New programmer want to learn C++ need ide and compiler for free

[sparker366]

Write your question here.
Ok I am wanting to teach myself C++. I can't afford Visual Studio and am looking for a free alternative to it? I would like and IDE and compiler to use to learn C++ and then C#

I appreciate being pointed in the correct direction to accomplish this. Thanks in Advance.

[E0p9LyTq]

Visual Studio Community 2015 is free.
https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs.aspx

Download the ISO and do a custom install so you can install C++, including MFC.

The ISO is large (approx. 5.6G), yet doing the web install can be just as large.

No need to burn the ISO to a disc. Download a virtual drive manager, such as Virtual CloneDrive (freeware), and mount the ISO to your virtual drive.
http://www.slysoft.com/en/download.html

[Moschops]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_integrated_development_environments#C.2FC.2B.2B

The "license" column is of interest; anything not just plain proprietary is free of charge.

Of particular note, the following are popular and well known; Code::Blocks, Eclipse, Visual Studio Express, QT Creator

They all have a download option that includes a compiler (and some have download options that don't).

[galaxylfc]

You should try what @FurryGuy said

[E0p9LyTq]

@galaxylfc, using 2 or more compilers is a good idea. Visual Studio and Eclipse or Code::Blocks is a good start.

[JayhawkZombie]

Agreed. It's always a good idea to have 2 or more compilers at your disposal. I have Visual Studio and GNU's GCC that I can compile with.

[E0p9LyTq]

@JayhawkZombie,

I use VS 2015 Community and TDM-GCC (Orwell's Dev++ fork).

GCC doesn't "like" C++11's random_device rnd generator, VS truncates the maximum value for the newer built-in variable types (long long and long double.)

[cire]

VS truncates the maximum value for the newer built-in variable types (long long and long double.)

Eh?

[JayhawkZombie]

The range for unsigned long long is 0 to 18,446,744,073,709,551,615. I wasn't aware that was truncated.

[sparker366]

Since I am brand new to programming with C++ what will I not have with Community that I would get with Studio? Please dummy it down to a newbie level.

I am not sure what I am aiming at to develop but I guess I would like to reinvent the wheel with some basic apps and then move on to something new. I have some courses on Udemy that I am going to use to learn C++. I may also try to find some books for it too.

[E0p9LyTq]

There is a difference in the number of bits/bytes utilized with GCC and VS when compiling for 64-bits.

#include <iostream>

int main()
{
   std::cout << "The size of a long double is: " << sizeof(long double) << " bytes.\n\n";
}

VS2015 output:

The size of a long double is: 8 bytes.

TDM-GCC output:

The size of a long double is: 16 bytes.

[cire]

There is a difference in the number of bits/bytes utilized with GCC and VS when compiling for 64-bits.

That's true. Both, however, are standard compliant.

6 of those bytes for GCC are padding. ;)

[E0p9LyTq]

I don't believe it is padding with GCC.

#include <iostream>
#include <limits>

int main()
{
   std::cout << "The size of a long double is: " << sizeof(long double) << " bytes.\n";

   std::cout << "The max long double value is: " << std::numeric_limits<long double>::max() << "\n";
}

VS output:

The size of a long double is: 8 bytes.
The max long double value is: 1.79769e+308

TDM-GCC output:

The size of a long double is: 16 bytes.
The max long double value is: 1.18973e+4932

This simply shows why using more than one compiler is the way to go. Different implementation details.

[Chervil]

A 2010 32-bit compiler from Embarcadero C++Builder XE

The size of a long double is: 10 bytes.
The max long double value is: 1.18973e+4932

[cire]

I don't believe it is padding with GCC.

Yes. I seem to be remembering things wrong. It's 96 or 128 bits with gcc depending on the flavor.

[E0p9LyTq]

@cire,

Which is why I like using multiple compilers. :)

@sparker366,

I hope your question was answered to your satisfaction. If you do decide to install Visual Studio Community 2015 remember you need to do a custom install. C++ is not installed by default. C# is installed by default. The VS C# project wizards seem to emphasize creating a Windows store style app, though.

[E0p9LyTq]

Chervil wrote:

A 2010 32-bit compiler from Embarcadero C++Builder XE

The last time I used Borland/Embarcadero was with C++Builder 6/Delphi 7.

[TheIdeasMan]

sparker366 wrote:

Since I am brand new to programming with C++ what will I not have with Community that I would get with Studio? Please dummy it down to a newbie level.

I prefer to stay away from VS, but that's just my personal preference.

I like QtCreator with a clang compiler from llvm - which relies on gcc compiler.

QtCreator the IDE can build Qt apps and has lots & lots of stuff for doing all kinds of things. clang has had one of the best records for being up to date with the latest c++ standards, and it has nice easy to understand error messages.

Another IDE I like is KDevelop, it has the ability to compile or interpret over 60 types of languages / scripts, provided that one has a compiler / interpreter for that language. It is also a mature application with many years of development.

http://doc.qt.io/qtcreator/index.html
https://gcc.gnu.org/
http://llvm.org/
http://clang.llvm.org/
https://www.kdevelop.org/
http://www.windows8downloads.com/win8-kdevelop-emuedxyr/

[E0p9LyTq]

sparker366 wrote:

Since I am brand new to programming with C++ what will I not have with Community that I would get with Studio?

The features a single user would use and need are available in the free Community version, especially someone using VS as a learning to program tool.

The pay versions are geared toward team programmers working on a shared project.
https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/products/compare-visual-studio-2015-products-vs

Community does everything I want to do, and more.

[cire]

Community does everything I want to do, and more.

The debugger is especially easy to use compared to some of the more arcane offerings out there like gdb.

Some of the basics:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/visualstudio/archive/2015/08/11/introduction-to-debugging.aspx