Hello,
I am just looking for a C++ IDE for Apple's OS X. I currently use netbeans for java but cannot find something as robust as this for C++.
Thanks!
+15
A:
Apple's free-download Xcode IDE and tools, which bundles gcc/g++ is what pretty much everyone uses on the Mac for native code development. If you have reasons to be looking for something beyond this, you should update your question to clarify your needs.
quixoto
2010-09-16 00:34:51
Yes, I did. Three times, even. Care to elaborate?
quixoto
2010-09-16 00:38:36
You pushed a compiler, when the poster was clearly looking for an IDE. The question is worded in such a way that I'm sure the OP wasn't aware what JDK they were using. Even *mentioning* the actual compiler will only add confusion.
Stefan Kendall
2010-09-16 00:40:04
The OP didn't say what he meant
NullUserException
2010-09-16 00:40:08
Read the question. It's obvious he wants an IDE. If you only read the topic you wouldn't know this.
Stefan Kendall
2010-09-16 00:41:13
@Stefan: so you're saying that because @quixoto answered the specific question that was actually asked, *you believe he didn't read it*? Interesting kind of logic. ;)
jalf
2010-09-16 00:42:24
@Stefan Kendall: The question topic said "compiler." The question body said "compiler." GCC is the best C++ compiler available on OS X. He answered the question asked.
Chuck
2010-09-16 00:42:29
...I'd hate to be your users. "You asked me to put in tabs. I did!" "Now I can't sell any products :("
Stefan Kendall
2010-09-16 00:43:23
Answer edited to reflect edits to question. In addition to (possibly) confusing compiler and IDE, OP also left many things unsaid, including whether he/she is new to C++ from Java and wants a whole toolchain, etc, etc. Original answer said plenty about both compiler, and IDE, given the original question. Expect question to be updated by OP.
quixoto
2010-09-16 00:43:53
@Stefan: your interpretation of the question is most likely correct, but it's just silly to say that someone "didn't read the question" when they post an answer which answers the question exactly as it was stated. And wait, you're actually downvoting answers for sticking to the question? This is just getting absurd. @quixoto answered exactly what was asked. If that wasn't what the OP *meant*, then perhaps the question should be downvoted for being unclear -- but never the person who provided a legal answer.
jalf
2010-09-16 00:44:16
'Bout a nine on the tension scale there, Reub.
Shaggy Frog
2010-09-16 00:44:32
@quixoto: The question wasn't confusing. Methinks you haven't worked directly with users. Whether or not the OP is new to C++ isn't relevant - they were looking for an IDE. They may also not be a native English speaker, which would create the discrepancy. "Do what I mean, not what I say"
Stefan Kendall
2010-09-16 00:45:15
@jalf: Topic skimmers looking for quick points aren't helpful.
Stefan Kendall
2010-09-16 00:45:50
@Stefan Kendall: Or, the other way around: "You didn't implement the spec at all! I asked you to add in tabs, but instead you put a photo of a cat eating spaghetti from the Internet." "It was obvious that you wanted a cat eating spaghetti."
Chuck
2010-09-16 00:46:27
@Stefan: what does the topic have to do with anything? The actual question *body* said **compiler**, not **IDE** as well. Your argument is getting absurd, which is a shame because at the core of it is a good point.
jalf
2010-09-16 00:47:24
Is StackOverflow a place to get help, or a place to ignore the poster's intentions and concerns entirely in pursuit of some absolute truth? I postulate that anyone who posted "gcc" here has never, ever worked with a user.
Stefan Kendall
2010-09-16 00:49:55
@Stefan: again, you are completely and entirely missing the point. You can postulate all you want, but this answer is correct, according to the question asked, and downvoting it because you interpreted the question different is ridiculous. One of the nice things about SO is that it is possible to have *multiple* answers to a question, and so they can cover different interpretations and completement each others. What's more, assuming that the OP meant to ask about an IDE **only** is at least as wrong. The OP most likely want an IDE **and** a compiler. Not just an IDE.
jalf
2010-09-16 00:54:39
By the way, I can't be the only one who finds it hilarious that you talk about "ignoring the poster's intentions" while at the same time refusing to consider the possibility *that the OP actually meant what he asked*. Call me crazy, but I think the OP is better off getting answers to both interpretations, *including* the one he actually asked. Not just the one that Stefan Kendall has decided, in his God-like wisdom, is The One And Only Truth.
jalf
2010-09-16 00:56:58
@jalf: The OP didn't know that Netbeans wasn't a compiler, and I'm sure they didn't comprehend the difference between JRockit, Sun's JDK, OpenJDK/whatever. If the IDE requires compiler setup, it's probably going to be too unintuitive for the OP at this point in time.
Stefan Kendall
2010-09-16 00:57:13
@STefan: I don't care what you're sure of. as long as there is ambiguity in the question, SO should provide answers to cover *all* the options. It shouldn't provide only the answer which, you think is **probably** the right one. IF you wanted to genuinely help the OP, instead of just being a jerk on an ego-trip, how about posting an answer which *explains* the difference between an IDE and a compiler, and suggests an IDE/compiler combination? That would actually be helpful.
jalf
2010-09-16 01:00:18
@Stefan Kendall: Nobody here is getting paid to pull out what Jason really wants. Whatever obligation you think we have to "interpret" the question for the person asking, the asker has at least as much responsibility to ask a good question — and I would say more, since he's the one who's looking to get something out of this. Downvoting helpful answers because they don't go far enough is poor form. Leaving your downvote when the answer has been fixed to your specifications is even worse.
