Borland C++ Builder: who sells the next version of such IDE now?

[John Goche]

Hello,

I have a friend who would like to purchase
Borland C++ Builder as the Integrated
Development Environment because he
has used it in the past and would
appreciate the familiarity of it.
However it seems Borland was going
out of business and eventually got
bought. Does anyone know what
happened to the C++ Builder
product. Is

http://www.embarcadero.com/cbuilder

the new version of it or is it an entriely
separate IDE. A google search for
"borland C++ builder" redirects me
here.

My friend intends to use
it to do DirectX development as he is
into drawing and animation but would
like to continue learning about C++
and DirectX. Will my friend need to
download or purchase something
separate or will C++ builder do.

Any suggestions?

Thank you for your help
and for your information,

I very much appreciate it,

John Goche

 

[Victor Bazarov]

I have a friend who would like to purchase
Borland C++ Builder as the Integrated
Development Environment because he
has used it in the past and would
appreciate the familiarity of it.
However it seems Borland was going
out of business and eventually got
bought. Does anyone know what
happened to the C++ Builder
product. [..]

I would hazard a guess that whoever bought Borland should be able to
answer your question.

Any suggestions?

Try 'borland.public.cppbuilder.*' hierarchy of newsgroups.

[..]

V

 

[Fraser Ross]

"Victor Bazarov"

I would hazard a guess that whoever bought Borland should be able to
answer your question.


Try 'borland.public.cppbuilder.*' hierarchy of newsgroups.

They are only mirrors and of non-existing groups now. The groups now
start with embarcadero and the server is forums.codegear.com.

Fraser.

 

[John Goche]

"Victor Bazarov"



They are only mirrors and of non-existing groups now.  The groups now
start with embarcadero and the server is forums.codegear.com.

Fraser.

Thank you for your reply. However it seems that embarcadero software
have added a bunch of stuff to borland builder thus making it _much_
more expensive. What would you recommend as IDEs for using C++ and
DirectX? Which ones are cheaper and which ones are more popular?

Thank you for your help,

John Goche

 

[Robert Hairgrove]

Thank you for your reply. However it seems that embarcadero software
have added a bunch of stuff to borland builder thus making it _much_
more expensive. What would you recommend as IDEs for using C++ and
DirectX? Which ones are cheaper and which ones are more popular?

http://qt.nokia.com

You can use QtCreator, and DirectX is supported. If you release your
programs under either the GPL or the LGPL, you can have everything for free!

 

[Balog Pal]

What would you recommend as IDEs for using C++ and
DirectX? Which ones are cheaper and which ones are more popular?

For win development? Visual Studio, obviously.

 

[robertwessel2]

Thank you for your reply. However it seems that embarcadero software
have added a bunch of stuff to borland builder thus making it _much_
more expensive. What would you recommend as IDEs for using C++ and
DirectX? Which ones are cheaper and which ones are more popular?

The Visual Studio Express Edition version of Visual C++ is free:

http://www.microsoft.com/express/product/

MSVC is also the most popular C++ compiler for Windows.

 

[Old Wolf]

bought. Does anyone know what
happened to the C++ Builder
product. Is

http://www.embarcadero.com/cbuilder

Yes, that is it. You will be able to compile and
run previous applications developed with the
Borland product, with few or no changes.

 

[John Goche]

The Visual Studio Express Edition version of Visual C++ is free:

http://www.microsoft.com/express/product/

MSVC is also the most popular C++ compiler for Windows.

Thank you for the link, but how come Visual Basic, Visual C#,
Visual C++, Visual Web Developer, and SQL Server Express and
Compact Editon are all free tools while Visual Studio Professional
is a 3-month download? What more does it offer that is not already
part of these three? I mean, I don't see an express edition of
visual studio on the page, just a professional version and a
standard version, so I could not find exactly what you
suggested with your post of the above link.

So what is the advantage of the professional version over the
express version?

Yes, that is it. You will be able to compile and
run previous applications developed with the
Borland product, with few or no changes.

Well, I think I prefer to go with microsoft because
it has free express tools. I don't see what the
advantage of embarcadero would be in order to
justify the price.

