Which are the best C++ compilers?

When you write a program in a language like C++, you write it as text. Computers can read text files easily, but they cannot execute the instructions in a text file directly.

The text files that contain your code must first be converted into machine language instructions before a computer, or any device that behaves like one (your phone, for example), can understand them.

Sometimes a compiler is built into the software you use to write your program. Sometimes it is a separate, standalone tool. Either way, before you can run your program on a computer or a phone, it must be compiled into machine code.

What you write is the source code. What the compiler generates is machine code. The compiler also checks your code for errors. Some compilers generate machine language directly; others first translate your high-level code into an intermediate “assembly language” that an assembler later turns into machine code.

In plain language, the compiler converts a program written in a human-readable format into a machine-readable one. There are separate compilers for different operating systems like Windows and macOS.

Because these machines have different architectures, you may need different builds of your program for each one. A compiler that targets macOS won’t produce program files for Windows.

Likewise, a compiler that targets Windows won’t produce programs for macOS.

The difference between a compiler and an interpreter

Programs run in 2 ways: through a compiler or through an interpreter. What’s the difference? Suppose you want to talk with someone who speaks Japanese, but you only speak English.

You don’t know Japanese and they don’t know English. If you learn Japanese first and then talk to them, you have “compiled” the way you speak into another language.

If they learn English first and then talk to you, they have done the same. But what if neither of you wants to learn the other’s language and you still want to talk?

You use an interpreter. The same goes for programs. Some languages are typically interpreted and some are typically compiled.

One of the biggest differences is that a compiler creates a standalone program. As long as the executable runs on its target operating system, it doesn’t need anything else (unless it uses third-party libraries or tools).

An interpreter is different: it must be running alongside your code. A good example is the JavaScript that makes web pages interactive.

The JavaScript engine in your browser reads your code and executes it. Similarly, if you have used WordPress, you may know it is written in PHP.

PHP is an interpreted language. An interpreter translates and runs your program a piece at a time. A compiler scans the entire program and converts it into machine code all at once.

Without going into the pros and cons of each, the basic difference is that an interpreter translates and executes your program as it goes, whereas a compiler translates the whole program first, and only then can you run it.

Why does C++ need a compiler?

C++ is a relatively low-level language. In the beginning it was used to write embedded programs for intelligent systems, and later programmers began using it for mainstream applications.

A big reason C++ needs a compiler is that it is a structured, statically typed language. Calls to macros, functions and references must be resolved before the program runs; otherwise it could crash or not even build.

This way, the compiler can detect an error even in lines that haven’t been executed yet. With an interpreter, an error only shows up when the faulty line is executed.

Every C++ source file is first compiled into an object file. Object files and headers from multiple sources are then linked together to produce the executable.

Many people consider C++ a high-level language, which may be correct, but it also has low-level capabilities, so many call it a mid-level language. It isn’t as close to the machine as assembly, but it isn’t designed to be interpreted either.

To execute it efficiently, you have to go deep, and only compilation gets you there.

The history of C++

C++ was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup, and the idea came to him while he was working on his Ph.D. thesis. At the time, a lot of work was being done in a language called Simula.

Simula was mainly used for simulations. One of its versions, Simula 67, is known as one of the first object-oriented programming languages.

Stroustrup wanted to add object-oriented programming to C. He initially called it “C with Classes”. C was one of the most efficient languages for low-level work, so rather than moving to another language, he wanted to build the features he needed into C itself.

His compiler for the new language was called Cfront. Cfront was itself written in C with Classes, an early example of a compiler that could compile itself.

Cfront was retired in 1993 due to various shortcomings, but it contributed hugely to the development of later compilers.

“C with Classes” became C++ in 1983. The “++” comes from the C operator that increments a variable by one.

In 1985, C++ was released as a commercial product. The 1989 version added protected and static members and multiple inheritance. Many programmers remember working in Turbo C++, introduced in 1990.

The language has evolved a lot since then. Microsoft has its own version, Visual C++.

Why is C++ so popular?

You could call C++ one of the original languages. Most experienced programmers know how to code in C/C++, and many operating systems are written in C or C++. Some think commercial use of C++ is waning now that friendlier languages like Rust exist, but among computer science students, C++ is still one of the most popular and most essential languages to learn.

In fact, many consider it one of the hardest languages for students to master, which is one reason so many students look for help with C++ assignments. Many legacy applications and operating systems are written in C++.

They can’t simply be rewritten in new languages. When features need to be added or changed, programmers proficient in C++ are the ones who come in handy, so they are highly sought after.

Millions of developers worldwide use C++, and C++ programmers are among the better paid in the industry. Because the language has been around since the early eighties, its library ecosystem is vast.

Whatever you want to do on a computer, you can do in C++. There is also a large community of developers online, and millions of lines of code are shared as open-source libraries.

Did you know that many database servers are written in C++, including MySQL and MongoDB? C++ handles modern features such as exceptions and lambda expressions, which makes it well suited to modern databases.

Because these databases are used by mainstream services such as Twitter, Facebook, WordPress and YouTube, those services depend heavily on C++. And although Android is often associated with Java, a big portion of it is written in C++.

Not just Android: Windows, Linux, iOS and Ubuntu all owe a lot to C and C++. Many mainstream Windows applications are written in C++, as are browsers like Chrome, Safari and Firefox.

C++ and its predecessor, C, are widely used for embedded systems, so you’ll find them in smartwatches, MP3 players and GPS devices.

What are the main features of C++?

To understand how compilers treat C++, it helps to know its main features. What makes C++ so special? Let’s go through them quickly.

