Compiler choices: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:33, 12 June 2008

You have several choices for compiling the Source SDK:

Visual Studio 2005 / Visual C++ Express 2005 — which are compatible 'out of the box'.
Visual Studio 2008 / Visual C++ Express 2008 — which can be used after a bit of work.
GCC — which is used to compile Linux Dedicated Servers.

If you own a copy of Visual Studio 2005/2008 you'll probably want to use that, and if you're compiling for Linux you don't have a choice to make. Which leaves only the Visual C++ Express versions to choose between:

VCE2005: Officially supported by Valve; More established technology; "Just works"
VCE2008: More recent - fewer bugs; Nicer user interface; Better support from Microsoft

Both are perfectly acceptable choices, providing for free all of the functionality needed to program and compile a mod. If you are unsure, choose 2005.

Additional SDKs

VCE2005 users need to download the Windows SDK (Windows 2000 users: Platform SDK). Visual Studio and VCE2008 users do not.
If you want to create new shaders, the DirectX SDK is required.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:Vsexpress logo.png|right|Visual Studio Express logo]]
+[[Image:Gccegg-65.png|right|GCC logo]]
-The Source SDK is compatible with [http://msdn.microsoft.com/howtobuy/visualc/default.aspx Visual Studio 2005] and [http://www.microsoft.com/express/2005/download/default.aspx Visual C++ Express 2005] (The 2008s compile in release mode but not debug). The server library can be compiled for Linux with [http://gcc.gnu.org/ gcc].
+You have several choices for compiling the Source SDK:
-'''For most, [http://www.microsoft.com/express/2005/download/default.aspx Visual C++ Express 2005] is the best option.''' It provides all of the functionality needed to program and build a mod, and most of Microsoft's industry-standard toolset, for free.
+#'''[http://msdn.microsoft.com/howtobuy/visualc/default.aspx Visual Studio 2005]''' / '''[http://www.microsoft.com/express/2005/download/default.aspx Visual C++ Express 2005]''' — which are compatible 'out of the box'.
+#'''[http://msdn.microsoft.com/vs2008/products/ Visual Studio 2008]''' / '''[http://www.microsoft.com/express/vc/ Visual C++ Express 2008]''' — which can be used [[Compiling under VS2008|after a bit of work]].
+#'''[http://gcc.gnu.org/ GCC]''' — which is used to compile [[Wikipedia:Linux|Linux]] [[Dedicated server|Dedicated Server]]s.
-Most programming tutorials on this website assume you are using Visual Studio.
+If you own a copy of Visual Studio 2005/2008 you'll probably want to use that, and if you're compiling for Linux you don't have a choice to make. Which leaves only the Visual C++ Express versions to choose between:
+;[http://www.microsoft.com/express/2005/download/default.aspx VCE2005]
+:Officially supported by Valve
+:More established technology
+:"Just works"
+;[http://www.microsoft.com/express/vc/ VCE2008]
+:More recent - fewer bugs
+:Nicer user interface
+:Better support from Microsoft
+Both are perfectly acceptable choices, providing for free all of the functionality needed to program and compile a mod. If you are unsure, choose 2005.
 == Additional SDKs ==
@@ Line 11: / Line 25: @@
 *VCE2005 users need to download the [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e6e1c3df-a74f-4207-8586-711ebe331cdc&DisplayLang=en Windows SDK] (Windows 2000 users: [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=A55B6B43-E24F-4EA3-A93E-40C0EC4F68E5&displaylang=en Platform SDK]). Visual Studio and VCE2008 users do not.
 *If you want to create new [[shader]]s, the [http://msdn2.microsoft.com/directx/aa937788.aspx DirectX SDK] is required.
+== See also ==
+* [[Compiling under VS2005]]
+* [[Compiling under VS2008]]
+* [[Compiling under Linux]]
 [[Category:Source_SDK_FAQ]]
 [[Category:Programming]]

Compiler choices: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:33, 12 June 2008

Additional SDKs

See also

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