Thank you for your replies,

John Goche

 

[Ron AF Greve]

Hi,

If you buy Visual C++ you get MFC (that is not in the express edition) also
you can't develop windows mobile apps with the free version and I believe
some other stuff like creating your own wizard is also omitted from the
express edition.



| On Aug 16, 12:00 am, "(e-mail address removed)"
|
| > The Visual Studio Express Edition version of Visual C++ is free:
| >
| > http://www.microsoft.com/express/product/
| >
| > MSVC is also the most popular C++ compiler for Windows.
|
| Thank you for the link, but how come Visual Basic, Visual C#,
| Visual C++, Visual Web Developer, and SQL Server Express and
| Compact Editon are all free tools while Visual Studio Professional
| is a 3-month download? What more does it offer that is not already
| part of these three? I mean, I don't see an express edition of
| visual studio on the page, just a professional version and a
| standard version, so I could not find exactly what you
| suggested with your post of the above link.
|
| So what is the advantage of the professional version over the
| express version?
|
|
| > >http://www.embarcadero.com/cbuilder
| >
| > Yes, that is it. You will be able to compile and
| > run previous applications developed with the
| > Borland product, with few or no changes.
|
| Well, I think I prefer to go with microsoft because
| it has free express tools. I don't see what the
| advantage of embarcadero would be in order to
| justify the price.
|
| Thank you for your replies,
|
| John Goche

 

[Fraser Ross]

"John Goche"

Well, I think I prefer to go with microsoft because
it has free express tools. I don't see what the
advantage of embarcadero would be in order to
justify the price.

Embarcadero has the free Turbo Explorer based on C++ Builder 2006.

Fraser.

 

[John Goche]

Embarcadero has the free Turbo Explorer based on C++ Builder 2006.

Oh, here I see it:

http://www.turboexplorer.com/

Turbo C++ 2006 Explorer:

https://downloads.embarcadero.com/free/c_builder

The actual file to be downloaded is called TCPP_EXPL_EN_DL.exe

Thank you for your comment,

Regards,

John Goche

 

[robertwessel2]

Thank you for the link, but how come Visual Basic, Visual C#,
Visual C++, Visual Web Developer, and SQL Server Express and
Compact Editon are all free tools while Visual Studio Professional
is a 3-month download? What more does it offer that is not already
part of these three? I mean, I don't see an express edition of
visual studio on the page, just a professional version and a
standard version, so I could not find exactly what you
suggested with your post of the above link.

So what is the advantage of the professional version over the
express version?

Visual Studio is part of the Express Edition Products, just not all
the "pro" features. The full IDE and whatnot is there.

There's an overview comparison of what's in the basic versions of VS
(Express, Standard, Pro, Office) here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/zcbsd3cz(VS.80).aspx

There are even more "corporate" or "big project" tools in the various
team editions (for example, you can get the product distributions* -
for example, you can get all versions of Windows, Office, etc., in
whatever editions and languages MS ships them in, for development use,
Visual SourceSafe for source code management, etc.). Overview here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/subscriptionschart.aspx

And for lots of details:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...B0-B575-47AB-9FD8-4EE067BB3A37&displaylang=en


But some of the most significant limitations with the Express versions
for a small project are:

- Single language (the pay versions allow multi-language projects,
with the express versions, you can have all the different language
versions installed, but a project will live within one of those)

- No DDKs (although some parts of those can be downloaded for free),
so no device driver development

- No mobile device support (so you can't write code for your Windows
Mobile device)

- "Small" version of MSDN

- No SCC (the pay versions are Visual SourceSafe compatible)

- You can't develop VS tools (IOW tools that would add into VS)

- No 64 bit compiler support

- Basic versions of the distribution and packaging tools

- No automated QA tools

But the Express Editions are eminently suitable for Windows
application development for a small project.


*A few years ago when I was getting that stuff on CD, the monthly
shipment with various new and updated MS products probably averaged
over 30 CDs. These days I get some stuff on DVD, and can download the
rest when I want (hey - if I ever need to test with the Japanese
version of Windows Sever Datacenter, I'll have to suffer through the
download, but it's there for me if I need it).

 

[John Goche]

Visual Studio is part of the Express Edition Products, just not all
the "pro" features.  The full IDE and whatnot is there.

There's an overview comparison of what's in the basic versions of VS
(Express, Standard, Pro, Office) here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/zcbsd3cz(VS.80).aspx

There are even more "corporate" or "big project" tools in the various
team editions (for example, you can get the product distributions* -
for example, you can get all versions of Windows, Office, etc., in
whatever editions and languages MS ships them in, for development use,
Visual SourceSafe for source code management, etc.).  Overview here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/subscriptionschart.aspx

And for lots of details:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=727BCFB0-B57....

Thank you for your reply.

My friend said he wants to buy the standard edition and have it
shipped
to him but the problem is that he does not have internet access at
this
moment in time and he wants to know whether Visual Studio Standard
Edition
comes with support for DirectX programming as his primary objective is
to
develop 3D games and is a graphics artist beginning to learn C++. He
would
like to know whether DirectX is a separate download or not.

Also, could anyone recommend a good C++ book that also mentions how to
use the Visual C++ IDE in addition to teaching basic C++, perhaps even
one that is geared towards 3D game development with DirectX (unless
you
would rahter recommend a separate book for the latter)?

