I can't use strings

[amirali]

I'm a real beginner and I'm just learning the very basics. So while I was studying from this website's documentation, I found out that my compiler(Turbo C++ v3.0, that is) doesn't support strings. So how can I use strings? Does it need a higher software version? One other question, I see that in the tutorial, it includes the libraries like this:
#include<conio>
but in my case I have to write it like this so that it works:
#include<conio.h>
why is it so?
I'd really appreciate your answer:)

[Athar]

So how can I use strings?

Upgrading to a compiler that isn't 50 years old would be a good start.

One other question, I see that in the tutorial, it includes the libraries like this:

Standard C++ headers do not have an extension, all other headers generally do.
Neither conio nor conio.h is a standard header, though.

[amirali]

I get your point. So, what compiler do you recommend? I don't have any special purposes(I mean like business, etc) I'm simply trying to learn a language to start with.

[Athar]

g++ is a safe choice on all platforms.
There's a variety of IDEs such as Code::Blocks that you can use it with.

[amirali]

So you don't recommend C++?

[Moschops]

g++ is the GNU C++ compiler.

[kaseron]

He said it was a safe choice, not necessarily a good one.

Of course, I am not going to say what he meant, but I would recommend c++ if for no other reason than that there are more sites that I have found dedicated to c++ than anything else (excepting java and HTML). The sheer volume of the tutorials makes it easier, in my humble opinion, to learn.

[amirali]

I know I shouldn't probably ask this here but if I choose C++, what version do you recommend? The latest software in Borland website is C++ Builder(clearly stating that they no longer support Turbo C). Do you think it's a good choice?

[Athar]

C++Builder is an excellent choice if you're looking to develop Windows GUI applications, but it isn't cheap.

[amirali]

I'm not actually looking to develop anything. As I said, I'm just trying to learn some programming. But maybe later I will choose to do some serious stuff.

[Lowest0ne]

C++ doesn't exactly have versions, compilers have versions. The latest verions is C++11, so your compiler should be able to use that. To test your compiler, copy/paste the code from here:
http://www.cplusplus.com/reference/stl/array/operator%5B%5D/

If you just want to have some quick fun, I would recommend Visual Studio Express.

[amirali]

Not really "quick fun" because I want to learn something for my future. By the way, I'm a high school student.

[Lowest0ne]

Express is free and up to date so you don't have to worry about nonsense, that's all I'm saying. My school gave me professional for free, but I use a Mingw32 compiler from code I've made in Notepad++ for things that I'm more confident with (or don't want to open up a huge platform just to test code I post here). I also write C which has to be compiled on my school's UNIX server, and VS wasn't being particularly helpful for this.

[dean]

hey how did you end to have turbo c++ 3 as compiler?!?!

[samrux]

Two of the best free compilers around the internet:

Option 1: http://sourceforge.net/projects/orwelldevcpp/
Option 2: http://sourceforge.net/projects/codeblocks/

Choose one, download it, install it, use it. Then come back and tell us the results.

[Athar]

Both of those are IDEs. They use GCC as the default compiler.

[samrux]

Whatever, they still have a recent compiler with the best IDEs ever

[naraku9333]

samrux wrote:

the best IDEs ever

That's a matter of opinion, I prefer Visual Studio and Eclipse.

[amirali]

hey how did you end to have turbo c++ 3 as compiler?!?!

Well I actually had it from a long time ago and I didn't think(for no logical reason!) I might need a newer compiler!

[Dash]

If you have windows, Visual Studio is a good choice.