Another- "Why the hell can't anyone just make a half decent C++ compiler" thread

[Pip Boy]

*Sigh*

Code::Blocks, which was first recommended to me, seemed to not understand its own built-in programs and gives me some cthulian error messages every time I look at it the wrong way.

Microsoft Visual C++ Express, recommended to me by many different people, doesn't use the same syntax as any of the tutorials anywhere ever and when I tell it to build a program, it puts it into some pocket dimension inaccessible to all but the vengeful Elder Gods with whom I am apparently lacking in favor.

Bloodshed Dev-C++ was even weirder. When I downloaded the install file and tried to run it, I was told that it was in a format unrecognizable to Windows XP and that I would have sacrifice 10 virgin women and then drink their blood in order to proceed any further. Seeing as the area where I live is lacking in virgin women to sacrifice (naw, really, they is skanky here) I decided that the install file was useless and tried to delete it. Incidentally, it is apparently "Being used by another person or program which I must close before altering this file". So, that strange fragment of an install file remains on my desktop where I can't delete it or move it, only sit and pray that it doesn't become self aware and turn my computer into a portal to one of the lower planes.


So, really, what in the hell is going on here? Do I need to reformat my computer? Do I need to put a bullet between Billy's eyes? I've been at this shit for weeks and I just can't figure it out. Every compiler that I try to use has some terrible flaw that renders it inoperable. The worst part is, the problems I'm having here aren't related to C++ itself at all. Its all in the goddamn useless software, or in my goddamn useless computer's total inability to run that useless software. These problems don't seem to be typical at all either, so there aren't FAQ's or tutorials out there to help people with this.

Does anyone have an easy button or a cheat code I can use for this? Because its getting to the point that I'm about to just quit.

And then throw my computer at the first vagrant I find.

[synkr0nized]

I'd like to be able to post with something Windows-appropriate for help, but I don't code in Windows, aside from java in our lab. A Unix or Unix-like environment has served me well, though the java development I've done in Eclipse in Windows has been fine, if not downright smooth as well (though that's mostly due to Eclipse, as the experience is the same regardless of OS). I've never had programs fail to work when I code (now, my code and applications have failed to work, sure, but that's a different story).


You could look into something more cross-platform, like jEdit and the GNU compiler. You'd have more control of compilation and where things were, too.

[Nikose Tyris]

Download and Run Hijackthis! and post the results, so we can see if your computer is screwed up. [and a DxDiag]

**************************

Second, why not look into things like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_language Assembly Language. It's easier and should walk you into the basics.

A lot of the simpler syntax from assembly language you'll see used in command codes for WoW Servers, -likely- in RaiRO setups as well. If you'd like to learn, why not investigate into RaiRO and begin learning their code and coding? they can always use more unique contributors. :)

[Pip Boy]

The problem isn't codes failing to work, its that the compilers are failing to not be useless piles of shitware.

The irritating part is that this kind of crap is quite typical for me, even though I'm running a very standard Windows XP that should be able to get along with everything just fine. No one else, regardless of OS, seems to have these problems with these compilers. Its just difficult to try and go learn something new when you're quite capable of learning it, but still can't because its dependent on software that for unknown reasons will not cooperate with your PoS computer.

EDIT: The problem is not C++ itself, but finding and running a compiler that wasn't hand crafted to screw me over just like every other program in existence seems to be. I dunno if I'm doing something wrong, but this crap happens all the time. It took me 3 weeks to make D2 run on this computer.

[synkr0nized]

The problem isn't codes failing to work, its that the compilers are failing to not be useless piles of shitware.

Right, and that's why I was saying that I've never run into that issue [but that I have fucked up my own stuff ;)].

[Nikose Tyris]

please run a hijackthis! and a DxDiag.

[Pip Boy]

What exactly do they do? I mean, something about the name "Hijackthis!" makes me think I don't want it on my computer.

EDIT: Nevermind, looked them up. I'm running DxDiag now, but I don't know if Hijackthis is necessary. I keep AVG on my computer and occasionally also run Malwarebytes' just to be sure. I also reformat every now and then just cuz'. I doubt that spyware/malware are the problem.

[Nikose Tyris]

What exactly do they do? I mean, something about the name "Hijackthis!" makes me think I don't want it on my computer.

Hijackthis! tells me if your computer has been hijacked or is maliciously holding something, such as your undeletable desktop icon.

DxDiag lets me know if you're computer is so undeniably terrible that it will not ever run code.

You want to post these now.

[synkr0nized]

HijackThis! is an .exe that checks your running processes, startup items, browser add-ins, and the like. It flags things that might need your attention, though a lot of it is legitimate things (eg.: you've forced your MSIE search page to something other than the default; most of the things running at startup are supposed to be there), helping to reveal virus/trojan/malware activity and give folks an idea of how your system runs for diagnosis.

dxdiag is the DirectX diagnostic tool. It's already on your machine unless you somehow have never installed DirectX. It gives information both about running processes and your hardware (as well as letting you test your audio/visual hardware).

[Pip Boy]

DxDiag reported no problems anywhere.

