What's the most popular compiler, and what's so bad about MSVS?

Question

Hello,

I've been using MS Visual Studio for a lot of projects, but I notice a lot of people here like to complain about Microsoft and Visual Studio.

So I'm wondering, what does everyone use? Dev-C++? mingw?

What is popular? Also, what is bad about MSVS? What is "better" about the others?

Thanks!

--RKL

Answer 1

Comparing compilers is often an exercise fraught with peril. Here is but a sampling of the variables you would have to normalize for:

• compiler flags
• compiler-specific preferences for idiomatic code
• differences between processors
• enabling/disabling of processor extensions
• differences in assumptions that can safely be made about code
• compiler extensions in use

Qualitatively speaking, MSVC is a serviceable compiler. There's not too much reason to complain about it, other than everyone's usual gripe of "I wish things were faster".