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VC question

Started by Raduprv Jan 20, 2005 at 9:21 PM 32 replies 3.6k views

Original Post

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:21 PM

I MIGHT want to buy VC, because I *THINK* DevCPP has some problems that prevent our application (EL client) from executing on many computers. Now, I'll have to find one of our users that has VC and see if it works fine with VC. If it does, I'm going to buy VC (will qualify as a tax break anyway). Now, the problem is, I never used VC, nor do I have any idea how much it cost, where to buy it, and what versions are out there. Basically, I want ONLY C/C++, I don't care about .net, C# and stuff. So which version do you recommend, and how much is it? Another question: VC comes with an integrated debugger, right? Is it good? [edit] Is there any way I can legally "try it" before I buy it? I mean, if it doesn't live up to my expectations, I'd rather not pay for it, and find some other way to get around the DevCpp problem.

Mercury

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:25 PM

I suggest the standard version of Visual C++ .NET. It includes an amazing debugger which I've become very happy with and couldn't stand using any other. Hope you have fun with it, it really is one of the best apps I think Microsoft's ever done.

Raduprv

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:26 PM

Quote:
Original post by Mercury
I suggest the standard version of Visual C++ .NET. It includes an amazing debugger which I've become very happy with and couldn't stand using any other. Hope you have fun with it, it really is one of the best apps I think Microsoft's ever done.

How much is it? And is it more expensive than an older version, without .NET and such?

Rob Loach

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:27 PM

I personally haven't tried it, but I've heard that Visual Studio 2005 Express Beta is very good. You can download it for free. As for the .NET framework, use it and learn to love it.

Mercury

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:28 PM

Quote:
Original post by Raduprv
Quote:
Original post by Mercury
I suggest the standard version of Visual C++ .NET. It includes an amazing debugger which I've become very happy with and couldn't stand using any other. Hope you have fun with it, it really is one of the best apps I think Microsoft's ever done.

How much is it? And is it more expensive than an older version, without .NET and such?

Well our currencies are different, so I'm not sure how much it would be for you. You could get the older version (6) for cheaper, probably, but its compiler isn't the best in the ways of standards. I would recommend .NET over 6 any day. .NET is just the version, it doesn't automagically make your applications managed and all, it's just another C++ IDE and compiler set.

Drew_Benton

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:29 PM

Quote:
Original post by Raduprv

[edit] Is there any way I can legally "try it" before I buy it? I mean, if it doesn't live up to my expectations, I'd rather not pay for it, and find some other way to get around the DevCpp problem.

Actually yes. Take a look at the Visual C++ Toolkit 2003. It is command line interfaced but you can perhaps compile your project to see if you get the desired results. It just does not contain the IDE that VS.Net gives you. I want to take up the little challenge to make my own IDE and integrate in that compiler just for fun. I'm sure you could as well - even with a simple batch file. It's only 32MB and it installs pretty fast.

- Drew

Mercury

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:30 PM

Quote:
Original post by Rob Loach
I personally haven't tried it, but I've heard that Visual Studio 2005 Express Beta is very good. You can download it for free. As for the .NET framework, use it and learn to love it.

The only problem with that is that it doesn't include Win32, which is an integral library for making games with unless you want to use another windowing library. I'm not sure if MFC is supported, but the expression "Shooting a fly with a cannon" comes to mind.

Conner McCloud

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:33 PM

This

I don't know if Amazon is the best place to buy it, but you can at least see that its cheap. And worth it, even if DevCPP isn't causing any problems, buy it anyway.

Yes it comes with a debugger, and I believe it comes with an optimizing compiler, although if not you can install the free one anyhow.

CM

Raduprv

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:33 PM

Quote:
Original post by Drew_Benton
Actually yes. Take a look at the Visual C++ Toolkit 2003. It is command line interfaced but you can perhaps compile your project to see if you get the desired results. It just does not contain the IDE that VS.Net gives you. I want to take up the little challenge to make my own IDE and integrate in that compiler just for fun. I'm sure you could as well - even with a simple batch file. It's only 32MB and it installs pretty fast.

- Drew

Hmm... is download.microsoft.com down, or is it just my ISP acting up?

Raduprv

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:36 PM

Quote:
Original post by Conner McCloud
This

I don't know if Amazon is the best place to buy it, but you can at least see that its cheap. And worth it, even if DevCPP isn't causing any problems, buy it anyway.

