not doing anything with C, C++, or C# for a while and have settled in on PHP in Apache for the past couple of years (Java is in between there too); but from those books it was the initial understanding of pointers, passing by reference versus value, and understanding the importance and use of the "Standard Template Library" data structures that has proven valuable.

[Dreaded Claymore]

Thanks for the advice, everyone.

I do have an install of Ubuntu lingering on a secondary hard drive, it looks like that'll make the biggest difference.

And I'll keep my eye out for better material.

[BigJ]

The book's first example is a "Hello World" program.

I just did a little review-reading on the book you chose and apparently it does come with a CD with source code on it. Are you positive an IDE isn't on that CD?

Also, I couldn't help but notice the relatively negative reviews of this book on Amazon. I especially didn't like hearing how as the subjects grow more complex, the chapters get shorter. That's not a good sign.

If you're open to the idea, again I suggest putting this book aside for now and starting with a better beginning programming choice. You're going to need to learn how to think like a programmer; the language you choose becomes almost trivial if you know how to program, first. You need to learn the "why" before (or at least with) the "how".

[Cowboy T]

First off, Microsoft Windows is not a good environment in which to learn C++ programming. Believe me, there's a BIIIIG difference between programming C++ and programming for MS Windows.

If you want to learn C++ programming, I'd suggest running a GNU/Linux or BSD distro. CentOS, Slackware, Debian, Ubuntu, Free/Net/OpenBSD, etc. are all good platforms. All of them include the full development environments for C, C++, PERL, Python, pretty much whatever you want. GCC is the standard C/C++ compiler for those who write serious Internet-facing apps, and just about everything in the world--even Microsoft Visual C++--is compatible with GCC Makefiles.

I will also give you this advice. Years ago, the University of Washington in Seattle received a large donation from Microsoft to convert their CompSci classes from cc (the traditional UNIX C compiler) to MS Visual C++ on MS Windows. The results were disastrous, and the UW didn't take long to go back to cc (actually GCC) on FreeBSD. After that, UW graduates started getting hired again. Something to think about.