Ok, just got through installing VS2005express and can understand why the OP may not want to install it.
It's a lot of downloads and file changes to get it set up along with having to register (or it quits after 30days).
Now, back to me describing myself as a beginner with C++. Every tutorial I've seen starts off with:
#include <iostream>using namespace std;
Most free IDEs generate a simple Hello World when you start a new project. Here's Code::Blocks new project results:
#include <iostream>using namespace std;int main(){ cout << "Hello world!" << endl; return 0;}
You have a Project with a file sources secton and a main.cpp file.
Now on to VS, when I start a new project I get my project with sections for Header Files (which includes a stdafx.h file), Resource Files (empty) and Source Files (the stdafx.h file and the name_of_project_main.cpp file) along with a Readme.txt.
The stafx.h file is as follows:
// stdafx.h : include file for standard system include files,// or project specific include files that are used frequently, but// are changed infrequently//#pragma once#ifndef _WIN32_WINNT // Allow use of features specific to Windows XP or later. #define _WIN32_WINNT 0x0501 // Change this to the appropriate value to target other versions of Windows.#endif #include <stdio.h>#include <tchar.h>
and the first.cpp (my project name) file:
// first.cpp : Defines the entry point for the console application.//#include "stdafx.h"int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[]){ return 0;}
Now let me once again state I'm beginning in C++ and the lessons I'm following start with one main file and
include <iostream>. Can you see where this would be confusing for beginners?