Best C++ compiler

[gtsreddy]

hi
can any one help me
which is the best C++ compiler one can download it freely for C++ programming
i will appreciate if some one post any web links for this
cheers
reddy

[Dave Sinkula]

http://www.compilers.net/Dir/Free/Compilers/CCpp.htm

[jwenting]

Define "best"...
Also define your operating system...

Microsoft has a good free compiler, but if you're working on unix or mac that will do you little good.
Borland has a good free compiler as well.

What do you want from your compiler. Some have better standards compliance, others may generate faster applications or smaller ones.

[gtsreddy]

my operating system is windows 2000
i am the beginer to learn C++
can you give me some web link
cheers

Define "best"...
Also define your operating system...

Microsoft has a good free compiler, but if you're working on unix or mac that will do you little good.
Borland has a good free compiler as well.

What do you want from your compiler. Some have better standards compliance, others may generate faster applications or smaller ones.

[vegaseat]

Define "best"...
Also define your operating system...

Microsoft has a good free compiler, but if you're working on unix or mac that will do you little good.
Borland has a good free compiler as well.

What do you want from your compiler. Some have better standards compliance, others may generate faster applications or smaller ones.

I go along with that.

I have tried out several free compilers and feel most comfortable with the Dev-C++. The total package is relatively small in size and comes in windows and linux flavors. For me it is perfect to test out the limits of the C++ language. It compiles fast and makes experimentation easy. I also recommend it to my students.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/dev-cpp/

If I would produce a program to sell, I would spend the money and buy a professional system from Mister Bill.

Some other free compiler systems try to take over your computer, smearing their files all over, that I don't like!

[jwenting]

http://www.borland.com/products/downloads/download_cbuilder.html and select "compiler".
This will give you a (nearly) fully ANSI compliant compiler.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=272be09d-40bb-49fd-9cb0-4bfa122fa91b&displaylang=en will give you the latest Microsoft compiler.

Either will serve you well. Neither comes with an IDE or full documentation (that's what you pay for if you buy the full products).
The Microsoft compiler is newer but that shouldn't bother when learning.

For best learning ANSI C++ try your creations with both, if it works in one and not the other (IF both are correctly installed and configured) your source is likely not fully ANSI compliant.

[jwenting]

Some other free compiler systems try to take over your computer, smearing their files all over, that I don't like!

you probably refer to the Microsoft VC++ free compiler. It doesn't do anything except upgrade (if required) your .NET runtime environment which is a good thing (if it didn't something else would do it sooner or later, probably Windows Update).

[vegaseat]

you probably refer to the Microsoft VC++ free compiler. It doesn't do anything except upgrade (if required) your .NET runtime environment which is a good thing (if it didn't something else would do it sooner or later, probably Windows Update).

Now, as you mention it. I was referring to the free VC++ Express beta package that tries to install a beta version of the SDK version 2.0. It looks like different versions of the SDK can not peacefully coexist on the same computer. Do you have any experience with this?

[jwenting]

no, I haven't tried that.
But I'd not be surprised as the SDK needs the runtime (during debugging sessions for example).
Newer runtimes may well be able to substitute for old ones so as long as you install them oldest first you may be fine.

[bhagyashanti]

I think the best one, for a beginner would be boreland's compiler(for its more user friendly)
You may also choose for bloodshed, even that would do for an advanced user, if you wanna use it for that purpose and yes, when pls try to install it to your system drive else it would ask you for installation drive(boreland's driver in particular).
And you may search it on google, i downloaded borelands compiler from http://altd.codegear.com/download/museum/tcpp101.zip
and
you may search for bloodshed on download.com

[ArkM]

Never use old Borland C++ compilers (except for dog fights with deviations of C++ standard).

The best free C++ compiler + IDE now is VC++ 2008 Express edition, of course. Regrettably, its distribution size is ~200 Mb + ~200 Mb for MSDN Expess (if you want more than rudimentary help) + ~150 Mb of Windows SDK (if you want Windows API).

Otherwise I think the best choice (especially for beginners) is Code::Blocks IDE with MinGW port of GNU C++ compiler. It's a compact and relatively well-supported system.
http://www.codeblocks.org/

Dev-C++ IDE (with the same MinGW ported compiler) was a good choice some year ago. As far as I know it's a frozen project now (old versions of MinGW etc).

[bhagyashanti]

Well, I think that in more recent versions of c++ compilers, displaying output is difficult and I suggested boreland for beginner..
I guess its more user friendly!

[siddhant3s]

If everyone is giving opinions, I would also cast my vote to GNU GCC
If you are on a Linux, you probably already know about it.
GNU g++ is the command line compiler. But there exists various IDE like Dev-C++ which uses GNU g++ as the compiler.
I personally use a normal Text Editor and Commandline.
But you may also like to have a look at CodeBlocks which is a free IDE.
On windows, there exists MinGW as a port of G++.

So, if you ask me a good compiler on windows, my opinion goes with
MinGW gcc, with CodeBlocks
http://www.codeblocks.org/downloads/5

Although, compiler's completely depends on taste of the programer.

I am sorry ArkM , I didnt notice you already have told him about GNU g++

[deepsukhwani]

So guys, Can you please tell the output?? Which one you found out as the best one for C++?? I am also a C++ Beginner.

[Ancient Dragon]

So guys, Can you please tell the output?? Which one you found out as the best one for C++?? I am also a C++ Beginner.

What output? Had you bothered to read this thread you would have seen that it's not about output, but about compilers.

Which one is best? The answer is: it depends..

[Stefano Mtangoo]

Get your Mingw compiler for cross platform (In Linux you have already GNU GCC). If you love bundles get your CodeLite IDE or Code::Blocks IDE.

[geeklord]

its Borland not boreland

[markwiering]

I am also a beginner of C++. I am still using Windows 2000 as my operating system, and in my opinion, Dev-C++ is the best compiler.

[Rashakil Fol]

Dev-C++ is not a compiler.

You should try having reasons for your opinions in the future, it's a better strategy for being right.

[Dani]

Oh stop being so mean, Rash! :-P The least you can do is be more welcoming to our new members :-P

Welcomegeeklord and markwlering. Don't mind Rash. He's our resident troublemaker.