Recommended Compiler

[Mats]

I am using MinGW under Windows at the moment (with CodeBlocks). I have seen some people saying that MinGW is not a good compiler to use, although I am not sure why or if there is any foundation to this. I would very much appreciate the thoughts on this from any experienced programmers out there.

[ModShop]

I use mingw, and its fine. What did they say was wrong with it?

[Mats]

Hmm nothing specific. It is just that during my further learning about C++ I on occassion see bad words about MinGW, but not really about other up-to-date compilers. I was really just wondering if there was any foundation to these rumours, or if it is just that MinGW is somehow more hated on than other compilers for no particular. Perhaps it is just that I see more bad words about MinGW because I am more likely to be looking at MinGW related threads/tutorials etc.

[ModShop]

Maybe I haven't done as much compiler research as you, but I've seen no such hate.

[Athar]

The standard compiler on Windows is VC++. Regardless, there's nothing really wrong with MinGW.
There is some criticism that MinGW sometimes takes its time to support some of the newer APIs (such as GDI+). However, GDI+ was added a while ago, so at least this item is not an issue anymore.

[synno]

i just started my c++ experience (a long ago fortran programmer), and am looking for a free compiler, IDE preferred, for using during my cplusplus tutorial experience. thanks

[Mats]

I use Code::Blocks and hear good things about this IDE. http://www.codeblocks.org/

I got it packaged with MinGW, which apparently is a fine compiler according to this thread. http://www.codeblocks.org/downloads/binaries

So far, no problems. :)

[synno]

THanks Mats