Does anyone know of any C++ development platforms I can download?

Question

I want to do my programming homework before my class starts again on Wednesday, but I'm having a hard time downloading and using the eclipse one that we use in school on my computer. Does anyone know of any other development platforms that are simple to download???

Answer 1

I use NetBeans, but like Eclipse, NetBeans is written in Java. You will have to have the java plug-in. Maybe that's what you are having problems with, the JRE plug-in. I observe a lot of persons on these boards screaming about Vista not working with java. And, java is all about setting the System.path variables correctly. I don't know Vista. I would never use a Microsoft product (but that's just me). I do keep a Win95 box around to check my code for viruses before distributing.



NetBeans has a bundle download to gain the Java SDK (software development kit) as a complete install. You've got java ability then. Then you download the compiler of your choice for C/C++, mingw32 seems to be the most capable for WIN coders.



Fire up NetBeans, add the plug-in for C/C++. ANSI C / c++ is all about linking. I have read several hackers exclaiming NetBeans is 1,000 times easier to setup linking. There are C++ tutorials at NetBeans.org.



Eclipse 'automagically' fixes many errors in many languages. That's what I don't like about it. Powerful feature, but for things besides learning how to sweat code.



good luck. setup can be a beetcsh, but you'll look back and laugh one day.

Answer 2

=>"what will be the best language to learn if I want to develop 2D games that can run on both Mac, Windows and Linux?" => Cross-platform game programming languages are C++, Java , Lua, Python, If you want to make browser based game then may be Javascript, ActionScript etc. But I can't tell exactly about browser based game, because it is not my choice. Most cross-platform game engine uses C++ or any scripting language like Lua or custom built. You can find Java based Game engine that will run on PC,Linux and Mac. But if you really mean cross-platform and want to include iOS and Android as your target platform then C++ is your only choice. Yes, C++ is truly cross-platform, all the operating systems are developed in C and C++, so it has to be cross-platform. =>"And what libraries might I have to download/use?" => That entirely depends on the programming language you will be using. If you are just targeting only Windows, Linux and Mac then there are plenty of library or Game engines for Java and C++. For 2D games in Java your options are Slick, libGDX , jGame etc. For 2D games in C++, you options are Angle-Engine, ORX (I am currently using ORX), SFML, Allegro, SDL , Novashell , Game Kit, Cocos2d-X , edgelib etc. There are some programs that are in C++ also provide Lua scripting some of them are MOAI, LOVE2D. There are many more for C++ but I cant remember them right now. If you are using C++ then your choice of IDE can be either Microsoft compiler or mingw compiler. So, you can use MSVC 2008 express or MSVC 2010 express or codelite or codeblock, later 2 are mingw compiler. I don't know why you get error installing IDE for C++ because I have MSVC 2008 express , codelite , codeblock , eclipse installed in my PC. You can also use eclipse for developing games in C++ or Java. =>"I've heard that it slows your computer down and/or use a lot of RAM/CPU..." => Not really, it does not slow down your computer but is a bit slower than C++, that's because Java runs on virtual machine, but you wont notice the performance effect by yourself. So, it is okay developing games in Java. I think you have got your answer.

Answer 3

For C++ I use Dev-C++, very simple for homework.

Answer 4

yea you can