I went ahead and ran HijackThis! It didn't seem to report anything out of the ordinary, but in case there's something I missed I've enclosed the report in the spoiler tag.

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 10:55:31 AM, on 6/3/2009
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlwriter.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Linksys Wireless-G PCI Network Adapter with SpeedBooster\WLService.exe
C:\Program Files\Linksys Wireless-G PCI Network Adapter with SpeedBooster\WMP54GSv1_1.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Xbox 360 Accessories\XboxStat.exe
C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools Lite\daemon.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\usnsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Int ernet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [XboxStat] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Xbox 360 Accessories\XboxStat.exe" silentrun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools Lite] "C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools Lite\daemon.exe" -autorun
O4 - Global Startup: HP Digital Imaging Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: WMP54GSSVC - GEMTEKS - C:\Program Files\Linksys Wireless-G PCI Network Adapter with SpeedBooster\WLService.exe

--
End of file - 3289 bytes


EDIT: Okay, I've tried one more time to delete the broken install file even though nothing has actually changed since the last 6 times, and somehow it worked.

Since that worked, I'm going to see how far my good luck is going today and get Code::Blocks again. Maybe it'll work now too. Or maybe I'm just crazy.

[Fifthfiend]

Great Shades of Greyfox, this thread.

[Nikose Tyris]

You didn't actually post the DxDiag.

I'm just going to chalk all this up to User Error, since it's becoming rapidly apparent that have difficulty with some of this stuff. Please begin learning at the basic level and work your way up. Assembly language is a great place to start with a ton of resources available.

[Pip Boy]

I never said I had posted the DxDiag. I said that DxDiag said there were no problems. What I posted was the report that Hijackthis! gave me. Its in the spoiler tag.

[Nikose Tyris]

Yes, but you were asked to post the DxDiag, as I have just made clear to you in Yaplet. I pointed you towards some assembly language earlier. I'd recommend reading into it, it's a great place for anyone interested to get started. We don't begin automatically knowing anything, and we all had to work our way up. I started learning networking with Hex to Binary code. Anything worth it is never easy.

[Pip Boy]

But as I've already stated, the problem here isn't about "working your way up" or any shit like that. Its a problem with compilers. Complexity of the code involved isn't even a factor. EDIT: And I just put the report into the post before this one. Enjoy.

[Fifthfiend]

Microsoft Visual C++ Express, recommended to me by many different people, doesn't use the same syntax as any of the tutorials anywhere ever and when I tell it to build a program, it puts it into some pocket dimension inaccessible to all but the vengeful Elder Gods with whom I am apparently lacking in favor.

Look here is your tutorial.

Start > Programs > Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Express > Visual Studio Tools > Visual Studio Command Prompt

cd\

cd folder\subfolder\subfolder\subfolderwhereyourfilet ocompileisat

cl program.cpp -EHs

Enter

BAM

YOUR SHIT IS COMPILED

This is the method that is so simple they teach it to total retards like me and expect us to be able to do it, if you can't make this work I honestly don't know how to help you.

[Nikose Tyris]

How large are the files you are attempting to create? you have a 1.8 processor. I can see you accidentally overwriting your code or writing bad code by accident and your PC not being able to keep up with an overflow.

Edit: Or how fifth put it.

[Fifthfiend]

I figure if we are talking on the level of "has never compiled a program before" the files he is writing can't be super-huge.

[Nikose Tyris]

I'm trying to be super nice and give him excuses that don't amount to "user error."

[Pip Boy]

I don't care if its "user error". I'm not going to lie, I have no idea what the hell I'm doing. I'm new to this. I think thats implied because if I weren't completely new to this, I wouldn't have to post a thread asking how to make a compiler work.

However, on suggestions from several different people including nikose, I'm just going to try a simpler code for now.

Thanks for the help Synk and Nik.

[Fifthfiend]

Arrrgh just do the thing I just told you to do grarrrrrrrrrrrgh!

[Nikose Tyris]

via yaplet I've directed him to a very useful set of tools to begin learning. I hope this helps with his coding issues.

[Pip Boy]

Arrrgh just do the thing I just told you to do grarrrrrrrrrrrgh!

I obviously did the thing you told me to do ages ago or else I wouldn't recognize that there was a problem with how my compilers were working.

In fact, after I did what you told me to do, I ran a full search of all my harddrives for the thing that had supposedly been compiled.

It doesn't exist.

[Vault Of Thrones]

Maybe you could try specifying what you want the output file to be, from what I've read you should be able to do that using the /Fe switch, so it'd be something like this:


CL /FeC:\Path\plus\name\at\end file.cpp

Where file.cpp is a source file in the current directory, so you'd have to cd to it first. Or you could just leave off all flags entirely and just do a "cl file.cpp" and see what that gives you. According to what I read that should create a file.exe in the same directory as the source file.

[bluestarultor]

You know, I've been taking a look at Borlan's Turbo C++, if all you're doing is messing around. It's free to get at this point, but from what I'm seeing, it's pretty nice. You'll need some sort of DOS access to use it (I recommend DOSBox) and any applications you make with it (it compiles for DOS), but it has its own compiler built right in.