Here’s the Deal

GCC vs Microsoft Visual C++

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When comparing GCC vs Microsoft Visual C++, the Slant community recommends Microsoft Visual C++ for most people. In the question“What are the easiest to use C++ compilers and IDEs?” Microsoft Visual C++ is ranked 2nd while GCC is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose Microsoft Visual C++ is:

To get C++ running on a build machine, just copy the VC bin, and all the headers/libraries you'll need. Then set your PATH, INCLUDE, LIB, and LIBPATH environment variables, and you're ready.

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Common Questions

What are the easiest to use C++ compilers and IDEs?

Pros

Pro
Mature

GCC was first released in 1987 when it was called the GNU C Compiler, a couple of months after it was released it was extended to support C++ too. Nowadays it supports other languages than C or C++.

Having been in use and constant development for more than 20 years it has reached a state of maturity and stability. The fact that it's so old also means that there are countless resources out there for people who want to use it.

Pro
Default on many systems

GCC is the default compiler on several systems. Most of the time people have it installed on their machine without even knowing it's there.

Pro
Available for even the most obscure hardware

Since it's so old and very popular it has been ported to almost any architecture imaginable. This means that it's probably compatible with even the most obscure and unheard hardware.

Pro
Very stable, excellent cross-platform use

Pro
XCopy deployable

To get C++ running on a build machine, just copy the VC bin, and all the headers/libraries you'll need. Then set your PATH, INCLUDE, LIB, and LIBPATH environment variables, and you're ready.