From:	"John M. Aldrich" <fighteer AT cs DOT com>
Newsgroups:	comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject:	Re: Newbie in C++. Is djgpp a good program for me?
Date:	Mon, 16 Dec 1996 19:40:21 -0800
Organization:	Two pounds of chaos and a pinch of salt
Lines:	48
Message-ID:	<32B61625.557B@cs.com>
References:	<594gpo$243 AT duke DOT telepac DOT pt>
Reply-To:	fighteer AT cs DOT com
NNTP-Posting-Host:	ppp102.cs.com
Mime-Version:	1.0
To:	Pedro Miguel Alves Martins <pedromart AT mail DOT telepac DOT pt>
DJ-Gateway:	from newsgroup comp.os.msdos.djgpp

Pedro Miguel Alves Martins wrote:
> 
> As I said I am a newbie in C++.
> I am searching for a good compiler for DOS wich has to be a simple
> one, due to my lack of experience.
> I would like to know your opinions about this.

You've asked in the right place, then.  :)  DJGPP is perhaps the single
best MS-DOS based compiler out there, and even though it doesn't have
the fancy Windows-based interface of Borland, Watcom, and Microsoft, it
does have a very simple, intuitive set of commands, and the best
technical support of any compiler in existence.  It is user-supported,
which means that everyone who uses it is free to contribute additional
code, utilities, and anything else they feel like contributing.  Ask
about something that doesn't exist yet, and chances are someone will
make it for you, or help you make it yourself.  :)

For full information on what DJGPP is and how to get it, visit
http://www.delorie.com/djgpp/ and browse around.  The Frequently Asked
Questions list, available online at delorie.com, should give you all the
information you need about the various things you will need to do to get
DJGPP, install it, and begin using it.

When you are convinced, go to one of the SimTel sites listed at
http://www.delorie.com/djgpp/getting.html and get the file
/v2/readme.1st, which describes the exact steps needed to download and
install DJGPP.

One other thing you _will_ need is a good C++ reference.  I can't name
any specifics, but be wary of any book written specifically in support
of a certain compiler like Borland.  They tend to use very
compiler-specific examples, which will not work on any other compiler. 
Your best shot is a general, ANSI-compliant book that does a good job of
explaining the basics.  While the documentation and support that come
with DJGPP are very good, we aren't here to teach you the language.

DJGPP may seem like a bit much at first, but you will soon learn to love
it.  ;)

Good luck!

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