Object-oriented

C++ was one of the pioneering languages to support object-oriented programming. Programming languages are broadly procedural or object-oriented. In object-oriented programming, you build programs from classes and objects.

In procedural programming, you build programs from functions and procedures. Object-oriented programming is a subject in itself, so we won’t go deep here, but it has these attributes:

• Encapsulation
• Inheritance
• Polymorphism
• Abstraction

Rich library

You can extend C++ through libraries. Some functionality is built in, and much more comes from libraries. One benefit is that if you don’t need certain features, you don’t include those libraries, which keeps your program smaller.

For example, to use standard input and output, you include the iostream library at the top of the program. For mathematical functions, you include cmath.

To work with dates and times, you include ctime. If you don’t need a feature, you skip its library. You get massive capabilities without bloating your program with code you’ll never use.

Powerful and fast

C++ gives you a lot of control over how your program uses computer resources, which pays off if you know how to use it. By managing resources carefully, you can speed up and optimize your programs.

Another reason, and one that annoys many programmers, is that C++ is very strict about the variables you define.

Its type rules are strict. This means the program doesn’t have to guess: when it is compiled and run, it knows exactly what you are trying to do.

Platform dependent

Because C++ makes heavy use of the native capabilities of the machine it runs on, compiled C++ programs are platform-dependent. A program compiled for Windows won’t run on Linux or macOS.

Similarly, a program compiled for a Mac won’t run on a Windows computer.

Compiler-based language

You can’t run a C++ program straight from its source code file the way you can with interpreted languages. You need to compile it into machine code first.

This is the compiler’s job, and that’s why, to use a C++ program, you need to run it through a compiler.

The relationship between a compiler and machine architecture

In the early days of computing, languages were very low level. Programmers wrote in a form the machine understood but humans struggled to read.

These were very cryptic languages. High-level languages made programming easier for people but harder for computers to understand directly, so interpreters and compilers were needed to bridge the gap.

A compiler turns your source code into a machine-readable file based on the underlying hardware architecture. Much of a compiler is language-specific, but the hardware plays a significant role in its design.

Taking the capabilities of the hardware into account helps developers build effective compilers. This is one of the biggest reasons compilers are so architecture-centered.

A compiler consists of a front end and a back end. The back end depends heavily on the architecture of the system the program is meant to run on.

Processor speed, the number of CPU registers, the instruction set, the number of arithmetic, logic and floating-point units, and cache and memory transfer rates all affect how a compiler performs.

This is why compiled programs are generally more efficient than interpreted ones. The compiler shapes the code exactly the way the host computer prefers it.

Source code compiled for a specific architecture can use the computer’s resources more efficiently.

The list of mainstream C++ compilers

By now you know why C++ programs need a compiler. So which compilers are best for generating optimized machine code?

Below are some mainstream C++ compilers. Some are free and some are commercial; choose according to your needs.

Borland C++

This is one of the oldest and cheapest compilers. It was a hit in the MS-DOS days, but more advanced compilers are available now. It comes with its own IDE, so you can write C++ code in its editor and compile it right there.

You can also run your code from within the IDE window.

The IBM C++ compiler

IBM has several compilers, including a dedicated one for C++. They mostly target IBM’s own platforms and open infrastructure, with versions available for Linux.

Visual C++ compiler

Visual C++ is part of Visual Studio, Microsoft’s development environment, which includes visual designers for building applications. You can use it to build desktop applications, web applications, Linux software and even video games.

You can add more components as your needs grow. The compiler is built into Visual Studio. Microsoft also offers a separate, lightweight code editor called Visual Studio Code.

Oracle C++ compiler

This compiler ships with Oracle Developer Studio and lets you compile software in C, C++ and Fortran. It includes a NetBeans-based IDE.

It is available for Oracle Solaris and Linux. Oracle Solaris is Oracle’s own operating system.

Xcode C++ compiler for iOS and macOS

To build software and mobile apps for the Apple ecosystem, you mostly work in Swift and Objective-C. For C++, you use the compiler that ships with Xcode (Clang). Like the other mainstream compilers, it comes with its own IDE, though some programmers who use it regularly prefer an IDE of their choice over the built-in one.

Dev C++ compiler

This is a free, full-featured integrated development environment released under the GNU General Public License. You can use it to write programs in C and C++. It is one of the classic C and C++ environments.

It comes with its own integrated environment along with the compiler.

Intel C++ compiler

It takes advantage of the latest Intel architecture features and is best suited to applications that run on Intel machines. It was historically available under a commercial license and bundled with Intel’s developer suites.

It can be integrated with Visual Studio, and you can use it to compile software for Linux and Windows. It was once available for macOS too, but recent releases dropped that.

Famous applications built with C++

Some software built with C++ has already been mentioned, including Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, UNIX and Ubuntu components.

Much of Microsoft Office is written in C++, as are other office suites including Apache OpenOffice. Major components of YouTube, Amazon, Netflix, Salesforce and Spotify are written in C++.

You may be surprised to know that Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator are written in C++. Large parts of Google’s search infrastructure are written in C and C++.

Google Earth is developed in C++. Many compilers are themselves written in C++, and embedded systems for Internet of Things devices are widely written in C++.

Many enterprise systems in healthcare, manufacturing, shipping, banking, universities, research centers and space programs are written in C++.

The VLC media player, Windows Media Player and Apple’s iPod software were all written in C++. Major relational databases including Oracle Database, IBM DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM Informix, SAP MaxDB and MySQL are written largely in C and C++.

What about video games? Many major games on PlayStation and Xbox are written in C++.

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