A Complete Guide To Programming In C++ – Introduction

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2 years ago

A Complete Guide To Programming In C++ Introduction

C++ is one of the most powerful programming languages as well as being one of the World’s most popular. Using a fast, efficient and reliable C++ Windows programming IDE is very important for beginners and professionals since it helps C++ developers in remembering which language features exist, how to use them, and even detect errors when we get it wrong. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’re going to release a series of articles which will take you from your very first steps with C++, through the basics, to more advanced topics. We’ll be using RAD Studio and C++ Builder as our C++ IDE and you’re going to learn how to create C++ programs for all platforms including Windows desktop as well as mobile apps.

Table of Contents

Introduction to a complete guide to programming in C++

If you want to implement small projects for analysis and calculations without GUIs and many other features, most small compilers will do just fine, and you can theoretically use a ‘dumb’ text editor to create those apps. But this really is doing it the hard way! If you want to migrate from building simple exe files to complex professional applications, we highly recommend using a professional C++ compiler with an advanced IDE from the start.

How do I start C++ programming with a professional IDE?

In my opinion the best C++ Compiler and IDE for Windows 8, 10 and 11 is, C++ Builder IDE and Compiler

You can download the free C++ Builder Community Edition here: https://www.embarcadero.com/products/cbuilder/starter.
Professional developers can use the Professional, Architect or Enterprise versions of C++ Builder. Please visit https://www.embarcadero.com/products/cbuilder.

Click here to see What’s New in C++ Builder

What Is a C++ compiler?

There are two types of programming languages: Interpreted and Non-Interpreted (Compiled). All computers, specifically the CPU/GPU, work with machine code, code that can be directly used by them. This is the most native and fastest code, but it requires writing many lines for simple things and is hard to generalize for all kinds of machines. The code is also quite difficult to understand since it uses instructions which are not really like a human language. This kind of program is sometimes referred to as a “low level” programming language because it is very close to the computer’s raw hardware instructions.

What Is a C++ programming IDE?

An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is a software application that provides a complete set of features for application development. Code is generally written in text format, and you can easily edit or modify your code using text editors like Notepad, etc. For a developer, beginner or professional, however, a C++ IDE is really important because of powerful tailored features like error highlights, auto code completion, and help system which help with the process of writing the code plus the opportunity to run, test, debug, deploy, merge or transform code to run on other platforms (multiplatform coding) are also important. All these capabilities require a powerful compiler and IDE which is a specialized tool to help developers create and test their code.

Low level computer language is a little hard to understand

What is a CLANG compiler and why do I need my C++ IDE to support it?

In Windows application development, native C++ compiler and IDE that supports the latest Windows features are very important. Some of the IDEs are not specifically designed for C++ development. Some IDEs are designed only for console application developments. Some are supports with few features, generally, you must install a C++ compiler with a lot of options changes, etc. In modern application development, professional developers use much stronger C++ IDE.

If the IDE development company also develops a compiler, these both together work well in integrity. Be sure that your C++ IDE comes with a CLANG-based compiler. Be sure that your IDE also supports, other C++ libraries and standards like Dinkumware standard library, MSBuild/CMake/Ninja support, and popular libraries like Boost and Eigen.

CLANG is considered to be a production C and C++ compiler when targeting X86-32, X86-64, and ARM. It can also compile some C type language variants such as Objective-C although these are not supported by RAD Studio and C++ Builder which focus on C++. It is a new C/C++ compiler standard (C++98, C++11, C++17, C++20, C++23 ..) supported by The LLVM Compiler Infrastructure Project, and has been a default compiler in recent years for most C/C++ compilers. This means that if you code for a CLANG compiler, most other IDEs, Compilers of Platforms will support your code without any changes. The latest C++17 standard is supported by the most C++ compilers. More information about core language features can be found here.

We highly recommend you start with or to move to a CLANG-enhanced compiler like the Embarcadero’s C++ Builder, which supports the CLANG (C++11, C++ 17) standard and has its own C++ Compiler, IDE, GUI Designer and more. The C++Builder Standards and Clang Enhanced Compiler features can be found here.

A complete guide to programming in C++ Builder

C++ Builder is the easiest and fastest C and C++ IDE for building simple or professional applications on the Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android operating systems. It is also easy for beginners to learn with its wide range of samples, tutorials, help files, and LSP support for code. C++ Builder comes with Rapid Application Development Studio, also known as RAD Studio, and C++ Builder is one of the most professional IDE’s that work under RAD Studio. RAD Studio’s C++ Builder version comes with the award-winning VCL framework for high-performance native Windows apps and the powerful FireMonkey (FMX) framework for cross-platform UIs. There is a free C++ Builder Community Edition for students, beginners, and startups. More details about C++ Builder & RAD Studio for the beginners can be found in Official Wiki of Rad Studio.

Introduction To the RAD Studio C+ Builder IDE

C++ Builder IDE has mainly 5 Parts, the Code Editor Window and Form Designer, Projects Window, Palette Window, Structure Window, Object Inspector Window. You can find more , less commonly used windows from the main IDE menu as well as the right-click context menus. All the basic sections can be summarized in this IDE picture;

Now let’s explain each of these areas shown above.

