Which compiler for a learner of C?

[pkirk25]

I own a legit copy of Visual C++ 6.0

Its nice but it is 10 years old and aimed at C++.

Downloaded Bloodshed Dev-C++

Very nice but the default auto-indent woupd break my heart as I depend
on indentation. This is how a loop is formatted by default.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
int a = 0, b = 7;

for (a = 0; a <= b; ++a)
{
printf("Hello again\n");
}
system("PAUSE") ;
return 0;
}

That } that fails to align as it closes the "for" loop really puts me
off. If anyone knows how to fix this, this looks a fine compiler. Is
it good in the opinion of more experienced C programmers?

Is Visual C++ Express a good compiler?

Is there another for the Win32 platform that is recommended?

[Richard Heathfield]

jaysome said:

<snip>

Have you ever actually installed and used a version of lcc-win32?

Nope. I use Linux. Why would I need lcc-win32?

But until recently, despite never having installed it, I had a link to it on
my Web site, suggesting it as a free compiler that people might like to use
if they happen to be on a Windows platform. I removed the link recently
because, after reading what Mr Navia has had to say in comp.lang.c in the
last few weeks, I lack confidence that the compiler is a conforming C
compiler.

That does not mean I am claiming it is not conforming. It means I lack
confidence that it is conforming. Just recently we discovered here in clc
that it was not conforming in one particular respect, and Mr Navia fixed it
very promptly when it was pointed out, for which he is to be commended. But
I'm wondering how many other non-conformances are lurking therein, given Mr
Navia's rather cavalier statements about pedantry.

--
Richard Heathfield
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29/7/1999
http://www.cpax.org.uk
email: rjh at above domain (but drop the www, obviously)

[Richard Heathfield]

Michael Mair said:

Richard Heathfield wrote:

>pkirk25 said:

>>>I own a legit copy of Visual C++ 6.0

Its nice but it is 10 years old and aimed at C++.

It still does C just fine, though. It's a very good C compiler with a
fine IDE. In fact, on the rare occasions when I use Windows, it's my C
compiler of choice. (And I'm Mr Anti-Microsoft!)

Hmmm, that may be true for small to middle projects.
However, the fact that some of the standard headers lead to warnings,

Yes, the most stupid being the // in math.h

But in fact that was the only one I couldn't get rid of, at Warning Level 4.
(Many a time I've been tempted to go and hack math.h into bits.)

that you cannot rely on the optimisation to produce the same programme
behaviour as unoptimised code, and that it cannot compile and link
projects of a certain size in Debug mode make it a beginners' tool in
my eyes.

Check the topic title again. :-)

And in any case I've compiled and linked programs hundreds of KLOC in size
on VStudio without problems. I accept that hundreds of KLOC counts as a
middle-sized project at most, but I doubt whether a much bigger project is
worth developing on Windows, since surely such a large development
investment merits spending a little extra to acquire a stable platform. :-)

--
Richard Heathfield
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29/7/1999
http://www.cpax.org.uk
email: rjh at above domain (but drop the www, obviously)

[BRG]

pkirk25 wrote:

[snip]

Is Visual C++ Express a good compiler?

This depends on your criteria for 'good' but for simple C/C++
development tasks on the Windows platform I would say 'yes' provided you
don't mind the overhead of what is a large package.

The Express compiler has a few limitations (e.g. no 64-bit support) but
the IDE is very good and the compiler comes with an optimiser that is
capable of producing very good code.

However the IDE/compiler is a large package and takes considerable time
to download and install. It also takes up quite a lot of disc space and
you also need the platform SDK if you want to develop code to run on
Windows (the SDK is another large download). Also the documentation,
although extensive, is not ideal for someone who is learning C/C++ since
it is oriented towards professional developers and Windows applications.

So you need to invest time and effort to get up and running with VC++
Express but I think the result will probably justify this investment if
you run Windows.

Brian Gladman

[jacob navia]

Richard Heathfield wrote:

jaysome said:

<snip>

>>Have you ever actually installed and used a version of lcc-win32?

