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[jc6036]

Ignore this. This was when I was going to use C++. This is now the python thread. Hello all, I was just wondering where I might find a free compiler for C++, as I was looking into devving my own roguelike and figured C++ is the best way to go.

Anyone that knows a good jumping off point and compiler, please be sure to tell me!

I googled it, but so far I've seen a shady "free" microsoft visual studio version that says it's a trial in the fine print, and something called devC++, which is in beta. .so. . .yeah. I'm sort of looking for something a bit reliable as well as free. Thank you for your time!

EDIT:Derp. I forgot to mention, I'm on winxp.       EDIT EDIT: This now officialy the python thread.

[lordcooper]

The MS one is sound.  I downloaded it earlier (the full version) from a site which offers free software to students because my college tutor recommended it.  I could chuck you a password for it if you want?

[Fenrir]

Microsoft Visual Studio has a free Express version that will do what you need it to do. It is perfectly legitimate.

[David Holmes]

gcc.  It's ubiquitous in the Unix world, but has Windows versions as well in various forms including MinGW.

Note that gcc is a compiler but not an IDE, so if you want a powerful development environment that's also free, try Eclipse.  Eclipse is best-known as a Java development environment but supports C++ as well.

[ed boy]

I've found code::blocks to be a good one.

[jc6036]

Also, I found a rogulike starter tutorial on rogue basin for python, so I might head down that route as well, though I wanted some experience with C++ For college. . .thanks for your help, sincerely. Now, I just need to find me some general C++ tutorials, and learn how to implement them into a rogulike. Any suggestions, as a google search didn't really bring up much but general tutorials.

[David Holmes]

I will say that using Python will be much more productive if your goal is to produce results rather than to learn a language.  In fact learning C++ is probably the only decent reason to pick C++ for a roguelike, unless it has absurd CPU-intensive simulation like Dwarf Fortress for some reason.  You'll get the game playable in half the time if you pick Python.

Unfortunately I learned C++ from a books which are now dated and don't reflect the modern language, so I don't really have any recommendations. I've since forgotten most of it anyways since my brain has rotten from years of Java programming. Google suggests: http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/

One warning: Almost any method of learning, for either language, is going to use a traditional I/O console for simplicity, which is good for learning.  It's not adequate for writing a roguelike though, so you'll probably have to learn some sort of curses-like library at the very least, which is a whole other can of worms.

[Lectorog]

I'm using this tutorial right now:
http://www.learncpp.com/

It seems to be going pretty well. It specifically works around the Visual Studio and Code::Blocks, so if you can use one of those, this will give you that advantage.

If you want to learn C++ for the sole purpose of creating a roguelike (and soon), then this tutorial is not for you.
If you want a rather thorough comprehension of C++, with the ability to use it well, this tutorial may be for you. I haven't gotten far enough to judge.

You'll probably want to learn/use Python if you just want to code a roguelike now.

[Max White]

For a roguelike?
I'm going to support Java here. Normally I like c#, but java has more support for this, and a lot of the roguelike fanbase use linux. C++ is way op for this task, and you don't want to have to handle your memory management.

Unless you want to learn c++ for greater things to come, in that case, this will treat you well, and get you used to visual studio.

[Virex]

I will say that using Python will be much more productive if your goal is to produce results rather than to learn a language.  In fact learning C++ is probably the only decent reason to pick C++ for a roguelike, unless it has absurd CPU-intensive simulation like Dwarf Fortress for some reason.  You'll get the game playable in half the time if you pick Python.

Even in that case you may be better off with Fortran, since it handles floating point calculations better, or a high-level assembler, since those give you better access to assembler code and better macro support. The reason one normally choses C++ is to take advantage of it's rich set of libraries and professional support, and some of it's high-level features that are absent in other lower-level languages while still having access to the underlying architecture if you need it.

[jc6036]

Maybe I will hold off on the C++ for now, and work on a rogulike in Python. Thanks all.

[ILikePie]

If you're going to use python take a look at libtcod.

[jc6036]

Thats exactly what the tutorial on RB reccomends

[David Holmes]

I'm going to support Java here. Normally I like c#, but java has more support for this, and a lot of the roguelike fanbase use linux. C++ is way op for this task, and you don't want to have to handle your memory management.

I do also think Java would be a decent choice.  In fact if you need both performance AND productivity, and also want to learn something that you're likely to use both in school and the real world, it might be one of the best choices.  I still vote for Python, though.

[jc6036]

I've started on the python tutorial, and am getting ready for the roguelike. Excited!