So what is the "best" IDE for C++? Really, I've always thought that C++ was a MS product. I normally use C# but I want to learn C++ I am using C++ Express Edition right now. I know there is a Visual version of C++ but I heard Win32 is old and messy. There is newer Windows Forms I think. But what is the most current version of C++ and what IDE should I use?

I like the rich UI tools like DataGridView so if I'm understanding I should create my program framework and program kernel projects in C++ and I'm guess I should use C# for the UI portion. Possibly even use C# to write the MS SQL data provider so I can access Linq. The MySQL data provider could be written in C++ I'm assuming.

Like a point of sale cash register program could be written in this fashion? It seems the kernel logic/business stuff could be handled in C++

I'm confused because C++ is supposed to be faster then other languages. But all .Net languages compile to the same MSIL and therefore they all run at the same speed. So when I use C++ Express Edition, even if I don't select the managed project would it still compile to .Net? Or would it use a MS compiler that will produce high speed apps?

I'm just learning C++ and have a book on it. Its a copyright 2009 book so its new stuff it is the CodeGuru book from this website. It uses only notepad to make the examples. Notepad is not good enough to make a full scale enterprise application it would be too hard and have no syntax checking or debugging.

What should I use for an IDE and what compiler? I have Visual Studio 6.0 but I think that its very outdated now.