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Borland C++ Builder Personal 6.0 Full System
Borland (
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£
63.99 |
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usually dispatched within 24 hours. |
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An excellent product but needs more written documentation  |
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Borland C++ is like a gigantic "Meccano" kit for C++ programming. Its "Rapid Application Development" environment lets you build Windows-based C++ applications very easily by clicking on components and placing them onto a form. Even a complete beginner can produce impressive-looking applications very quickly. The manufacturer claims this is a great way to learn C++. But, in the same way a "Meccano" kit doesnt teach you how to cut metal, I think to truly learn C++ you need to write your own simple applications from scratch. Borland C++ lets you do this by writing "console-based" applications, but you need to turn its special visual features off. The Borland compiler uses a number of language extensions which could confuse a true beginner, but again these can be switched off. It comes with a good on-help help system but only a very slim "Quick Start" guide, together with an impressive poster listing, but not describing, all the component classes. I prefer to read paper documentation and had to supplement my purchase with a copy of the "Borland C++ Builder Developers Guide". On the whole the Personal edition is excellent value for money, though if you are into database programming or wish to market your applications you will need the more expensive Professional edition.
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A Great Development Environment  |
Having used Visual C++ for the past 4 years, I think I can make a valid comparison.The editor of C++ Builder seems is much better designed than that of VC++. I like the ability to switch between .cpp and .h files of units by hitting CTRL-F6. This prevents you from having too many tabs open at one time, a major headache, if youre working with hundreds of files. On a side note, the Code Completion of C++ Builder seems to be more sluggish than that of VC++. The RAD (Rapid Application Development) capabilities of C++Builder are just amazing. You get to drag components onto a form, a la Visual Basic, but you get the power of C++. To sum it up:
Pros:
a) Fantastic RAD capabilities
b) Good editor with some very neat features.
c) Very active community of developers (newsgroups.borland.com).
d) Low price. Good for introduction to Windows Development. Cons:
a) Most libraries on the net are written for VC++. Getting them to compile on C++ Builder can be a chore at times.
b) Code completion can take a while. Sometimes, it just doesnt show, claiming theres a syntax error when there isnt.
c) Compiler can be a bit picky with some uses of templates. Still cant compile libraries like loki and boost without extensive code modifications(not many compilers can).
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Borland C++ Builder Personal Edition |
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Installation of the product is straigh forward and hastle free. As a beginner, I found that the book / manual is quite easy to follow. The first Tutorial you get to create a simple text editor. As you explore that system further it becomes really easy to tweak. A very excellent product for anyone wishing to learn C++; this is the software to purchase. I must also say that the delivery time stated by Amazon was spot on. The product was delivered as promised and right on the day. Good Show Amazon...
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