C++ For system programming

C++, created in 1981 by Bjarne Stroutstup, adds object features to C, while remaining compatible with it.
The goal of C++ goals was to be portable.

Features

C++ describes classes into header files, and body of methods into source files. By declaring instances of classes you can reuses set of variables and methods without to define them again.
Memory management is unchanged.
Overloading allows to declare a method with different parameters.
Classes inherits one from other and share their methods.

Why to use C++?

I think that C++ it will be replaced by C# in the near future. It remains the best tool for system programming.

Sites and tools

• Visual C++
  Visual Studio Express by Microsoft (free).
• Turbo C++
  RAD (Rapid Application Development) tool, with visual interface and predefined widgets, free even for commercial software building.
• Eclipse
  IDE and tool integrator with a plugin for C++. (Java).
• BCC 5.5 and CBuilder ++
  A free command-line C++ compiler. Visual C++ produces smaller programs, but once the executables compressed (by UPX) the ones made by BCC are 30 % smaller.
  You can found detailed installation and instructions of use at this page.
  (Win).
• MingW
  This is the Windows version of GCC, the free compiler from the Free Software Fondation. The Linux version is available from the gnu site.(Win/Lin)
  Watcom
  Another C and C++ compiler, with a useful doc on C.
• Kylix (Linux)
  Free IDE for open source software. Pascal and C++ May work or not depending the configuration (see the README file). Banner at start or generated programs may be removed.
• Thinking C++
  A very complete tutorial on C++ with sources of examples. The RTF file should be viewed with WordView (available at the Microsoft's site) rather than with Wordpad.
• Ultimate C++
  Editor for C++ and frontend to Visual C++ or MingW. SDL graphical library included. Open source.
• Dev-C++
  Editor and project manager for MingW or other C++ compiler. Pascal source. (Win)
• Vide
  An editor with syntax-highlighting, and project manager you can interface with the BCC 5.5 compiler.
• C to C++
  Converts a C project to C++.

Libraries

• Graphic 32
  A graphical library for C++ builder and Kylix.
• SDI Framework
  Library to start an application for Windows without MFC.

Objective C sites

Objective C is another object oriented version of the C language, simpler than C++.

• GnuStep
  A free IDE for objective-C. For Linux and Windows.

Sample code

Merging and displaying lists

string s = "demo" + "trail";
int l = s.length();
for(int i = 0; i < l; i++)
{
   char c = s[i];
   printf("%c\n", c);
}