1.The Code Editor and Form Designer: The Code Editor and the Form Designer occupy the center pane of the IDE window. The Code Editor is a full-featured, customizable UTF8 editor that provides syntax highlighting, multiple undo capability and context-sensitive help for language elements. You can switch between them by using F12 or from lower tabs in IDE. As you design the user interface for your application, RAD Studio generates the underlying code. When you modify object properties, your changes are automatically reflected in the source files.

2. The Project Window : The Project Window displays and organizes the contents of your current project group and any project it contains. You can perform many important project management tasks, such as adding, removing, and compiling files. The default location of the Projects window is the upper right corner of the IDE, but the window is dockable, as are many windows in the IDE

3. The Tool Palette Window: The Tools Palette Window has UI elements, components that can be used in application UI design, it assists with a new project, adds components to a form, or adds code snippets to the Code Editor.

4. The Structure Window: The Structure View Window displays a tree diagram that shows the hierarchy of elements in the active window (that is, the Code Editor or the Form Designer)

5. The Object Inspector Window: The Object Inspector is used to examine and edit the properties and events for the currently selected object or objects. Every design object (Components, UI Elements) can be edited by clicking on it then setting its properties and events in the Object Inspector Window.

Running C++ Code: You can run your code by pressing F9 or Run button on the top bar. You can use other Run Without Debugging. There is a Stop and Pause button if your code is in loop. On the run time you can use debug, break points, watch variables and many other runtime features.

Switching between the Design and Code View: You can press F12 to switch between the Code Editor and Form Designer. The latest C++ Builder also allows you to use both of them together in the same screen. You can switch code, header and design view from the bottom top bars.

Switching Between the Code Files: You can use tabs on the top to switch between .c or .cpp files and .h headers.

How to start C++ programming in C++ Builder ?

If you download C++ Builder Community Edition (or RAD Studio CE version) or a free trial of the full version of C++ Builder. Install it on your windows computer and run RAD Studio or C++ Builder. Beginners and students normally start to learn C++ with simple code. Let’s create a new Multi-Device (Cross-Platform) C++ application by using FireMonkey (FMX) framework. It’s a simple program, but when we’ve finished it’s capable of running on other devices, not just a Windows PC!

C++ Builder greets you with a Welcome Screen. You can create a new project by using File->New menu on the top. By using this menu. You can create a new MultiDevice Application in C++ Builder with FireMonkey FMX framework or a new Windows VCL Application in C++ Builder with VCL framework or you can create a Console Application in C++. There are more options to develop more professional static, dynamic libraries, etc.

Choose File->New-> “Multi-Device Application – C++ Builder” menu.

This will create a New C++ Project for Windows and can be easily compiled for other operating systems like iOS , Android. This will allow you develop C++ apps with FMX UI elements. If you don’t need UI Elements, this means you don’t need VCL or FMX frameworks, you create a console application too. Modern applications have a GUI’s and skinned Styles. Note that VCL projects are Windows only and FireMonkey projects are Multi Device (multi-platform) applications that you can compile and run on Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android .

Save all Unit files and Project file to a folder.

Download C++ Builder CE Now

How to develop apps with GUIs in C++ Builder ?

How to design your first screen or form when you start a C++ program?

Simply drag and drop components from the Palette window on the right side; Memo (TMemo) and Button (TButton) to your form design. Arrange their width, height and position. You can edit each of their properties from the Object Inspector on the left side.

Note that you can switch between the GUI Design mode to Code Mode by pressing F12, or vice versa. If you want, you can switch to your header file (.h) of your cpp file (.cpp) from the button tabs. You can change your Build Configuration from the left Project window by setting it to Debug or Release mode.

How to add your C++ code to your first C++ program example?

Double click to Button1 to create OnClick() event for this button. Add these lines into Button1Click() event,

[crayon-673959b3ac93d530079300/]

This example above is a modern “Hello World” example for Windows which runs with C++ Builder.

How to compile your C++ program example?

Now you can compile this C++ code; just press the F9 key or just click the Run button in the center of top bar. This will let the IDE check your code and compile both the Unit and project files and link them together. You can also use the Run menu from the top to run your application. You should see this below as a form application

If you get an error, check your code – it’s easy to mistype or have the braces (“}” characters) in the wrong place. Note that C++ is case sensitive, so upper and lower characters should be also same. Then press the F9 key or just click the Run button again.

From this point, you can add more code, or you can switch back to design mode by pressing F12. And you can add more components, then more code. This is how modern C++ coding works with an UI Toolkit. You can try this simple “Hello World” example below too,

A complete guide to programming in C++

Here are the full list of our C++ posts in order to guide you start programming in C++

Introduction to C++

Installing C++ Compiler and IDE’s

How to Edit, Compile and Run C++ Files

Simple C++ Programs

Introduction

Introduction To C++ Coding

C++ Builder is the easiest and fastest C and C++ IDE for building simple or professional applications on the Windows, MacOS, iOS & Android operating systems. It is also easy for beginners to learn with its wide range of samples, tutorials, help files, and LSP support for code. RAD Studio’s C++ Builder version comes with the award-winning VCL framework for high-performance native Windows apps and the powerful FireMonkey (FMX) framework for cross-platform UIs.

You can download the free C++ Builder Community Edition here: https://www.embarcadero.com/products/cbuilder/starter.

Professional developers can use the Professional, Architect or Enterprise versions of C++ Builder. Please visit https://www.embarcadero.com/products/cbuilder.