Chuck
2010-09-16 01:02:53
I think programmers are inclined to read things in the most literal or technical sense because that is what a computer does. Most of the developers I work with are introverted and also lack the skill of reading between the lines. Knowing someone's true intentions even when they use the wrong words is a useful skill to have.
dreamlax
2010-09-16 01:06:30
@Chuck: By your own reasoning, I shouldn't change my actions, as I'm not getting paid to maintain the accuracy of my votes over time, right?
Stefan Kendall
2010-09-16 01:13:33
@jalf: Why is it absurd that Stefan downvoted answers that *he* thought were unhelpful? Isn't that what the voting buttons are for? If I provided an answer that *you* thought was unhelpful, wouldn't you also downvote it?
dreamlax
2010-09-16 01:13:41
@Chuck How about a [cat pushing a watermelon](http://ablazex.com)?
NullUserException
2010-09-16 01:22:47
@Stefan Kendall: My point was that this situation is not really analogous to supporting users. We don't necessarily have hours to spend trying to divine what people mean here. Quixoto offered an earnest answer to the question asked, which is pretty generous on the balance of things even if he did misunderstand. But by all means, continue acting hostile. You're not exactly hurting me by downvoting quixoto's answer after he changed it like you asked — just being way more unhelpful than he ever was.
Chuck
2010-09-16 01:25:26
@Stefan: Maybe if you actually paid attention to the history stack on a question, you'd look a little less like a jackass. All the people who "didn't read the question" answered before the question text was changed.
Nick Bastin
2010-09-16 00:43:45
@Stefan: again, you're spouting nonsense. If you "actually read the question", the only conclusion was that the OP is asking for a compiler, because it clearly says **compiler** in the question. "Reading the question" has nothing to do with it. What you're trying to say is "+1 for guessing the OP's intention", or more specifically, "+1 for making a guess of the OP's intention which agrees with *my* guess".
jalf
2010-09-16 00:49:25
@Stefan: no, you really do look like a jackass here, by accusing people of not reading the question just because they didn't interpret it like you did, and being a jerk about it.
jalf
2010-09-16 00:50:25
It's not a guess. I'm dead certain the OP was looking for an IDE. Netbeans is not a compiler, and the term "compiler" is very often used by students and early-learners as the term for an IDE.
Stefan Kendall
2010-09-16 00:51:41
@Stefan: so? That has nothing to do with your repeated accusations of "not reading the question", which oddly enough, is target only at the people who answered the question as stated.
jalf
2010-09-16 01:02:41
@vash, thanks for the straight forward response. i knew and realized the minefield i was walking into and in being not a top coder knew i would misstate something and get crapped on.
jason m
2010-09-16 01:06:01
@jason m: no one here is crapping on you. There's a meta-discussion happening all over this page about community behavior. It was triggered by the particular wording of your question, but none of it is directed at you. People really do want to help out, especially to bring newbies up to speed. Glad you've found some helpful info here.
quixoto
2010-09-16 01:09:27
@Stefan: I'm just going to say this and leave: If you knew what OP meant, why didn't you edit the question to reflect that, instead of waiting to see people answer incorrectly just to downvote?
vlad003
2010-09-16 01:24:59
+6
A:
In terms of compilers, g++ integrates the best with XCode, since that's what Apple ships. However, if you want something that generates far more optimal object code (non-PPC), you should look into the Intel Compiler for MacOS X. If you're looking for a better IDE than XCode...I'm not really sure you're going to find it, although if you're comfortable with NetBeans you can use that with g++ (unsure how good it is as a C/C++ development environment though).
Nick Bastin
2010-09-16 00:37:44
Stefan the question asks for a compiler, stop down voting people incorrectly
olliej
2010-09-16 00:40:08
The question says "looking for a C++ compiler for Apple". Unclear there's any other way to read it.
Nick Bastin
2010-09-16 00:40:09
Read the actual text, people. He's looking for an IDE and doesn't know what a compiler is.
Stefan Kendall
2010-09-16 00:40:48
Not my fault he changed the text after I answered the question - also my answer covers that anyhow (since I suspected he wasn't being clear in his question)
Nick Bastin
2010-09-16 00:42:04
See my response. It's clear from the original post. You did not understand the nature of the question.
Stefan Kendall
2010-09-16 00:47:32
@Stefan, please 1) grow up, and 2) read up on what downvotes are for. You are abusing the voting mechanism for some kind of childish ego trip. Don't do that. By all means upvote answers you agree with, but don't downvote unless the answer does more harm than good. This answer isn't *wrong*. +1 to compensate
jalf
2010-09-16 00:58:15
+1
A:
I'm a big fan of emacs and g++. I do all my programming there, it makes it easy to transition back and forth between my macbook and my linux netbook.
JakeVA
2010-09-16 00:49:55