Educational IDE to start programming in C++?

Question

I'am aware there has been a generic question about a "best IDE in C++" but I would like to stress I'm a new to C++ and programming in general. This means I have the needs of a student:

• relatively easy and unbloated working environment
• things just work, focus on the code
• color coding to show the different language features (comments, etc)
• not too unfriendly (not a simple editor, something to handle projects from start to finish)
• cross-platform so not to be bound with specific system practices

I think the above are relatively reasonable demands for an educational IDE, perhaps excluding the last as such universal tool might not exist. Any ideas?

Answer 1

It depends on which world are you coming from to learn C++.

• Do you have previous Java experience? - Use Eclipse CDT.
• Have used .NET previously? - Go with Visual Studio C++ Express Edition (and then throw it away if you really need multiplatform IDE, not just code).
• Are you an Unix guy? Use just a syntax-highlighting editor + Makefile. When you want to learn basics of the C++, the project should not be complicated and it is well invested time to learn how the C++ compiler is called with preprocessor options, etc.