Member Avatar for turbeauxpete

Hello all;

I'm new to this list & C++. I am looking for a windows XP compatible editor (free is best). I tried to download Borlands C++ 5.5 but unable to get the email that is supposed to come (I see others have had the same problems).
I'm just trying to kill time in the hospital by learning something new. I have some knowledge of VBA and limited HTML.
Could anyone suggest an editor I can download for free to get started?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

TIA
Pete ()

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Short practical guide for getting started on Windows XP (and what to do if the Borland email never shows up).

If the Borland 5.5 registration email does not arrive, first check spam/junk and try a different email address. That said, you do not need Borland to begin learning C++. An editor alone is not enough: you also need a compiler (GCC or MSVC) or an IDE that bundles one. pointed at a full SDK option — useful if you want Qt and GUI work — and ’s pointer to editor comparisons is a good reminder to decide whether you want a simple text editor or a full IDE.

Recommended, beginner-friendly route

  • Code::Blocks with a bundled MinGW toolchain gives a single installer that lets you write, compile and run console C++ programs immediately. It is lightweight and straightforward to set up. Code::Blocks
  • If you prefer just a compiler, a MinGW toolchain (or MinGW-w64) plus a small editor works well: install the compiler, then edit with Notepad++ or any plain text editor. MinGW-w64
  • If you want to try C++ without installing anything, use an online compiler like OnlineGDB.

Quick setup steps (one-minute start)

  1. Download the Code::Blocks installer that includes MinGW from the Code::Blocks site.
  2. Install and launch Code::Blocks.
  3. Create a new console/project, choose C++, paste a simple program, then Build and Run.

Learning resources and cautions
Start with step-by-step tutorials at LearnCpp and use cppreference for reference. Note that Windows XP is long out of mainstream support — prefer well-known official installers and consider using a newer machine or VM for security when downloading older toolchains.

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Member Avatar for niXman

In Windows and Linux I use it:

Member Avatar for turbeauxpete

Thanks I am downloading it now

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