1. Windows Platform
(1) Borland C++ Builder: This is the most efficient and most useful IDE for large scale software development. Have high efficiency compiler, powerful debugger, wide middleware support and large enough library. Of course for a newbie, it is too
complex, and too expensive.
Refer to :
http://www.borland.com/bcppbuilder/
(2).Visual C++: The most widely used compiler for commercial software development. And since Anders Heljsberg join M$, it is greatly improved. It have good compatability with Windows, and MSDN is probably the most resourceful developer's reference. Of course, it is also very complex and expensive.
Refer to :
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/
(3)WATCOM C/C++: Maybe most of you guys don't know it. But it is the most famous compiler in DOS age, especially for compile drivers. Since it is good at generate most optimal machine code. The company is defeated by Microsoft with MFC2.0. But the group is converted to a open source project. It is a free compiler now. But its IDE got problem of supporting Windows NT.
Refer to:
http://www.openwatcom.org/download.html
(3). Mingw: It is a dll on Windows to support gcc compilered code. Nothing special
Refer to:
http://www.mingw.org/
(4). DEV C++: It make use of gcc also. It use Borland's freeware to generate User Interface. There are many users all over the world. But some experts says that it is not good as gcc or MingW.
Refer to:
http://www.bloodshed.net
2. Unix platform:
(1)cc: This is the native C compiler of Unix, also the "oldest" compiler (it is developed when C language is invented). Now all the Unix distributions have it's own implementation. They are specially developed for the specific distribution and embedded into OS-dependent features. You can check with the related websites (Such as AIX, HP-UX, Solaris, SCO or IRIX)
(2)gcc: A gnu "product", most well-know in free software developers. It have the largest and most powerful compiler develop group. It is able to generate very efficient machine code as well. Develop software under Linux environment, gcc is the best option. If you want to have a idea of how compiler is written, it is also a good option
Refer to:
http://gcc.gnu.org
