C/C++
Hello everyone,
I'm an "old timer", because I started learning computer languages in 1974 (!) on a VAX system. (Basic, Fortran IV, Fortran 77, Pascal, Assembler, Cobol, C, C++, ...)
My preferences are for C++ (still do) programing, but because of my professional duties, I stopped programing since 1988.
Now I'm "semi-retired" and would like to restart using C/C++ but...
What should I decide to buy, I mean, what kind of language to start with ?
Visual C++ version 6 or C++ or ?
I will appreciate Your professional advice?
Regards,
Jean
Hi Jonathan,
So, You do know the VAX aswell !
I remember at that time, the maximum memory at disposal was 64KB (!).
We must be very carefull with the creation of the several functions we needed to realize a complete working program. (before compilation).
In 1982 I realized one program able to compose 600 different cocktails, each cocktail was printed (at the pixel) including the full recept.
The complete application was on a signal floppy ! and much space over.
I downloaded the soft as You gave the link for.
Thanks for Your advice,
Regards,
Jean
You must have been using something else in 1974 (one of the various PDP-11 models, maybe?), since the VAX (model 11/780) wasn't introduced until October 1977. Unfortunately, I remember the date from personal experience
, but I checked
MS's DEC History page just to be sure.
Anyway, what version of C++ you choose will depend on what you want to do. If you want to use the "classical" approach to programming Windows, using VC++ v6 will probably be easiest. Also, it's more nearly like the C++ used for UNIX. (Alternatively, you can, of course, download a GNU "gcc" compiler for free, if you're still a command-line type person, as we all were in the VMS era!) If you want to use the .NET platform, on the other hand, you should use Visual Studio 2005 (such as the Express edition that you can download freely), even though it's still in beta. Be warned that the version of Visual Studio that is being sold now, VS 2003, uses a version of C++ that will be deprecated once VS 2005 hits the shelves, which is why you should stay clear of the current product and use the beta of the new one. Also, be warned that even though you can still do the classic-style VC++ v6 programming using VS 2005, you will find some changes (such as the names of the header files), and you may be confused by a lot of features that are specific to the brand new C++/CLI language that is used for programming .NET. Your classic C++ books won't help you with that new language, believe me! I'm oversimplifying a lot here, but I hope this quick overview is roughly accurate enough to help guide you.
BTW, if you're a FORTRAN IV and FORTRAN 77 person, have you looked at Fortran 90 (or 95, which isn't much different), or the not-quite-official-yet Fortran 2003? Lahey sells a version that runs within .NET. So don't throw away all your old code!
It's correct, in 1974, it was PDP11, great ! With a "terminal" set as monitor.
In fact, as an electronic engineer at our national nuclear plant "Belgonuclaire", I started, with a few colleagues, creating a specific application whitch simulated the "fatigue" of the material from a nuclear plant over 20 years. (took us 3 years !).
As You already know, I stopped writing programs from the late '80's. In 1979-1980, I started a subsidiary, devoted to Vision Systems Integration.
With Professor Charles Roozen, from Stanford (Palo Alto) we made an agreement to represent "Machine Inteligence Corporation" from Sunnyvale (CA) in all €urope.
What a challenge ! Very valuable experience...
But, in the meantime, I lost all contact and knowledge of programming.
That's why I'm asking some advice, to start again with C/C++
I remember, around 1990, I was still a regular subscriber of a Cobb Group editor, which puplished "Inside Microsoft C" and later "Microsoft C/C++ Developer's Journal". Most interresting. I still have some of them.
I wonder if You know about it, and, if there is still some equivalent Journal ?
Sorry being so long !
All the best, from Brussels,
Jean
Hi Jean,
You asked about a developer's journal for Visual C and C++. A very good one for C/C++ in general is the
C/C++ User's Journal, which isn't specific for Windows but which has many useful Visual C++ articles nevertheless. The same is true for
Dr. Dobbs' Journal, which isn't even specific to any language or operating system, but it still offers a lot of very helpful Visual C++ information. Finally, be sure to check out the
MSDN Magazine online at this site, which has the best information available for programming in Windows (in Visual Basic, C#, and C++). There is much to learn, but you have a 30-year head start!
