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So, I've spent most of the last couple of years working mostly with Java and webdesign languages like actionscript and php, but now I've decided that I wanna go back to working with C++, which was one of the first languages I learned. I'm getting some new, up to date books and I'm gonna re-learn everything about it, as well as go deeper than I ever did before, into directX and graphic-heavy game programming.
However, I also need a compiler, or IDE, whatever the hell the difference is. Atm all I got is Microsoft Visual Studio 2005. Maybe it's the shit, I don't know, because back when I was doing C++ I was using Borland builder, where I would make a file with a main function and just run into console. But NOW, I go into Microsoft Visual Studio and it needs me to make a friggin project for something as simple as printing "hello world"! I spent an hour just figuring out how to compile a cout!
And when I wanna start a new project, I get a list of like fifteen templates, such as console application, win32 application, MFC, etc and I have no idea wth I need them for. All I want is a blank cpp file to which I can create my own linkage.
Whatever, I'm ranting, maybe its terrific, maybe I just gotta learn the distinctions between the templates. I dunno.
But before I go through all that trouble, I'm wondering if someone wouldn't mind telling me of another compiler. Anyone been using c++ professionally for the past 2-3 years that have some in-depth input?
Also, some tips on good books would be awe-sum. I've been programming for well over a decade, started with c++ about 7-8 years ago, been doing high level languages since then. Would really appreciate some help.
 
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Hum you can just start an empty project and not use any of the templates. Then add new .cpp and .h files from there
Visual Studio 2008 + Visual Assist is the perfect IDE for C++ on windows imo. I have absolutely no problem with it.
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I'm a student who does all serious projects with C++ and Visual Studio..
New Project -> Blank project doesn't work? It will still create a lot of unnecessary project files, but they are easy enough to just delete. I wouldn't use the templates...
Visual Studio is an amazing program once you are comfortable with it. Absolutely essential if you know you are going to have to do some serious debugging.
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Use gcc (g++) and a text editor such as emacs
A good C++ book would be "The C++ Programming Language" by Stroustrup, the creator of C++
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In the past I've used Bloodshed Dev C++ as an IDE for C++ but when I figured out that you can actually use Eclipse not only for Java but for C++ as well, I switched over to Eclipse and I really like it.
Although you usually have to create a projects like in Visual Studio, Eclipse doesn't generate a lot of code or additional files and stuff like that. I always hated it when IDE's do too much for you. But the on the fly syntax error checking is pretty useful and you can use Eclipse with any compiler you want (as far as I know). I'm using it with MinGW (on Windows).
Eclipse itself is also platform independent (written in Java). You can as well unzip it onto an USB device and use it on other PC's or laptops over USB.
If you don't want to use this kind of "heavy" IDE, I'd recommend either Bloodshed Dev C++ (very simple IDE) or just the gcc compiler and an editor with syntax highlighting (i.e. Notepad++ for Windows).
Just my 2 cents.
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How have you been programming for a decade and not can't differentiate between an IDE and a compiler?
As imDerek states, most linuxy-developers like to use emacs/vi and gcc/g++ (gnu c compiler).
One can also use ajunta(sp?), eclipse, etc as they're more full-featured ides.
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How about Eclipse? It has plugins for just about every language.
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I think an editor with syntax highlighting with gcc is the way to go. I personally have a Linux server at home just for compiling stuff (easier to keep clean development environments).
As far as books go, C++ Primer Plus is very good.
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I've tried both Eclipse and Dev-C++, but I personally prefer Code::Blocks. Eclipse and Dev seemed incapable of performing code completion correctly, plus Dev always fucked with my indentation and the tabs were like half the width of the screen. So I switched to Code::Blocks and it hasn't presented any glaring faults as of yet.
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In my opinion there are two ways to go:
1) Use MSVS and find the correct template. I think what you're probably looking for is Win32 Concolse Application. You can then you click Next on the options and make it a "Blank Project" which you will then Add>>New Item>>C++ file. void main() and gogogo.
2) Get gcc. You invoke it from the command line and it couldn't be simpler to "gcc test.cpp" then execute a.out or whatever. Use whatever to edit the files as text (notepad or MSVS if you want). Just save and run the compiler from a dos prompt.
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On September 16 2009 03:35 Scorch wrote:
How about Eclipse? It has plugins for just about every language.
This. I cannot express how much of a hard on i have for Eclipse. It may be big phat and bloated, but when it comes to coding, its just like writing a word document: Just right click on the red underlined code and select how you wanna fix it lol. It just makes everything so epically easy.
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EPT
