Visual C++ vs C++

[nerdgirl]

Hi all,

What is the difference between Visual C++ and C++? For instance, what is the difference between Microsoft Visual C++.Net versus Borland C++ Builder?

Thanks,
ng

[J-Excel]

They use different foundation classes. Basically different wrappers for the Windows API. They are quite a bit different. Where Windows programming is concerned anyway.

[Martee]

Visual C++ is a compiler/IDE. C++ is a programming language.

MSVC++.NET and BC++B are both development tools which support the C++ language. They each provide a different compiler and environment, along with different libraries to work with (Borland, for example, provides the VCL, while MSVC gives you MFC), but they are both capable of compiling C++ code and writing Windows applications.

[nerdgirl]

Is one better or more compatible/accepted than the other? Or, are they both beautiful in their own ways ?

I am just starting to learn programming and am trying to decide which compiler I am going to invest in. Is one worth looking at over the other?

Thanks for all the advice,
ng

[Creosote]

If you're starting to learn programming, then probably neither matters, because you would most likely be concentrating on command line apps, learning what functions are, etc.

If you're a student, I might suggest looking at getting Visual Studio.Net. The Academic Edition usually runs about $90.

It comes with Visual C++ (allowing you to make Managed and Unmanaged applications), C#, Visual Basic, and J#. That would be the best bang for the buck, and give you a pretty good exposure to programming. Especially if you wanted a quick exposure to Windows apps as well--VB or C# would be the way to go for that. And of course the C++ is part of it as well.