Yes it comes with a debugger, and I believe it comes with an optimizing compiler, although if not you can install the free one anyhow.

CM

Thanks.
So, this includes everything I need to be able to compile pretty much any C program?

mutex

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:36 PM

Quote:
Original post by Mercury
Quote:
Original post by Rob Loach
I personally haven't tried it, but I've heard that Visual Studio 2005 Express Beta is very good. You can download it for free. As for the .NET framework, use it and learn to love it.

The only problem with that is that it doesn't include Win32, which is an integral library for making games with unless you want to use another windowing library. I'm not sure if MFC is supported, but the expression "Shooting a fly with a cannon" comes to mind.

Couldn't you just install the Platform SDK to get Win32 headers and libraries? Unless I'm mistaken, the VC++ Express Beta allows linking with external libraries, which should be sufficient to use the Platform SDK.

Conner McCloud

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:41 PM

Quote:
Original post by Raduprv
Thanks.
So, this includes everything I need to be able to compile pretty much any C program?

More than enough, yes. The only problem would probably be the initial project set up, although I imagine that could be fairly problematic depending on how your project is set up. The Express Beta should be sufficient to see if you can at least setup the project right.

CM

Mercury

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:43 PM

Quote:
Original post by mutex
Quote:
Original post by Mercury
Quote:
Original post by Rob Loach
I personally haven't tried it, but I've heard that Visual Studio 2005 Express Beta is very good. You can download it for free. As for the .NET framework, use it and learn to love it.

The only problem with that is that it doesn't include Win32, which is an integral library for making games with unless you want to use another windowing library. I'm not sure if MFC is supported, but the expression "Shooting a fly with a cannon" comes to mind.
Couldn't you just install the Platform SDK to get Win32 headers and libraries? Unless I'm mistaken, the VC++ Express Beta allows linking with external libraries, which should be sufficient to use the Platform SDK.

Don't know, never tried it. I'd be interested to know though, I'd consider using it if I could get everything working right. If anyone wants to be a guinea-pig for it, that'd be nice. [smile]

Raduprv

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:44 PM

We do have some devs using VC (can't get hold of them now) and we have some VC project files, so it shouldn't be a problem.
But I wanted to know what's the right/best version for me.

Mercury

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:46 PM

Quote:
Original post by Raduprv
We do have some devs using VC (can't get hold of them now) and we have some VC project files, so it shouldn't be a problem.
But I wanted to know what's the right/best version for me.

Like I said before, I think the best version would be Visual C++ .NET Standard Edition, it's perfect for what you're doing and includes a nice debugger and everything you'd need. It's what I use.

Visual Studio .NET Standard Edition 2003 Version

Stay away from version 6's compiler, and 2002 edition of .NET. Six isn't very standards compliant and 2002 is the exact same IDE (I think) only a worse compiler.

Raduprv

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:49 PM

Ok, thanks :)
I'll see if VC can compile our project right (getting rid of the problems associated with DevCPP) then if it works, I'll buy it. 90 USD doesn't seem much at all. Better than giving the money to the state :)

Mercury

Jan 20, 2005 at 9:59 PM

Quote:
Original post by Raduprv
Ok, thanks :)
I'll see if VC can compile our project right (getting rid of the problems associated with DevCPP) then if it works, I'll buy it. 90 USD doesn't seem much at all. Better than giving the money to the state :)

Be prepared to spend some time working on getting it to port over to vc++ though. It's going to be a bit intimidating because of your project size, but I think you'll be happy with vc++. Good luck!
In any event, I'm off to bed, gotta be up early tomorrow. [dead]

Rob Loach

Jan 20, 2005 at 10:21 PM

Schools generally give out free student editions of the software. Just ask your library.

Drew_Benton

Jan 20, 2005 at 11:01 PM

Quote:
Original post by Raduprv
Hmm... is download.microsoft.com down, or is it just my ISP acting up?

It's up. if you need me to get you the file I can upload it on my web page for ya. Just PM or post again. I'll be up for a bit.

Raduprv

Jan 20, 2005 at 11:10 PM

Quote:
Original post by Drew_Benton
Quote:
Original post by Raduprv
Hmm... is download.microsoft.com down, or is it just my ISP acting up?

It's up. if you need me to get you the file I can upload it on my web page for ya. Just PM or post again. I'll be up for a bit.

Thanks, but if I have to take additional steps to make it work with Win32 stuff, then I'd rather not download it, I am busy over my head as it is.

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