Visual C++ .Net vs Borland C++ Builder

[OfF3nSiV3]

right..hopefully i'm gonna learn this stuff, so i want to make a viru..i mean..i want to make a windows program..which one to choose?

Microsoft Visual C++ .NET (not visual basic! ) or Borland C++ BuilderX ?

[azcodemonkey]

Having been a fan of Borland's tools for so long, I'd like to be able to say C++ Builder X is the better of the two. It isn't. MS's tools still have some problems, but they are the best, currently.

[OfF3nSiV3]

are there any differences between the languages?

i mean, it's C++, but i've seen some books like 'Learn Borland C++'

[mlynch]

different compilers, same basic concepts the books are just tweaked to help you learn a specific compiler

[azcodemonkey]

  OfF3nSiV3 said:

are there any differences between the languages?

i mean, it's C++, but i've seen some books like 'Learn Borland C++'

585429028[/snapback]

Between the languages, no difference. Between focus, certainly. Builder X is really targeted at developers that want to do cross-OS development for the enterprise(using CORBA). C++.NET is specifically for Windows development and all that comes with it.

I'd recommend C++.NET simply because Borland is moving towards supporting MS's technologies instead of developing their own. It used to be that Borland's framework for building Window's apps was superior to Microsoft's. Borland had the Visual Component Library(VCL) and it was all C++ code, visual development. It was way ahead of MS. They've abandoned it, pretty much, in favor of .NET and building tools for cross-OS dev.

You can still get the earlier version of C++ Builder that supports the VCL.

http://www.borland.com/cbuilder/

[Sn1p3t]

I've heard Microsoft's C++ compiler is more ANSI compliant. For my C++ development, I really enjoy using Visual Studio 2005. You can try using Visual C++ 2005 Express for free, which should be able to do it all.

[THE BAT]

C++ is a standard Programming Language.

and both Microsoft and Borland implement this and the both are the same at the concept.

but Microsoft Visual C++.Net is managed for .NET Framework.

[Ultra Frosty]

Borland has a much richer API base to work with than Visual C++. But it can be tricky to port code over from one to the other sometimes, as the compilers are quite different. Try Visual C++ Express and the trial of Borland C++ Builder and see what you like better.

[jamend]

C++ .NET is actually quite a bit different from normal C++. It's like VB or C# where you can design a form, double click a button, and have the event auto-generated for you. It's much simpler than writing real Windows code and at the same time you still get most of the advantages of C++. I don't know if it's better than the new Borland C++ though, since I have yet to try it.

[thetman]

Im currently learning on Dev C++ because it is free, am i missing out on anything the MS or Borland is offering. well probaably am just anything important maybe?

[jamend]

Well with Dev C++/GCC, you're just getting plain old ANSI C++ with no fancy stuff like managed code, the .NET framework, and whatever Borland has.

[thetman]

its just been a little weird bc in lecture we use Dev c++ for soem reason but in the lab they use c++ 6.0 or whatever

[Ultra Frosty]

Visual C++ is probably the most popular most most favored compiler, because of it's history (i.e. Visual C++ 6.0) of quality and stablity.

Borland C++ is a less popular, but is a much more powerful and robust compiler. The IDE is also a lot more powerful than MSVC.

[John Veteran]

  Cephas said:

C++ .NET is actually quite a bit different from normal C++. It's like VB or C# where you can design a form, double click a button, and have the event auto-generated for you. It's much simpler than writing real Windows code and at the same time you still get most of the advantages of C++. I don't know if it's better than the new Borland C++ though, since I have yet to try it.

585430799[/snapback]

Well you have to understand that Visual C++ .NET can compile Managed C++ apps that run on the .NET Framework, and Win32 apps that run on Windows - not the .NET Framework. AFAIK, Borland's compiler only builds Win32 apps.

[jamend]

No, C++ .NET is not what's used to compile normal C++ code. Visual Studio/Visual C++ .NET comes with two seperate implementations of C++, one that's managed (.NET) and a classic one.

[azcodemonkey]

  gameguy said:

Well you have to understand that Visual C++ .NET can compile Managed C++ apps that run on the .NET Framework, and Win32 apps that run on Windows - not the .NET Framework. AFAIK, Borland's compiler only builds Win32 apps.

585434114[/snapback]

Builder X builds for Windows, Linux, or Solaris. It doesn't have any RAD tools with it, so if you program win32 gui stuff, you'll be doing it the old-fashioned way.

  Cephas said:

No, C++ .NET is not what's used to compile normal C++ code. Visual Studio/Visual C++ .NET comes with two seperate implementations of C++, one that's managed (.NET) and a classic one.

585434147[/snapback]

I think you're confusing C++.NET and managed C++. One's a product name, and one's a technology. You can compile standard C++ with C++.NET. It's the same compiler, cl.exe, that is used for managed C++. You only need to add the /clr to your command-line to enable the managed extensions.

Edited February 8, 2005 by weenur

[OfF3nSiV3]

thanks for the replies..i

i only know ansi c++ (the one you use with devc++) so which one of these is most indicated for a newbie like me?

[azcodemonkey]

  OfF3nSiV3 said:

thanks for the replies..i

i only know ansi c++ (the one you use with devc++) so which one of these is most indicated for a newbie like me?

585435588[/snapback]

For a newb, I'd recommend something free. Either Eclipse with the CDT, or Dev-C++.

http://www.eclipse.org/cdt/

http://www.bloodshed.net/devcpp.html

If you really feel compelled to go with a commercial app, you can get a Personal Edition of Borland C++ Builder X for $10 for the CD.

http://shop.borland.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entr...RP=0&CACHE_ID=0

Also, Microsoft has a Visual C++.NET Standard for $99($93 at http://www.programmersparadise.com).

Link fixed

Edited February 8, 2005 by gameguy