What is the best free C++ compiler for Windows XP?

Answer 1

.NET SDK 2.0 includes a very good C++ compiler for windows. It's integrated in Visual Studio 2005 Express editions. (2003 also).
A good alternative to it comes from the Linux side. Mingw with CodeBlocks is an excelent combination (Codeblocks is an IDE which can handle many C/C++ compilers).
http://www.mingw.org/
http://www.codeblocks.org/

Answer 2

You can get Microsoft Visual C++ free from Microsoft but not Visual Studio. The compilers are in Microsoft SDK and DDK (maybe not all varieties). I got Microsoft Platform SDK for Windows Server 2003 SP1 for the 64 bit and 32 bit compilers and 64 bit assembler and DDK for 32 bit compiler and assembler. With no Visual Studio, the compilers/assemblers can be run via command line options.

Then I got Microsoft DirectX 9.0 SDK Update (June 2005) for DirectX 9 graphics.

Answer 3

Microsoft do a range of Visual Studio Express editions, for c++, c#, visual basic and web developer. These are free and very good tools. I use the c# one for quicky programs on my PC.

I do not know what the actual difference between the express editions and the full version is, but as far as I can see from having used both, much of the practical single user difference is only in the number of extra less used tools and controls.

Note that these also come with six free video tutorials, then you can go to the tutorial site and continue with further lessons. The tutorials are very good, sometimes maybe a bit fast paced for a new programmer, but because they are videos you can skip back and replay difficult areas.

Answer 4

Bloodshed Dev C++. Thats a very good free opensource compiler.Im an opensource fan.

http://www.bloodshed.net/devcpp.html

Answer 5

it is Microsoft Visual C++