Hello all, I am making my foray into windows programming (from Unix) for the sole sake of making games. I started out with Visual C++ now I am wodering if there are better IDE''s out there for windows. What do you use when programming games and why? Thanks. Dnaboy It takes an exceptional mind to grasp the obvious

MSVC++ has IMHO THE best IDE around for C\C++ developement. It has so many cool and usefull features that other compilers don''t have. If you choose an IDE make sure it has a debugger, most do, but you can''t get an IDE without a debugger. (by debugger I don''t mean the thing that tells you that you have errors in your code, but the tool that allows you to walk through your code.
Joe

HHSDrum@yahoo.com
Polarisoft Home Page

For some reason, I and a lot of people around here and in the industry like Visual C++. Yes, it''s Microsoft, but it''s the single product of theirs closest to being truly decent. In fact, it''s even the IDE of choice for good ol'' John Carmack. But aside from that, there''s just something comfortable about it that, say, C++ Builder just doesn''t have. I''ve tried other modern IDEs and they feel too abstracted for my tastes. While VC++ is certainly not as low-level as the days of hand-written makefiles, it''s pretty simple and to-the-point. Of course, this all changes with the next version, but up to 6.0 we''ve got a pretty darned good IDE. I''ve been using it for a long time and haven''t desired to use anything else (but, don''t get me wrong; I''m not saying it''s the best, but simply the best for me).

Personally, I prefer MSVC++ as well. Don''t get me wrong, in general, I''m still anti-Microsoft, but this is possibly one of the best MS products on the market. I use version 6.0, but (based on beta-tester reviews) I''ve HEARD (even though I dislike with the whole .NET concept) that VS.NET was even better. I think that I''m gonna stick with VS 6.0.

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While VC++ is certainly not as low-level as the days of hand-written makefiles, it''s pretty simple and to-the-point.

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Ah... those were the days...

DracosX

I''ve only used 2 different IDE''s, MSVC++ 6 and the Borland C/C++ compiler v3.1. Visual C++ is far superior, very easy to change project settings, the debugger is really cool, and it just *feels* right. I haven''t tried a modern borland IDE, but from what people up the thread have said, they still aren''t up to the MSVC++ standard.

Visual Slick Edit (dont have url but do a google seach) is one you might want to check out. I just it for java development (though it can be used for just about anything) and it is great. I feels a bit more cleaner to me. It can also emulate any editor you want (short cut keys) like Vi, Emacs, or even VC++. You may want to check it out, but VC++ is also a great choice.

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Ratfest.org

Dev C++, its a FREE IDE based on MingW32, you can get it from

http://www.bloodshed.net

BTW: You should download the patch 4.01 and the MingW32 compiler updates...