Rating: 
Summary: C++ Builder 6 is great!
Review: I am very dissapointed of the reviews that this written to this application. C++ Builder is much easier to learn than f.ex. Visual C++. If you are looking for A RAD (Rapid Application Development) solution, then this is your solution. The RAD environment inside this product is great, and very productive. The producer of this software, Borland also let you choose from several editions based on your needs: Personal, Professional and Enterprise / Client server. I you are looking for a RAD environment to produce high-performance applications using the C++ language, then go for it!
Rating: 
Summary: Not for Beginners
Review: I bought this to update an old engineering program I'd written a decade ago. It came with minimal documentation, nothing that a beginner programmer can understand - not even on the CD. I checked their web site, which was not helpful, and after three attempts at installing the program (the installation program politely asked me if I wanted it to mangle Office 97 or Office 2000, neither of which I had on that computer), finally got it installed. I asked their customer support about the Office thing, and they send me a correct but not helpful email. I did manage to figure it out myself. Sure 'nuff, it was a pain to use. They did agree to take it back. I downloaded a free copy of Lcc-Win32, a free C compiler, that includes decent documentation and seems plenty powerful. It's at http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~lcc-win32/.
Rating:
Summary: Move over Microsoft! Borland has something better!
Review: I got this package to learn programming in C++ in Windows for work. One reason I got this edition over a similar one published by Microsoft is that this compiler will optimize - the low-end MS compiler does not. The greatest feature is that the "Getting Started" book shows you how to program a simple text editor! There is very little code writing, and in one afternoon I came up to speed. Likewise, I had a running start on a simple application I want to write. I highly recommend this package! It helps to have previous programming experience, especially in C++ (or even in C). I am only somewhat familiar with C++ (but very familiar with C), and after one afternoon, I felt confident to embark on my own application!
Rating:
Summary: Move over Microsoft! Borland has something better!
Review: I got this package to learn programming in C++ in Windows for work. One reason I got this edition over a similar one published by Microsoft is that this compiler will optimize - the low-end MS compiler does not. The greatest feature is that the "Getting Started" book shows you how to program a simple text editor! There is very little code writing, and in one afternoon I came up to speed. Likewise, I had a running start on a simple application I want to write. I highly recommend this package! It helps to have previous programming experience, especially in C++ (or even in C). I am only somewhat familiar with C++ (but very familiar with C), and after one afternoon, I felt confident to embark on my own application!
Rating: 
Summary: BUGGY....borderline useless
Review: I have been a developer for a number of years. I have used visual c++, as well as borland's c++ builder. I have to say, that even though vc++ has its problems, none of them hold a candle to the kind of bugs bcb has. I cant count the number of times, borland has thrown an assertion, or an access violation just from selecting a break point! There are even bugs in the vcl code that prevent compiling! Here is a typical scenario: I boot up bcb. I open my project. I build it. I run it. It decides i havent built it yet so it rebuilds it, then shows me an error in some vcl file. ???? I rebuild it manually (after shutting down builder and restarting). No error, runs fine. Another scenario: Same as above, but borland randomly decides to throw an assertion while debugging, forcing a shut down of borland from the task manager (thus losing all my breakpoints, and if i havent saved, all my save info). All i can say is GRRRRRRRRR!
Rating:
Summary: I agree - BUGGY & BORDERLINE USELESS
Review: I have used versions 3, 4, & 5 over time. I just updated to 6 and what a mess. I can not get complex numbers to work at all. It is a simple thing to do - include and declare the variable complex a. Just adding these two lines to a new application fails to compile under version 6.If you want support, it is $225 per case/question unless you pay for a support contract (didn't ask what that cost). Your other options include checking the FAQ database or posting to the newsgroup. If you post to the newsgroup, someone else (not from borland) must feel like replying with an answer - good luck on that happening.
Rating:
Summary: I agree - BUGGY & BORDERLINE USELESS
Review: I have used versions 3, 4, & 5 over time. I just updated to 6 and what a mess. I can not get complex numbers to work at all. It is a simple thing to do - include <complex.h> and declare the variable complex<double> a. Just adding these two lines to a new application fails to compile under version 6. If you want support, it is $225 per case/question unless you pay for a support contract (didn't ask what that cost). Your other options include checking the FAQ database or posting to the newsgroup. If you post to the newsgroup, someone else (not from borland) must feel like replying with an answer - good luck on that happening.
Rating:
Summary: Have purchased tonight
Review: Just to let you folks in on a little secret.
A software user did not buy the full version of Borland C++ Builder but a trial version. There is a difference, a 60 day and $60 dollar difference. However I will be ordering the correct version. I have been using older versions of Builder for a while now and I feel it's one of the better products out there. With Microsoft I am a bit confused as to why they are releasing so many products and trying to push C# like there's no tommorow. I think C++ still has a ways to go and will be a very solid programming language to come. C# doesn't really interest me as that shows Microsoft really trying to turn C++ into something it's not. Yes I also know it's there to compete with Java and the like but I don't care. I have Java and C++. That's good enough for me.
Thanks Borland for not trying to mess around with C++.
SoulMan
Rating:
Summary: Okay
Review: This software is okay, alot of the help files are only available in Profesional and Enterprise editions though. There is no C++ in 5 Days tutorial, but it says there is one on the box... The help files say it comes with InstallShield so you can create setup programs, but nope not this edition. To get other people to use your programs you have to send them certain .blp(?) files and some .dll's. The docs do not say which ones though, I am still trying to figure that out. It is good for learning, but if you can afford it, get the profesional edition, or get a different compiler.
Rating:
Summary: Half Useful
Review: This was my first C++ compiler. It was good to learn on, however once you get into advanced features this compiler is not worth the money. Supposedly this version supports partial specialization, however it doesn't work at all (Or maybe just mine doesn't. HUGE problem, for me anyway. It somehow handles std::iterator_traits however. Odd.) There is an option to use ANSI rules for compilation, however none of the provided standard headers will compile in this mode (or any mode other than 'Borland'), therefore its only use is to check small snippets. By default, your exe will depend on several dlls (even console apps), and it is ambiguous as to where you can disable this dependency. You cannot create DOS applications; all console apps are 32 bit and dependent on Windows. The VCL (used to make GUIs) is very simple to use, however the public interfaces are somewhat ugly in a lot of classes (for example, a particular list class has an 'operator []' which is the only way to access a member, but you can only access VCL components thru a pointer, therefore you need '(*list)[]' to access a member.) The VCL is proprietary and is not standard-compliant. Sometimes with complex recursive functions the compiler will fail with recursion errors, but then recompiling will generate no errors. The value vs. price is excellent for people who are just learning OOP and are not sure if C++ is for them, but anyone with experience and/or going into business should look elsewhere. Based on all of the above (and I'm sure I've forgotten some) I would not upgrade to professional or even to the next release (just on principle.)
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