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Mingw & Codeblocks vs. Visual C++
Specter Phoenix
Member #1,425
July 2001
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These distinctions are IMPORTANT.

I understand that, I'm referring to what I see on other forums.
On every forum I lurk on I see the same reaction:

"I compile with C::B."
Reaction: "AHHH!! C::B is an IDE! GCC/MinGW/ButtFuckEgypt are compilers! AHHHH!!!!"

"I compile with MSVC."
Reaction: crickets

The important distinction seems less important when people pick and chose where to stress the distinction.

raynebc
Member #11,908
May 2010

At least in the past, I get the impression that Visual Studio traditionally has always been associated with Microsoft's suite of compilers. Code::Blocks can be obtained bundled with MinGW in Windows, but you otherwise provide whatever compiler you want.

Neil Roy
Member #2,229
April 2002
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I plan to say "I compile with Code::Blocks" from now on, just to bug people who stress over unimportant things. :P

In fact, time to add that to my sig! ;D

---
“I love you too.” - last words of Wanda Roy

Edgar Reynaldo
Major Reynaldo
May 2007
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Chris Katko
Member #1,881
January 2002
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I really don't know why anyone cares at all about this terminology. It has zero impact on anything.

I had a terminology debate (on the implications of users) on "hidden" vs "Deleted". A coworker was saying that "He knows what delete this company means." Yeah, but we're not deleting the companies (which would affect historical business records attached to those companies). We're hiding them by adding a "is_hidden" column. Hidden vs deleted is a pretty big distinction.

Nobody is going "Use this compiler to build this code" and going "omg, should I download Visual Studio, or just Visual Studio's compiler?!" Everyone knows what you're talking about. Visual Studio is a brand. It means way more than just an IDE.

-----sig:
“Programs should be written for people to read, and only incidentally for machines to execute.” - Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
"Political Correctness is fascism disguised as manners" --George Carlin

Edgar Reynaldo
Major Reynaldo
May 2007
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I don't give a flying fig fruit whether or not someone says I compile with MSVC, because the compiler and the ide have been integrated since VS was created. It's a standalone monolithic program. Have you ever tried to install cl without msvc, or msvc without cl? Have fun with that. ;) However with Code::Blocks you have to separately install a compiler, whether it's bundled with CB or not. This clearly means Code::Blocks IS NOT A $#!@ING COMPILER! >:(

Specter Phoenix
Member #1,425
July 2001
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So the distinction isn't important.

Edgar Reynaldo
Major Reynaldo
May 2007
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Chris Katko
Member #1,881
January 2002
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Edgar: So to be clear, you're saying the distinction isn't important?

-----sig:
“Programs should be written for people to read, and only incidentally for machines to execute.” - Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
"Political Correctness is fascism disguised as manners" --George Carlin

Edgar Reynaldo
Major Reynaldo
May 2007
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Neil Roy
Member #2,229
April 2002
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Sorry Edgar, but Visual Studio, according to your own standards is NOT the compiler. TO state that it is, and Code::Blocks is not when BOTH use a separate program to do the actual compiling is hypocritical.

I personally have never met ANYONE that uses Code::Blocks with anything other than MinGW, so to me, it's a moot point, no different than the integrated suite that is VS.

I DO understand what you mean, and technically you are correct, but I also feel that I can accurately state that "I compile with Code::Blocks" as I click on it to compile, what it uses under the hood and whether the two are integrated or separate units is a moot point to me. The actual dirty work is done by MinGW, but I don't use MinGW, I use Code::Blocks, IT USES MinGW. It IS important to understand what is doing the compiling for obvious reasons, but I don't see how it is important to stress over getting into a convoluted mess of IDE, compiler, linker etc... I call the whole lot "the compiler". I will go into those details you mention when it is important to say so. Otherwise, I don't wish to confuse newbies any more than I have to.

Anyhow... now you know how I feel in religious discussions when people don't grasp what I am trying to say. ;D

---
“I love you too.” - last words of Wanda Roy

Specter Phoenix
Member #1,425
July 2001
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Neil, your point was more eloquent than my remarks, but your post states much better than I did the point I was trying to get across.

