From: "Jean-Rene Cormier" <jrc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
On Tue, 2006-06-20 at 19:10 -0700, Peter Gordon wrote:
jdow wrote:
> Do be careful about use of features of the language. Visual C++ 3.0
> is pretty early on and may have some limitations 5.0 and 6.0 don't
> have. And I am sure current gcc++ is more accurate for C++ and has
> extensions VC++ does not understand. But for beginning work that
> should not be a big problem.
Yup. When I was taking a C++ class a couple of semesters ago, the Visual
C++ stuff we were using in the labs didn't support friend functions
(which you probably won't get to if it's just an introduction course). I
don't know offhand if Microsoft has pushed an update for this.
Visual C++ 6.0 does support this because we saw it when I took my
introduction class.
6.0 and up do support it to my direct knowledge. I'd be wary of 3.0
in that regard. 3.0 may not support some of the template libraries,
as well. A professor requiring compatibility with a potentially not
complete C++ compiler is worrisome. But then, maybe he wants a rather
simple subset of C++ for this course.
If he uses a feature, even in 5.0, he should be able to cite the
chapter and verse in the C++ specification that details it and why
what he did is covered.
{^_^}
