Borland C++ Builder 5.0 Professional

Rating:
Summary: Professional Edition Well Worth The Money
Review: OK, maybe it wasn't *my* money but I won't hesitate to continue recommending to employers and clients that they procure this product for Windows software development. A number of salient points have been made about this product in other reviews here, so I'll limit comments to issues that haven't been fully addressed. The on-line help for this version of the product is separated distinctly into two different references... one for Borland interface routines, and another for Windows SDK/API. The product allows you to freely utilize from either or both as your requirements dictate; I am finding the mixing/matching approach to my current development both painless and convenient. In the past, I have not been enthusiastic about utilizing Borland Classes of C++ facilitation, but I've come to the point with this product that it's just too compelling and simple not to increasingly utilize what's offered. A case in point would be the introduction of graphics into a chosen area of the screen. In previous versions of the product, I stuck to the typical Windows methods in what amounted to fifteen or so lines of code. Using the supplied Borland TClass constructs, it now takes about four lines. I found the migration from previous versions of Borland to this one relatively painless considering that I'm making the jump from primarily C-based code to primarily C++ facilitated code purely to take advantage of the assistance Borland provides for previously tedious Windows programming. Another reviewer pointed out that if you're not already a competent Windows programmer, this product won't be the way to become one. I would continue to agree with this (in addition to the fact that this has been the case from the first day Win3.0 hit the streets... so don't take it too personally that it's not like opening up FrontPage and cranking out a web page). I enjoy that the old Resource Workshop, while still invokable as a separate program, has to some degree been incorporated into the primary IDE, so you have instant access to all of your program's forms (ie., dialog boxes etc.) in a more integrated association with your code than in the old days. I especially enjoy the inclusion of InstallShield's development process in this distribution. There are a number (ie., four CD's worth) of additional freebees (or demos) that I haven't really explored yet, but from what I've seen thus far, you're best off browsing these disks when you're connected to the web; the packages appear to attempt connections with their own home pages in a number of cases. In all, I am very highly satisfied with what I got in return for the money and I won't hesitate to continue recommending it. I'm giving it 5 stars simply because I don't really see what they could have done further short of coming here and writing my code for me.

Rating:
Summary: Best Windows C/C++ Development Package Available
Review: Over the years I've developed software solutions professionally using various C/C++ development enviornments. I've written DOS applications with MSC, Turbo C, and Windows applications with Visual C++ and C++ Builder. When the Windows operating system replaced DOS, programming became tedious. A programmer had to keep up with a lot of details that literally sucked the joy out of programming. C++ Builder relieves the programmer of the Windowing details and allows the programmer to focus on the project at hand. C++ Builder has put the joy back in C/C++ program development. You can keep MSVC++. Until Microsoft developes true visual GUI C/C++ programming (like their excellent VB environment), I'll stear clear of them.

Rating:
Summary: Best Windows C/C++ Development Package Available
Review: Over the years I've developed software solutions professionally using various C/C++ development enviornments. I've written DOS applications with MSC, Turbo C, and Windows applications with Visual C++ and C++ Builder. When the Windows operating system replaced DOS, programming became tedious. A programmer had to keep up with a lot of details that literally sucked the joy out of programming. C++ Builder relieves the programmer of the Windowing details and allows the programmer to focus on the project at hand. C++ Builder has put the joy back in C/C++ program development. You can keep MSVC++. Until Microsoft developes true visual GUI C/C++ programming (like their excellent VB environment), I'll stear clear of them.

Rating:
Summary: The best C++ program on this planet
Review: This is "THE COMPILER". Easy, ANSI C++, really visual, reliable and stable and incredibly fast. It does COM better than Microsoft, can you believe that? Kudos to Borland for this excellent state of the art development tool.

And for those Microsoft freaks..this is better..Muchhhhhh better than Microsoft. Thumbs up Borland.