Computer Science Canada Always state your compiler |
| Author: | McKenzie [ Sat Feb 14, 2004 9:41 am ] |
| Post subject: | Always state your compiler |
Unlike Turing C/C++ compilers come in many shapes and sizes. I find that half of the posts leave me asking: Well, what compiler are they using? Console or Windows based? If you look at the threads, I'm not the only one who wonders this. To avoid a) People not responding because they don't have enough information or b) getting responces like "well if it's MS VC++ try this, if it's DJGPP thy this, if it's ..." please include at very least the compiler in your question. |
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| Author: | ViRuAl_InFeCtiON_vErsIonX [ Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | qustion |
I use turing and im trying to expand on my programming skills my learning a new language and i was wondering which one of the two compliers that you mentioned is better and which one do more people use and where the place i can get them Thanks:D 
p.s if the spelling bad sry im tired havent been sleeping this week much  |
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| Author: | [Gandalf] [ Wed Aug 17, 2005 5:24 pm ] |
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VC++ you have to pay quite a bit for, unless you are willing to use other methods... Your best bet is probably GCC, look in the C++ tutorials section for more help. Namely, http://www.compsci.ca/v2/viewtopic.php?t=9420  . |
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| Author: | TokenHerbz [ Fri Oct 28, 2005 2:26 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Well im useing Dev C++ , so you guys no. Also, i wont be asking for help with C++ for a while, this way you guys cant discourage me, iv'e made up my mind, and im going for the fustrating, head breaking, knowledge of C++!!!! Though, if you dont mind, ill start my own 1 post, of **Progress** to alow others to see where i stand with the C++ language... Bye for now, i gotta get to bed... |
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| Author: | wtd [ Fri Oct 28, 2005 3:59 am ] |
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TokenHerbz wrote: Well im useing Dev C++ , so you guys no.
I would higly suggest reconsidering this. Learning C++ is one thing, but to make that attempt and use an IDE that gains you very little over tried and proven compilation techniques is another. IDEs can be valuable (I use MonoDevelop every once in awhile), but Dev-C++ doesn't offer anything especially compelling, and adds the mental overhead of "projects" and "organization" that isn't necessary for the level of programming you'll be doing as you gain an understanding of C++. TokenHerbz wrote: Also, i wont be asking for help with C++ for a while, this way you guys cant discourage me, iv'e made up my mind, and im going for the fustrating, head breaking, knowledge of C++!!!!
So, why post here now? If you don't want us involved, then just do it. However, I stringly suggest asking questions. When learning new technologies, we all make mistakes. That is a constant. The variable element is when we catch those mistakes. If you make a stupid mistake early on, and then don't fix it until a month down the road, then there's a good chance you'll have to sift through an entire month's worth of learning to fix all of the other mistakes that were based on that one. It's rather like fixing errors in a C++ programmer. You may get 40 errors. You only fix the first one, then recompile. Why? Because most of the other errors were likely actually correct code, and the first error just made that code look wrong.
So, it's up to you, but if you're open to constructive criticism, then asking for help here will really help you with the very daunting task of learning one of the most complex programming languages around. |
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| Author: | TokenHerbz [ Fri Oct 28, 2005 11:55 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
alright, i just figured the C++ tut's would last my a while, but ill ask questions when im confused, as for the comiler, which would you recomend, thats free? one better then dev C++ / im on Win 98. |
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| Author: | wtd [ Fri Oct 28, 2005 11:59 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Dev-C++ is not a compiler. It's simply an "environment". It basically just provides a "compile" button that runs g++ (the GNU C++ compiler). MinGW is "Minimal GNU for Windows", and provides an up-to-date port of the GNU Compiler Collection to Windows. This is your best bet, along with gaining an understanding of Windows' command-line. There is a tutorial here on installing it. |
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| Author: | TokenHerbz [ Fri Oct 28, 2005 12:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
so Dev C++ will just let me run the code, but i cant like change it to an .exe? Also, heres my 1st questions, whats the "return" for?? do i need it? |
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| Author: | wtd [ Fri Oct 28, 2005 12:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
No, Dev-C++ will create an executable for you. It simply calls g++ for you, and does what g++ would. Howeber, Dev-C++ tends to ship with outdated versions of g++, and is just generally buggy. When learning C++ you'll have enough curveballs to deal with without having to warp your mind around the eccentricities of an IDE. The command-line is boring, but it does what it does, and does it reliably. And in what context are you talking about "return"? This should really be moved out of this sticky thread. |
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| Author: | md [ Fri Oct 28, 2005 4:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
The biggest problem I think for people who are trying to learn C or C++ (or most other languages) when they started with turing is that they have the mistaken impression that hte IDE is the compiler. It's hard for them to grasp that Dev-C++, or MSVC++, or whatever else are all just IDEs. Underneath them all there is a compiler which is what actually does the work. Alas I have no idea how to make this apperent to new C/C++ programmers, but I think that it would help people a lot to understand the differences between IDEs and compilers. |
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| Author: | shaon [ Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Always state your compiler |
Well I suppose on behalf of all the noobs trying to learn C++, care to tell what compiler is the least trouble some and is powerful? To those used to python or turing or java, worrying about compiler problems and bugs that came with your IDE was never an issue. The compilers for those language were sure to work, but from seeing this thread, it seems there are compilers which could work, might, work, will work, and will not definitely work. Really if somebody can just write which compiler is the most reliable, I think it would a save a whole lot noobs from death. |
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| Author: | nike52 [ Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Always state your compiler |
Don't be an idiot ! After bashing your head on the keyboard 50 times, ask for help ! Besides, people like giving help. It's smarter to ask for help and put away a bit of your ego then going nowhere. I've also had alot problems whereby simply in the process of writing the post, I found a way to solve the problem because writing forces you to be specific and clear. Writing and asking for help are a great skills to learn, not only for programming, but in life. I recommend Dev C++ for the newbie, I didn't have any problems with it while learning C++. Golly, all I had to learn for that IDE was F9, compile. Command line is like a prick in the butt. I wouldn't go deep into that IDE, once you've mastered C++ with it, move on to better IDEs. Other IDEs can be as comprehensive to learn as C++. Another prick in the butt when you only want to master C++. |
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| Author: | Tony [ Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Always state your compiler |
nike52 @ Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:59 pm wrote: Command line is like a prick in the butt.
