What C++ compiler do you use and which you think is the best?

[MugenTsukiyomi]

What C++ compiler do you use and which you think is the best?

[Skizmo]

This section is for visual C++, so there is a big change that almost all of users here use the visual C++ compiler.

[Zaccheus]

Actually this is the "C++ (Non Visual C++ Issues)" section.

Having said that, I still use Visual C++ 2005 Express.

[laserlight]

Actually this is the "C++ (Non Visual C++ Issues)" section.

The thread was moved.

[monarch_dodra]

I usually just stick to GCC/MinGW because it is very standard compliant, and compiles very efficiently in release mode, and is very easy to configure.

When I have some doubts on some compliance, I switch to comeau online.

Finally, whenever I need some heavy debugging, I use VStudio2008, because the IDE debugger is just so ridiculously powerful and easy to use. I never compile a release with VStudio though. Unless you know the 10000 configuration options, the release will not be at max efficiency.

[S_M_A]

I use VStudio2008, because the IDE debugger is just so ridiculously powerful and easy to use

For just that reason I use MSVC for the debugging session. If target is an embedded system I use gcc for the "final" compilation.

[aamir121a]

GCC and G++ are the way to go, there is port to win32 and 64, Mingw and works well with either QT IDE or Netbeans C/++.

[Joeman]

I usually use Mingw and Code::Blocks. You can download Code::Blocks with Mingw already setup with their release versions. The latest is 10.05 as I wrote this.

MSVC does allow for better debugging. If I come across code I can't debug with Mingw, I use MSVC 2008 express. I also use both to make sure my code compiles with no warnings on either compiler and runs after compiled on each compiler. This makes sure my code is even more stable.

[ninja9578]

I use GCC. It's the best available for Linux and Mac. On windows most programs I write are for MinGW, the only time I use Visual C++ is for 64-bit windows programming and only because there is no pthread port for 64-bit win. It's more a matter of my preference of Code::Blocks to Visual Studios though more than MinGW over VC++

[Lindley]

I use both Visual Studio 2010 and gcc 4.5.0. Each compiler flags different warnings, and sometimes an obscure error in one will be stated more plainly in the other.

As has been mentioned, Visual Studio has a very powerful debugger; but gcc does the build/cancel/build cycle much faster on my system so it's better when I'm running through a long list of errors and want to rebuild after fixing each. Also, valgrind is indispensable for catching heisenbugs, so its lack of Windows support is a major point in gcc's favor.

[nuzzle]

It's important to separate the compiler from the IDE.

The IDE is responsible for things like syntax checking and debugging, and the compiler is responsible for laying down code. I'm pretty sure even VS sports a separate syntax checker as of 2010.

One cannot compare compilers by comparing the syntax checking and debugging capabilities of different IDE's. To compare compilers one should compare the quality of the code they emit and how C++ standard compliant they are (and maybe how fast they are but that's of secondary importance in my view).

[yohosuff]

I use Microsoft Visual Studio Express and I love how easy it is to view and manipulate variables while debugging. I can still remember how long it used to take me to debug my programs before I realized how to use breakpoints! Life was much easier after that.

[ninja9578]

The IDE is responsible for things like syntax checking and debugging

Um, false. Maybe the VS IDE does that, but in GCC, the GNU suite does all of that

In GCC, syntax checking is done by the grammar, which is built into the compiler (g++) and debugging is done by gdb. Most IDEs just hook into them, I don't know any IDE that does either one. In fact, using the GNU suite, you can compile, syntax check, and debug without an IDE at all. I know a few programmers who use vi and the command line to write software.

Besides, the IDE and other features available do make a difference. As Lindley said, the lack of high quality debugging tools like Valgrind for Windows forces a lot of programmers to do their engineering on *nix, so VC++ is out for a lot of us.

[laserlight]

I suppose that the IDE is responsible for integrating components used for development into a single environment. Some components are more closely integrated than others

[ninja9578]

I suppose that the IDE is responsible for integrating components used for development into a single environment. Some components are more closely integrated than others

Yeah, but even then it largely comes down to preference. XCode is by a wide margin the best IDE for me and Eclipse is by a wide margin the worst. But I'm sure other people would say otherwise. I actually prefer Instruments to Valgrind too. Although I use both, sometimes Instruments will show me something Valgrind doesn't and vice versa. Still, nothing on Windows compares to either one.