Thank you for your replies,

I appreciate your help,

John Goche

 

[robertwessel2]

Thank you for your reply.

My friend said he wants to buy the standard edition and have it
shipped
to him but the problem is that he does not have internet access at
this
moment in time and he wants to know whether Visual Studio Standard
Edition
comes with support for DirectX programming as his primary objective is
to
develop 3D games and is a graphics artist beginning to learn C++. He
would
like to know whether DirectX is a separate download or not.

Hmmm... First your friend *really* needs to get internet access.
There are *so* many resource for software development on the Web that
doing without is just unthinkable, especially if you're learning.
Just millions of bits of sample code to look at, if nothing else.
Plus lots of stuff is really only available as a download. Tons of
information, help, forums, etc. You really can't be a developer
without it these days.

Anyway, I don't know if the current DirectX SDK is included, but I
*think* the prior one is, with both the Express and Standard
products. The DirectX SDK *will* work with the Express Editions

I'm guessing your friend is on a budget, so why doesn't he try the VS
Express stuff first. You can download what MS calls an "offline
install", which lets you create a CD-ROM to install from. This one
(the offline install is at the bottom of the page):

http://www.microsoft.com/express/download/#webInstall

includes, I think, all the languages, and many of the optional
components in a single ISO (CD image), including the GDK (which is a
developers kit for games, which includes DirectX support under the
hood at least - I've never used it – more info on MS’s site), MSDN
Express, and other stuff he'll need.

I'm pretty sure the current DirectX SDK is a single piece download:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...d6-0486-4453-8641-1eee9e21b282&displaylang=en

And you can download that for your friend too (you might want to
rummage around there a bit to make sure you're getting the version
that installs offline, but I think that link is it).

So I suggest you get him both of those. The price is certainly right,
and your friend can always upgrade to the pay versions later if he
gets serious.

But really. Your friend needs internet access.

 

[John Goche]

I'm guessing your friend is on a budget, so why doesn't he try the VS
Express stuff first.  You can download what MS calls an "offline
install", which lets you create a CD-ROM to install from.  This one
(the offline install is at the bottom of the page):

http://www.microsoft.com/express/download/#webInstall

Thank you for this link. I am surprised though that you
can only get the complete "Visual Studio Express Editions"
by downloading and burning to a DVD. Is there not a way
to get the whole studio by downloading a self-extracting
executable instead of an ISO image?

includes, I think, all the languages, and many of the optional
components in a single ISO (CD image), including the GDK (which is a
developers kit for games, which includes DirectX support under the
hood at least - I've never used it – more info on MS’s site), MSDN
Express, and other stuff he'll need.

I'm pretty sure the current DirectX SDK is a single piece download:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=24a541d6-048....

Thank you for your information.

John Goche

 

[robertwessel2]

Thank you for this link. I am surprised though that you
can only get the complete "Visual Studio Express Editions"
by downloading and burning to a DVD. Is there not a way
to get the whole studio by downloading a self-extracting
executable instead of an ISO image?

If you need, there are many third party packages (including free ones)
that allow you to mount an ISO file as a virtual CD-ROM/DVD drive.
Google for "mount iso windows" for some links.

Oddly, this is something MS has been avoiding adding to Windows for
some reason. It's a standard feature on Linux and Macs, but is not in
XP or Vista, I haven't looked in Win7.

But if you're going to get this to your friend who doesn't have online
access, aren't you going to need to burn some physical media for him
anyway? So what's the big deal?

 

[Tech07]

Visual Studio is part of the Express Edition Products, just not all
the "pro" features. The full IDE and whatnot is there.

The IDE project manager of the Express versions is a simple subset of the
for-money versions. Surely the Express environment is "crippled" in other
ways also.

 

[Richard]

[Please do not mail me a copy of your followup]

"Tech07" <[email protected]> spake the secret code

The IDE project manager of the Express versions is a simple subset of the
for-money versions. Surely the Express environment is "crippled" in other
ways also.

The IDE is limited. The compiler is not. Its the full C++ compiler.

 

[Richard]

[Please do not mail me a copy of your followup]

John Goche <[email protected]> spake the secret code

My friend intends to use
it to do DirectX development as he is
into drawing and animation but would
like to continue learning about C++
and DirectX. Will my friend need to
download or purchase something
separate or will C++ builder do.

Start here:
<http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/2008/11/23/direct3d-programming-tip-1-getting-started/>

Have him read my book here:
<http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/>

Have him study this diagram of the Direct3D pipeline:
<http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/d3d-9-0-pipeline/>

Game programmers for Direct3D hang out on the forums of
<http://www.gamedev.net>.