visual c++ compatibility with linux

[Mwanzia]

Hi, even though am new to c++ I thought it would be best to post my question here and not in the beginners section.
Am just about to start programming in c++ after using C# and I just want to know if I can use visual c++ 2010 to develop apps for linux,specifically Ubuntu.This is because visual studio is just a mind blowing IDE and leaving behind all its cool features is just unthinkable unless there is a better one.

[anonymous23323124]

I imagine most people would say you're best off not using Visual Studio under Ubuntu, but what about running it under WINE or some other such 'not emulator'... :)

Hope this helps.

[Athar]

As long as you only use cross-platform libraries and standard C++, you should be able to recompile your code for Ubuntu with little or no changes.

[Mwanzia]

@ Xander314 running visual studio in a virtual machine sounds tempting but the compatibility issues that arise may just mess up the whole experience. Am using visual studio 2010 ultimate which uses so much ram and cpu that i wonder if it will play nice with a virtual machine.
@Athar I suppose i've got no other choice but to resolve to using standard libraries. Does anyone know if netbeans is a sane IDE? If yes then i guess i can just use it to make crossplatform apps.

[anonymous23323124]

Apparently Code::Blocks is pretty good. But unfortunately, I've never really used Netbeans. They're all free so just try them ;)

[Mwanzia]

I've heard of code::blocks but haven't got any info about it. I guess this is where google comes in but why can't you just save me the trouble telling me what makes it tick and what languages it supports, please.

[anonymous23323124]

Codeblocks is a free cross platform C++ IDE supporting many compilers. It can be downloaded from http://www.codeblocks.org along with MinGW. It is apparently extensible with plugins, but I've never used that feature...

[hanst99]

but I've never used that feature...

Bet you have, much of the functionality (e.g. code completition) is provided by plugins.

[anonymous23323124]

Fair enough... What I meant is that I have never explicitly extended the functionality beyond the default by getting extra plugins myself.

I'm always making sweeping generalisations which turn out to be horribly wrong...

[Mwanzia]

Wow, am starting to have massive regrets as to why I started off with c#. It makes everything too damn easy but I can't complain coz i've learnt better coding practices from it than visual basic.
I guess before I program my home electronics I would learnt alot.
If only televisions came with a .net framework, I would have as well as 'told' it to switch itself off if it detected me passing out fast asleep.

[anonymous23323124]

Don't ;)

C# provided an easy way into object oriented programming for me as well. I admit, however, that it is rather easy to do a great deal of things in .NET...

I should think that programming most televisions is no easy task. Out of interest, how do you intend to get software onto the TV? Or do you have a media centre PC?

[Mwanzia]

Wish i had a media pc but am going strong with a CRT display. I was thinking of opening the tv and extracting the firmware/microcontroller and reprogramming it if the computer chips aren't read only (PROM). I will most likely have to use assembly (gulp,never used it) but hopefully the hardware is compatible with a high level language like c++. Did u know there's a software that can be used to program microcontrollers in c# code? Its called Pigmeo (oh, its open source) and you can get it at this link
http://urriellu.net/en/projects-software/pigmeo-compiler-framework-c-sharp-microcontrollers.html

[anonymous23323124]

Oh, I see. Well I would have no idea how to use all that stuff, but good luck with it! :)

[Mwanzia]

It can't be that hard though it has always been easier said than done. Until I get my hands on 'c++ for dummies' am putting this project on hold coz I believe c# isn't suitable for doing low level programming. Hmm, this reminds me of what people said about c++ when it first came out. Everyone thought it would run slowly compared to assembly but look at where we are now. Hopefully hardware will go a notch higher to the extent that using managed code wont lead to a performance lag.
All the best in c++.

[brhrmaster]

Mwanzia, if you are trying to get more capabilities with User Interface UI and logical layer Cross-Platform, you might use and abuse GTK++ wich is fully integrated on LINUX and WINDOWS. About IDE I recomend you to have more familliarity with ECLIPSE IDE, that`s free and has a lot of plugins with thousand of uses for. Although, for GTK++ and LINUX development there is the GLADE (for GNOME) and other one - don`t remember the name - for KDE, wich increase the UI development time by 150%

Enjoy!

[Mwanzia]

@brhrmaster
thanks 4 the info. U guys on this site have been so helpful.