Trying to find the best compiler

Alpha Omega · Post by **Alpha Omega** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:55 am

Hi everyone, I decided to learn C++ before trying to do any extensive projects on irrlicht so I got 'C++ Primer Plus' by Stephen Prata version 5 and he keeps talking about dumb compilers versus smart compilers. So my question is what compilers are the best? I am using Mingw at the moment and have no complaints because it gets the job down and its free but are there alternatives that are worth paying for? I tried to use Visual Studios but i didnt like the layout and it was hard to find things on the GUI but thats just me.

twilight17 · Post by **twilight17** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:04 am

MinGW and Microsoft's Visual C++ compiler are the top two. Stick with either of those and you'll be fine.

wITTus · Post by **wITTus** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:15 am

I already used some version of Borland (don't remember which one exactly), VS6.0, VS7.0 .NET, VS2005, WATCOM, GCC and MINGW. And IMHO, GCC is the best compiler in the world.

For the IDE/Editor I'm not too sure yet - this depends also on personal likes. I used Dev-Cpp, then VIM and now C::B, but only because Dev-Cpp got extremely buggy and as it is still being developed I hope for a new official release. (they cannot keep on 'releasing' SVN versions for years, can they?

) I really like the Visual Studio Intellisense, but the compiler sucks and I develop on Linux anyway. So I suggest you simply use the compiler/IDE you like. There is no 'best' compiler/IDE. It really depends on your needs. The only thing I wouldn't recommend anymore is Dev-Cpp

.

Dorth · Post by **Dorth** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:20 am

If you are develloping on windows for windows then nothing will compare to the Microsoft Visual Studio. Get nice add-ons like Visual Assist to improve it further and you are set. A properly configured project built by MSVC will beat both in speeds and size other compilers most of the time. I think the compiler of Intel was one of the few to make a good challenge there, but MSVC is, if nothing else, one you should learn to love and learn to use for the industry itself.

--edited to replace IBM by Intel

Brainsaw · Post by **Brainsaw** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:41 am

I would say get two or three compilers (i suggest Visual C++ Express and Code::Blocks) and see for yourself. Although I do only comile for Windows I use Code::Blocks with gcc (MinGW). Best combination imho.

BlindSide · Post by **BlindSide** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:52 pm

If you can afford it, the Intel compiler can offer very good performance. Also some people swear by GCC, you may want to try some of those experimental builds of G++ 4 for windows.

That being said I am a chronic MSVC user, can't beat the convenience.

rooly · Post by **rooly** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:03 pm

see how civilized irrlicht users are? no flame war on such a delicate issue...amazing

hybrid · Post by **hybrid** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:07 pm

I'm with BlidSide, Intel has probably the best compiler I've ever used. If you need free compilers, use either gcc on Linux or Visual compiler under Windows. mingw is only second choice, unless you need to cross-compile.

Sylence · Post by **Sylence** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:21 pm

A question about the intel compiler:
What about the speed of the program when it runs on an AMD cpu for example. How will the speed compare to let's say MSVC?
I can image that the intel compiler will produce very fast programs for intel cpus, but for AMD?

wITTus · Post by **wITTus** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:33 pm

It will check the cpuid and create a special flowchart with random NOPs for AMD processors.

Sylence · Post by **Sylence** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:35 pm

Haha ^^
No seriously. I could image that these guys knows there cpus best so there are some optimizations for intel cpus ?

Alpha Omega · Post by **Alpha Omega** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:52 pm

So is there a way to download just the windows compiler and use it on C::B? Everytime I try to find just the compiler it brings me to the windows page for the Visual Studios 2008++ that is the whole IDE package. I didnt really want to get the ide since it costs money and i didnt like it much.

Dorth · Post by **Dorth** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:21 pm

Sorry, I said IBM, but meant Intel

hybrid · Post by **hybrid** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:28 pm

The Intel code on AMDs is still competitive with other compilers and often superior.

Cloudef · Post by **Cloudef** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:46 pm

I've used intels compiler on linux and have to say its really good, i would use it if you are not going comericall. (The linux had free for non comericall if i remember right).

For normal usage i use Code::Blocks and GCC =)

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Trying to find the best compiler

Trying to find the best compiler

Re: Trying to find the best compiler