LennyLen
Member #5,313
December 2004
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Neil Roy said:

but I also feel that I can accurately state that "I compile with Code::Blocks" as I click on it to compile

A more accurate statement would be I compile using Code::Blocks.

Neil, your point was more eloquent than my remarks, but your post states much better than I did the point I was trying to get across.

Why is there a "but" in there?

Polybios
Member #12,293
October 2010

IIRC Code::Blocks uses its own build system, so no intermediate "make", is that right? It's been a long time I've last used it. I tend to run CMake from QtCreator, so I have a separate build tool (in fact, there are two of them, as CMake invokes make which is invoking the compiler) and a seperate IDE. Android-Studio invokes gradle, so it's the same there (no, gradle is not a compiler). Now, what about Visual-Studio's IDE? Does the IDE invoke the compiler directly? I think it does, doesn't it? So Visual Studio and CodeBlocks would have something in common that would set them apart from Android Studio. So how about that these are IDEs with integrated build tools, but not compilers? :P

Edgar Reynaldo
Major Reynaldo
May 2007
avatar

Sorry, I misspoke about Android. Gradle is the build system, like cmake. javac is the compiler.

Neil Roy said:

Sorry Edgar, but Visual Studio, according to your own standards is NOT the compiler.

I never said VS was a compiler. I said MSVC and cl are. VS is an IDE, and it can invoke many different compilers. Like CB, which is an IDE, not a compiler. VS and MSVC are not the same thing.

Try it the other way around. I dare you to call MinGW or CL an IDE.

Language is important. Clarity is important. Distinction is important.

Them's the bear facts folks!

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Neil Roy
Member #2,229
April 2002
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Try it the other way around. I dare you to call MinGW or CL an IDE.

Language is important. Clarity is important. Distinction is important.

Flooding someone with information that simply is not needed, is not important, it is pointless. I compile using Code::Blocks. I don't use MinGW directly any more than someone uses Microsoft's compiler directly, but if I did, I would say I compile with it. Just like I compile using Code::Blocks! :)

Now if you need to know the dirty details of precisely what does the compiling, what does the linking etc... I will go into that. But otherwise, there's simply no need.

If you want to get technical, MinGW doesn't compile, it sends instructions to the CPU on what to do. Heck, lets get really technical and start talking about bits and high and low voltages that make them up?

Now I DO understand where you're coming from. I just do not see the need to constantly correct people with these sorts of details when it is not needed.

---
“I love you too.” - last words of Wanda Roy

Edgar Reynaldo
Major Reynaldo
May 2007
avatar

VS is not a compiler. C::B is not a compiler. End of story. Like I said, feel free to uninstall MinGW and compile with C::B to your heart's extent. But you won't, because you can't, because C::B is not a compiler, and it is physically impossible to compile with Code::Blocks. Full stop. >:(

Polybios
Member #12,293
October 2010

Please start compiling, everyone. >:(

GullRaDriel
Member #3,861
September 2003
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I'm all with Edgar on that. I'm tired of people not understanding they can compile all they want without an IDE.

"Code is like shit - it only smells if it is not yours"
Allegro Wiki, full of examples and articles !!

Edgar Reynaldo
Major Reynaldo
May 2007
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GullRaDriel
Member #3,861
September 2003
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You're welcome :-)

"Code is like shit - it only smells if it is not yours"
Allegro Wiki, full of examples and articles !!

Specter Phoenix
Member #1,425
July 2001
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I'm tired of people not understanding they can compile all they want without an IDE.

The current state of modern programming?

GullRaDriel
Member #3,861
September 2003
avatar

Yeah, also.

"Code is like shit - it only smells if it is not yours"
Allegro Wiki, full of examples and articles !!

SilverTES
Member #16,572
October 2016

I use both, VS have more options but all are not absolutely necessary, CB is simpler and efficient.

CB is the good compromise, very light compared to VS.

The thing I don't like from VS is certains standard libraries behave weirdly. Otherwise, it's a really good IDE with really helpful tools.

CB is more straightforward and more clear for me. He don't add a lot of "extra" files when you create a project.

Neil Roy
Member #2,229
April 2002
avatar

I click compile in Code::Blocks, and it compiles. Full Stop. ;D

---
“I love you too.” - last words of Wanda Roy

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