Re: help

[Laguna Loire <laguna@ourmag.com>]

On Thu, 28 Oct 1999, Jonathan Smith wrote:

> Sorry about all the questions, but I have one question(hopefully I can 
> phrase it right).

Heehee.. don't worry about questions. ;) Personally, it helps me to
remember some things which I have taken for granted as a "given". It gives
me a mental prompt to do more looking into of things. So it's a good
thing. Though one wonders whether or not an FAQ for this ML might be a
good idea. 

> Lets say I write my program in notepad, a microsoft text editor, for
> c/c++. If I were to compile it using the visual c++ 6 compiler, are
> you saying that it would only work for windows?

Basically, if you compiled it with MS VC/C++, it will pretty much run only
on Windows. That's correct. But that is because the targets for VC/C++ is
usually targetted at producing "exe" type files with links to MS specific
graphical interface libraries and the like. Those will naturally not run
on any other system/os without emulation or hacking.

What you write in notepad will compile on other OS's and compilers, so
long as your code is valid and correct syntax-wise.

> Is there anyway I can get a different compiler to compile my
> program(written in notepad)for a different os without having to
> purchase a whole software package?

Notepad isn't the problem. VC/C++ is. Notepad has NO restrictions other
than perhaps the differences between UNIX type text files and DOS/WIN text
files. 

> If c/c++ works for almost all operating systems, why don't everyone
> just get it instead of purchasing visual c/c++? Oh, and what version
> of visual c/c++ and visual basic is it in visual studio? Thanks all.

Depends on the version you are buying, but I think it is currently 6.0.

People won't get other compilers because they specifically want to program
for the Windows environment. Ie, windows apps or windows games. They have
also been convinced that MS is the one and only way to go. There's nothing
wrong with going with MS... but there's also nothing wrong with going with
other OS's.

For the Dos/Windows environment, as I've mentioned before, there are other
IDE's and compilers.. both GPL and commercial are available. For Linux,
there are also GPL and commercial compilers for c/c++.

The thing to keep in mind is:

- What does your compiler accept as "legal" or "correct" code? Is that the
  same as what another compiler will consider as legal and correct?

- Libraries between OS's and platforms will almost always be different, so
  porting will be a pain since you will need to find an equivelant package
  or port the libraries yourself. However, there are several
  cross-platform API's available, but despite that,you will still need to
  deal with the OS of choice and the GUI of choice. 

  For MS, that is the Win95/98/NT environment and the quirks which come
  with each version and variant of those versions. DirectX would be your
  defacto library unless you are thinking of going custom. There is also
  PLIB, Crystal Space, and ClanLib.

  For Linux, you have the Linux operating system which is basically unix.
  You also have the GUI which is usually an X11 compatible X window
  server. Most likely XFree86 with window managers using either GTK, QT,
  Motif/Motiv, or something similar. Graphical libraries are more varied
  but are in various stages of development. You have PLIB, Crystal Space,
  ClanLib, as well as others.

  For you will have to deal with OS level and GUI level quirks between
  os's and platforms. Java gets around this by being more isolated from
  the hardware through abstraction.

With all these little details, most people just want to program their
game. For Windows users, MS VC/C++ seems to make sense and it does for
most. For others, they seek packages which they feel will serve them
better. 

Once again, it comes down to what you are comfortable with and where you
plan on taking your code. For most, VC/C++ will do the trick. For others,
they would prefer 3rd party IDE's and compilers like those from
Metrowerks. Or opensource/gpl compilers like DJGPP(dos) GCC(*nix).

Note: I'm leaving out IDE's like those from Sun MicroSystems or the Mac
based compilers and the like since I'm not familiar with them or they are
extremely expensive.

Hope the above helps...

C/C++ is the same regardless of OS. The syntax considered to be acceptable
or correct will vary depending on the compiler you are using. (In this
respect, Steve Jobs and MS agree.. 'think differently'.) The libraries
will almost always be different between OS's and platforms unless there
the library you are using is cross-platform.

Have fun,

Wing.

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