What is the difference between C++ and Visual C++?

Question

What is the difference between C++ and Visual C++? I know that c++ has the portability and all so if you know c++ how is it related to visual c++? Is visual c++ mostly for online apps? Would visual basic be better for desktop applications?

Answer 1

C++ is a language and Visual C++ is a compiler for that language. Certainly, it (and every other compiler) introduces tiny modifications to the language, but the language recognized is mainly the same.

Answer 2

C++ is a programming language and Visual C++ is an IDE for developing with languages such as C and C++.

VC++ contains tools for, amongst others, developing against the .net framework and the Windows API.

Answer 3

C++ is a standardized language. VC++ is a product that more or less implements that standard. You can write portable c++ using vc++, but you can also use Microsoft-only extensions that destroy your portability but enhance your productivity. This is a trade-off. You have to decide what appeals most to you. I've maintained big desktop apps that were written in vc++, so that is perfectly feasible. From what I know of VB, the main advantage seems to be that the first part of the development cycle may be done faster than when using vc++, but as the complexity of a project increases, c++ programs tend to be more maintainable (if the programmers are striving for maintainability, that is).

Answer 4

VC++ is not actually a language but is commonly referred to like one. When VC++ is referred to as a language, it usually means Microsoft's implementation of C++, which contains various knacks that do not exist in regular C++, such as the __super keyword. It is similar to the various GNU extensions to the C language that are implemented in GCC.

Answer 5

C++ ("C Plus Plus") is a general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as a middle-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell Labs as an enhancement to the C programming language and originally named "C with Classes". It was renamed to C++ in 1983.

C++ is widely used in the software industry. Some of its application domains include systems software, application software, device drivers, embedded software, high-performance server and client applications, and entertainment software such as video games. Several groups provide both free and proprietary C++ compiler software, including the GNU Project, Microsoft, Intel, Borland and others.

---

Microsoft Visual C++ (often abbreviated as MSVC) is a commercial integrated development environment (IDE) product engineered by Microsoft for the C, C++, and C++/CLI programming languages. It has tools for developing and debugging C++ code, especially code written for the Microsoft Windows API, the DirectX API, and the Microsoft .NET Framework.

---

So the main difference between them is that they are different things. The former is a programming language, while the latter is a commercial integrated development environment (IDE).

Answer 6

What is the difference between c++ and visaul c++? Visual C++ is an IDE. There's also C++Builder from Embarcadero. (Used to be Borland.) There are also a few other C++ IDE's.

I know that c++ has the portability and all so if you know c++ how is it related to visual c++? C++ is as portable as the libraries that you use in your C++ application. VC++ has some specialized libraries to use with Windows, so if you use those libraries in your C++ application, you're stuck with Windows. But a simple "Hello, World" application that just uses the console as output can be compiled on Windows, Linux, VMS, AS/400, Smartphones, FreeBSD, MS-DOS, CP80 and almost any other system for which you can find a C++ compiler. Injteresting fact: at http://nethack.org/ you can download the C sourcecode for an almost antique game, where you have to walk through a bunch of mazes, kick some monsters around, find treasures and steal some valuable amulet and bring that amulet back out. (It's also a game where you can encounter your characters from previous, failed attempts to get that amulet. :-) The sourcecode of NetHack is a fine example of how portable C (C++) code can be.

Is visual c++ mostly for online apps? No. But it can be used for online apps. Actually, C# is used more often for server-side web applications while C++ (VC++) is used for all kinds of (server) components that your application will be depending upon.

Would visual basic be better for desktop applications? Or Embarcadero Delphi. Delphi and Basic are languages that are easier to learn than C++ and both have very good IDE's to develop GUI applications with. Unfortunately, Visual Basic is now running on .NET only, while there are still many developers who need to create WIN32 applications. Those developers often have to choose between Delphi or C++ or else convince management to move to .NET development.