Whats a good compiler?

[davedavisjr]

Ok im pretty new at C++ and ive been using Dev C++ for a while now but in 2 cases ive had problems with the compiler(or at least think it was the compiler). What would you fellas recomend as a descent compiler? Open source ones?? Something that could run off your thumb drive would be nice.

Thanks guys/gals in advance...

PS: Sorry about the post on General C++ about print queues i was just super frustrated lol.

[davedavisjr]

Ok now i feel like britney spears in her song oops i did it again LOL... ok im not gonna be lazy anymore i looked at the Articles forum and found a direct hit under DEV C++ lol.... >.<

Case Closed

[king214]

Compiler or IDE? Dev-C++ is a IDE, Whereas MingW is the compiler that is probably with Dev-C++.

Whatever you do get away from Dev!

[davedavisjr]

Is it bad that i dont know what the difference is? I thought Dev compiles the source code and runs the exe. file..... well i guess im more of a noob then i thought.

i just downloaded the Code::Blocks compiler or whatever and i cant even find out how to run a program lol

[king214]

I thought Dev compiles the source code and runs the exe. file..... well i guess im more of a noob then i thought.

Well IDE stands for integrated development enviroment. So you can think of an IDE as just a editor like Microsoft word(Thats a really bad explanation). You should probably google this for a better demonstration.

[davedavisjr]

Interesting... well i sorta know what your talking about. like if i give you my source code u can use dev to look at it ect but not run actually create a big program with it or whatever? lol

ill look it up thanks

[king214]

Right, with only a IDE you can't do much, but when you bring along the compiler then you can actually make the program.

[LB]

The IDE is the visual, friendly user interface part of programming, and it comes with nifty tools and syntax highlighting and other features to make it easier for you to write code. The compiler is the underlying mechanic that takes your code and fashions it into an executable program that Windows understands. The IDE will run the compiler by giving it command lines as to what files it needs to look at to get your code and where to generate the output. And almost always, the IDE comes with the compiler already under it. ;)