C++ and Visual C++

Neither Visual C++ 5.0 nor Visual C++ 6.0 nor Visual C++ .NET (Version 7.0, before 2003) are standard-conforming. For this reason, some examples of my books don't compile.

For example, if you try to compile io/outbuf2.cpp of my book The C++ Standard Library you will get some error messages such as follows:

> error C2512: 'basic_ostream<char,struct std::char_traits<char> >' : no appropriate default constructor available
> error C2614: 'fdostream' : illegal member initialization: 'ostream' is not a base or member

To get a (more) standard-conforming compiler you:

• should switch to Visual C++ 2003 .NET (Version 7.1) or higher. This version is 98% standard conforming (which should be enough in almost all cases). See
  • http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/02/11/08/021108hnoopsla.xml
  • http://www.computerworld.com/developmenttopics/development/dotnet/story/0,10801,75755,00.html
  • http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/
  Note that compiler and library without the IDE are available for free. See
  • http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualc/


• might choose another compiler, e.g.
• g++ 3.3 (or higher) for free
• Comeau C/C++, a Standard Conforming C++ Compiler for All Platforms for 50$

Hope it helps.

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