Nope. I use Linux. Why would I need lcc-win32?

But until recently, despite never having installed it, I had a link to it on
my Web site, suggesting it as a free compiler that people might like to use
if they happen to be on a Windows platform. I removed the link recently
because, after reading what Mr Navia has had to say in comp.lang.c in the
last few weeks, I lack confidence that the compiler is a conforming C
compiler.

I still have your book in the bibliography section in my tutorial.
I am able to distinguish between my personal like/dislike for
a person, and his work, that should be judged independently of the
author.
jacob

[pkirk25]

[snip]

The Express compiler has a few limitations (e.g. no 64-bit support) but
the IDE is very good and the compiler comes with an optimiser that is
capable of producing very good code.
Brian Gladman

Brian, the IDE is lovely - and based on your advice I skipped the MSDN
download so saved 3.8 gigs of disk space and probably will be in much
the same position I am now - Google is the ultimate manual.

Many thanks.

[Richard Heathfield]

jacob navia said:

Richard Heathfield wrote:

>>
But until recently, despite never having installed it, I had a link to it
on my Web site, suggesting it as a free compiler that people might like
to use if they happen to be on a Windows platform. I removed the link
recently because, after reading what Mr Navia has had to say in
comp.lang.c in the last few weeks, I lack confidence that the compiler is
a conforming C compiler.

I still have your book in the bibliography section in my tutorial.
I am able to distinguish between my personal like/dislike for
a person, and his work, that should be judged independently of the
author.

What has liking or disliking to do with it? I can't abide Microsoft, but I
still provide a link to their compiler.

--
Richard Heathfield
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29/7/1999
http://www.cpax.org.uk
email: rjh at above domain (but drop the www, obviously)

[Richard Heathfield]

pkirk25 said:

I skipped the MSDN
download so saved 3.8 gigs of disk space and probably will be in much
the same position I am now - Google is the ultimate manual.

And anyway MSDN can be found at http://msdn.microsoft.com so you simply
browse the bits you need when you need them. Handy for Win32 stuff. For C
stuff, though, I suggest a decent C reference book rather than MSDN!

--
Richard Heathfield
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29/7/1999
http://www.cpax.org.uk
email: rjh at above domain (but drop the www, obviously)

[pkirk25]

BRG wrote:

pkirk25 wrote:

Actually, while it looks nice enough, it doesn't compile my existing C
code.

..\parameters.c pp(13) : error C2440: 'initializing' : cannot convert
from 'void *' to 'char *'
Conversion from 'void*' to pointer to non-'void' requires an
explicit cast

Also it swaps you in warnings like
..\parameters.c pp(38) : warning C4996: 'strcpy' was declared deprecated

[Ben Pfaff]

"pkirk25" <pa*****@kirks. netwrites:

[about some implementation]

Actually, while it looks nice enough, it doesn't compile my existing C
code.

.\parameters.cp p(13) : error C2440: 'initializing' : cannot convert
from 'void *' to 'char *'
Conversion from 'void*' to pointer to non-'void' requires an
explicit cast

A file whose name ends in .cpp is generally C++, not C. That's a
C++-specific error. Try renaming it to parameters.c.
--
Here's a tip: null pointers don't have to be *dull* pointers!

[rzed]

"pkirk25" <pa*****@kirks. netwrote in
news:11******** **************@ h48g2000cwc.goo glegroups.com:

>
BRG wrote:

>pkirk25 wrote:

Actually, while it looks nice enough, it doesn't compile my
existing C code.

.\parameters.cp p(13) : error C2440: 'initializing' : cannot
convert from 'void *' to 'char *'
Conversion from 'void*' to pointer to non-'void'
requires an
explicit cast

Also it swaps you in warnings like
.\parameters.cp p(38) : warning C4996: 'strcpy' was declared
deprecated

C is not C++, remember. If your file names are *.cpp, I'm dubious
that your compiler is trying to compile them as C.

--
rzed