Good luck!
Wil
Hi Wil,
Many thanks for Your very positive and usefull information.
You gave me the support I needed to start "again".
I'll see You later -:)
Jean
 Wil R. wrote: |
Anyway, what version of C++ you choose will depend on what you want to do. If you want to use the "classical" approach to programming Windows, using VC++ v6 will probably be easiest. Also, it's more nearly like the C++ used for UNIX. (Alternatively, you can, of course, download a GNU "gcc" compiler for free, if you're still a command-line type person, as we all were in the VMS era!)
...
Also, be warned that even though you can still do the classic-style VC++ v6 programming using VS 2005, you will find some changes (such as the names of the header files), and you may be confused by a lot of features that are specific to the brand new C++/CLI language that is used for programming .NET.
|
|
I have to disagree with your suggestion of VC++ 6. It has an unbelievable amount of problems with compliance to the ISO standard that later versions do not have, which you can't really blame on anyone considering it was programmed at the same time that the C++ standard was being finalized, back in 1997 and 1998. While you don't have to go through the troubles of getting the platform SDK to work with VS 2005, I still wouldn't wish VC++ 6 on anyone. VC++ 7.1 (the .NET 2003 C++ compiler) and VC++ 8 (VS 2005 C++ compiler) are much more compliant and VS 2005 express is even freely available. There shouldn't be much stopping you from programming strictly ISO C++ in 2005, in fact, that's all I currently use it for (not that I don't love .NET, just that I'm more focused on non-.NET C++ template library development). VC++ 7.1 and VC++ 8 only have a small amount of compliance issues as opposed to VC++ 6, which could really trip you up and force you into writing non-compliant code. Putting it politely, it's probably easier to list the ways in which VC++ 6
is compliant as opposed to how it
isn't .
Because of this, I would not
recommend using VC++ 6 at all nowadays, other than for legacy reasons, especially considering VS 2005 express edition is freely available and there are also plenty of other more compliant compilers than VC++ 6 freely available (the Code::Blocks IDE with the MinGW port of GCC, for instance, though I still recommend VS 2005 above that by a long shot). So even for strictly ISO C++, .NET stuff completely aside, VS 2005 is the way to go. I'd avoid VC++ 6 entirely if I were you.
Hello Marco,
I appreciate Your intervention, aswell as Your comments.
I will read all papers from the links You're mention, but I'm afraid it will tke some time, but I will take it, for sure.
What I disaprove with Visual C++ 6 Pro edition, is that it looks more as an Application than a Language utility.
I used C/C++ from the beginning until 1993, but when I look at the Visual version today, I'm lost !
Regards,
Jean
Getting back to the code level is admirable. Especially considering the fact that you're going back to C++. For what it's worth, give the newest version of Visual Studio / VC++ that you can get your hands on a shot. VC++ has evolved into a very good tool that removes alot of the details that used to be a standard part of development. All the compiler and linker switches are easy to set and understand since they are categorized and documented (with phrases) within the UI dialogs.
I still use VC++ quite alot for financial algorithms, Windows Apps (MFC still makes the best Windows apps), as well as certain middleware interactions - even though I've converted to C# and .Net for higher level tasks such as web development.
Also, the IntelliSense keeps getting better and even reads through templates now. And it's so easy to peruse the documentation for all the libraries that the cost of the tool really is insignificant compared to the benefits.
Thanks for Your comments.
I just wonder if there is any possibility to "reuse" my old C++ codes with some language of today ?
Jean
You can Jean. Go to
Blooshed.net I find that its IDE C++ Compiler is the best, and has a nice user environment. Once you download you can code all you want. But I recommend that you update it, refer to the Help manual. I like writing command line programs, because I don't have any GUI problems. Good luck and happy coding. And since you know the good old code, maybe you can help me with a few problems I am having.
Hello,
Thanks for your information.
I'm happy to be able to reuse my "old" codes, which will help me to upDate some programs I made at that time (!).
If I can help, it will be with great pleasure, but be aware... I stopped programming C/C++ since 1993 ! I will need some time to "recover".
Thanks for Your comments.
All the best, and have a nice WE.
Jean
