Dear All

This is my first post on this web site looking at previous posts it looks like i am able to get some good advice.


I am looking to start to learn C and C++ can anyone tell me of of an IDE which is possiibly free or evaulation so i can write some code, compile it and run it in the same application.

Ive tryed to use ICCWIN 32 but it does not compile, do i have to change about with the system variables?

I have tryed bloodsheed dev but still get the same problems


could it be that my coding is wrong
any help i would be greatful

cheers abs

Hi Abolsabel. Welcome to the forums!

First of all, just a little note on posting code: If you enclose your code in c and /c this forum will provide syntax highlighting for you. It is very helpful to read your code. I will edit your post and add this so you can see how it is done.

As far as your sample program, it appears to be fine. You may want to define your main as an int though. Most compilers should default to this, but others may complain. Also, keep in mind that this is a console program. So it may be running just fine, but you can't see it because it prints to the console and is done.

I hope other people will post with their IDE, compiler, editor choices. I am a little old school, so my ways may be different than others. I prefer simplicity. For that reason, I do all of my coding in linux using gcc. This is free in every sense of the word and it is simple. If you have never used linux, I have done a writeup on a distribution of linux called knoppix. You can see that writeup here . Basically, it will install the entire system from a CD without messing up your existing computer. To my way of thinking this provides a safe way to experiment with C, without screwing anything up! I use a very simple but powerful text editor called kwrite (which has indentation/highlighting, etc.) and the command line. That is it.

For a comparison, I took your small program and compiled/ran it two ways.

The first is under linux, using gcc. I only needed one file, test1.c. It was 150 bytes and the compiled program was 13K.

Then under windows XP, using Visual C++ 6.0, a full IDE I compiled and ran the same program. It added 5 additional files just for the IDE that added another 100K to the code. The compiled program was 175K, more than 10 times the size of the gcc program. The programs do the absolute same thing.

My point is, you need to ask yourself, what are you looking for in an environment. If you want to make Windows programs, I think Visual C++ is a great choice because of the wizards, IDE and gui help that it provides. However, if you want cross platform or simplicity, it is a terrible choice, because the code is bloated and you generally create code that can only be compiled using Visual C++.

Sorry, that is kind of a long response. If you want to give linux/gcc a try, drop me a note and I will help you get started. Once you start using it, it becomes quite straightforward IMHO.

Dear DSMITH


I would be interested in the knoppix program but will it work with windows XP pro.

can you tell how ti get started on it.

How do send a private messge? I have just tryed and it said i dont have enough privaliges

Hello abolsabel,

The PM's are only made available to members who are in Level 2. This usually means after you have made 5 posts and maintain your REP (reputation) around these parts

In the past, some people have simply joined / registered here just so that they can send spam via the PMs... this is to minimise that sort of abuse. It's nothing personal.

__________________
J de Silva
Learning Journal | GIDForums™ | GIDNetwork™ | GIDWebhosts™ | GIDSearch™

It will work with any software because it loads an entirely new operating system (temporarily). The tricky part may be the hardware recognition. If you haven't read the info in the link I provided, please read it as there is more detail there.

Just to make sure you understand, you don't run this under Windows. It boots from a CD into an entirely diferent OS. This may not be what you want to do, but it will give you alot of experience with using a *nix operating system. I may be biased, but when I think of *nix, I think of C code.

BTW - a couple more posts and you will have PM. your rep is in good shape

is there any good IDE which are free

Abolsabel,

I just downloaded and tried the bloodshed dev-cpp under XP pro. I think this is as nice a ide as you are going to find for the price (ie free). It is based upon the gcc compiler and is very intuitive. However, unlike the Visual C++ compiler, it does not pause a console program so that you can see it.

Try modifying your original program as shown below and running it under the dev-cpp compiler.

Basically, this will wait for you to press a key before dissappearing. Note that you need to compile the project under the execute menu and then run it. If this IDE doesn't appeal to you, let us know more of what you may be looking for in an IDE.

Like dsmith, I use g++ & Kate (which is 90% kwrite) on my *nix system.

But I'm stuck with Windows 2000 on my laptop, so I've installed a g++ version for windows called www.delorie.com. The only problem with it is that it includes all the header & object files for every program, so your simple hello.c would be over a megabyte. But it's great for me as I switch between Linux & Windows a lot.

However I'm not a GUI guy, so an IDE is no use to me. But Visual C++ is the defacto to learn, but it's expensive & v. bloated. The Bloodshed IDE is the best you'll get for free, and it ain't half bad (I've a mate who uses it a lot, and he loves it). I say go for it.

GF