nike52 @ Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:59 pm wrote: ... once you've mastered C++ ...
I highly doubt you'd be mastering any programming language if you're purposely avoiding a terminal window. |
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| Author: | OneOffDriveByPoster [ Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Always state your compiler |
shaon @ Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:27 pm wrote: Well I suppose on behalf of all the noobs trying to learn C++, care to tell what compiler is the least trouble some and is powerful? The compiler you will most likely be able to get help with is GCC 3+. If you are strictly a Windows user, go for MinGW for a GCC port. I personally use Cygwin though. |
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| Author: | Dan [ Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Always state your compiler |
The command line and shell might be the singal most powerfull tool i have used. It is defatly worth your while to try to learn how to complie things from the comand line and move around and do tasks on a computer threw it. With nix based servers it is almost required that you know how to use the command line/some shell to be able to adminstatre them. |
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| Author: | md [ Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Always state your compiler |
nike52 @ 2008-04-14, 9:59 pm wrote: I recommend Dev C++ for the newbie, I didn't have any problems with it while learning C++. Golly, all I had to learn for that IDE was F9, compile. Command line is like a prick in the butt. I wouldn't go deep into that IDE, once you've mastered C++ with it, move on to better IDEs. Other IDEs can be as comprehensive to learn as C++. Another prick in the butt when you only want to master C++.
Dev C++ is an IDE, and not a very good one at that. And as others have pointed out, avoiding the command line is just about the worst way to go about learning how to program. Incidentally, the most widely supported and cross-platform C++ complier is g++, the GNU C++ Compiler. |
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| Author: | rahzab [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Always state your compiler |
I checked out GNU c++ compiler, but being newb, I dont know how to install it. There are too many prerequisites... Also, I do use dev - c++ as my compiler and i am learning c++ while using it, so is this bad? Then what would be the best free c++ compiler? |
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| Author: | CodeMonkey2000 [ Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Always state your compiler |
dev c++ is not a compiler, it's an IDE. We have a good tutorial Here. |
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| Author: | Rigby5 [ Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:Always state your compiler |
Dan @ Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:27 pm wrote: The command line and shell might be the singal most powerfull tool i have used. It is defatly worth your while to try to learn how to complie things from the comand line and move around and do tasks on a computer threw it.
With nix based servers it is almost required that you know how to use the command line/some shell to be able to adminstatre them. I agree with you, but it should not be that way. The IDE or other graphical tools are way faster, more intuitive, etc., and their lack is what is holding nix based computers back. The IDE originally was developed for Amiga BASIC in 1984, and unfortuanely Commodore hired Microsoft to do it. That is where Microsoft picked up on the whole idea. It was not theirs to begin with. Much of what Windows does was "borrowed" from the Amiga. |
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| Author: | wallc++ [ Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Always state your compiler |
so is there anything good about vc++ 2008 express? and when you say command line you mean command from the command prompt right? im trying to use vc++ 2008 express because of dark GDK i cant seem to find out what template to use when im just programming in c++ (thats why i like turing and vb6, just type code) |
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| Author: | bbi5291 [ Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:06 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:Always state your compiler |
Rigby5 @ Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:23 pm wrote: I agree with you, but it should not be that way.
The IDE or other graphical tools are way faster, more intuitive, etc., and their lack is what is holding nix based computers back. There are a number of very good IDEs for Linux at least - not so sure about other *nix systems - just do a search for them. As for other tools, sure they might be more intuitive for the new user, but they are simply not faster than the command line - unless of course you aren't comfortable with the command line, in which case it's saying nothing. Also, the command line is compact and more powerful. |
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| Author: | ryan.s [ Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:32 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Always state your compiler |
Quick question, was here and I thought I would ask. What exactly is MinGW? I have seen a lot of refrences to it on my pc and within Code Blocks, however i am fairly certain I use GCC (or other similar acronym) |
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| Author: | Insectoid [ Wed Jan 09, 2013 8:06 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:Always state your compiler |
MinGW stands for 'Minimal GNU for Windows'. It's the Windows version of GCC. |
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