Five out of the seven assignments in CSE 12 will be in C or C++. Assignments in C/C++ are distributed with project files for Visual C++ and the Eclipse CDT. Both Visual C++ and the Eclipse CDT are free, powerful C/C++ IDEs, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Below is an incomplete list of pros and cons to help you choose which IDE to use. They are not mutually exclusive, however, and learning them both will increase your knowledge and value as an engineer.
Pros:
- free
- easy installation: 1 download, comes with compiler, debugger, editor cleanly integrated and thoroughly tested
- thorough, up-to-date documentation
- smooth user experience, less major bugs. It "just works."
- may report additional or more informative compile errors than Eclipse CDT.
- works on Windows Vista
Cons:
- can't use it on lab computers
- closed source, legal restrictions on commercial use of express edition
- only works on windows
- not for Java --- you'll still need to use the Eclipse IDE for course assignments in Java
Pros:
- free
- cross-platform compatible: same as lab computers. Can use Eclipse on linux, mac, windows.
- open source, released under GPL, no legal restrictions
- very popular with past CSE 12 students
- gives nearly identical environment on your Windows computer to that on the CSE 12 lab Linux machines
- runs the same compiler that is on the ieng6 server which is used to grade programming submissions
- allows use of a single IDE for all course assignment in C, C++ and Java
Cons:
- complicated installation: 4 downloads, over 50 steps, requires separate installation of environment, compilers, debugger
- mingw GCC (required by CDT) does not work on Windows Vista
- official documentation is out-of-date
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