Metrowerks CodeWarrior for Windows is a C/C++ compiler with code-generation for SSE2 and 3DNow!. Support for GCC compiler extensions. Here are some of its updated features:a. Faster compiler build speeds.
b. Higher performance from compiled applications.
c. Advanced C99 standards compliance:
i. C99 variable length arrays.
ii. Support for many non-standard GCC language extensions.
d. C99/ISO C++98 feature for Unicode/Multi-byte source files allows the use of non-ASCII characters in literals and identifiers.
e. Tracking of include file guard macros.
f. Instance manager tracks templates and doesn¹t recompile them which improves compiler speed.
g. Include file capitalization.
h. New preprocessor panel.
i. A portable C++ Library Object FormatC.
j. Support for CodeTEST instrumentation.
k. Support for disabling specific warnings.
Metrowerks CodeWarrior for Windows v9.2 Released
About The Author
Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
Follow me on Twitter @EugeniaLoli
How does this compiler stack up against say Visual C++, GCC and ICC? In terms of adherence to the C++ standard, and speed of generated code?
Are its library format incompatible with MSVC like Borland’s?
Previous versions were reputed to be significantly better than VC++ for both size and speed (never tested it myself.) Metrowerks compilers & libraries are generally very good for standards conformance (far, far better than Microsoft) and much faster than VC++ in my experience. There are/were issues with C++ library compatibility.
MW’s big problem in the Windows world is the lack of automation (no wizards for MFC’s & ATL, even though both are included.) Our ATL guys often add new stuff by hand, but doing MFC’s that way is not real practical.
CodeWarrior’s IDE is a big plus: it’s designed to Mac standards, which is to say less clutter and sheer volume of features, but tremendously better usability. (Disclaimer: I’ve got 10 years of experience w/ CodeWarrior on macs, and a year or two each w/ VS5, 6, & 7 and C++Builder.)
CodeWarrior is much easier to learn (unless you’re only doing little wizard projects.) Most things take a keystroke or a click (or three) less than Visual Studio, and the features I need are always there. Borland C++ Builder is the flat out worst IDE I’ve ever seen, on any platform: I can use Visual Studio for most things, but I edit most of my Borland code with an old copy of CW (even though I can’t compile Borland’s version of C++ with it.)
can it compiple linux and bsd kernels?
> Borland C++ Builder…
The IDE is a horrible version of the fairly good Delphi IDE. It works well for Delphi, but for C++ it sucks.
The way the projects are formulated os also horrible.
Other than that, it’s a good IDE. Far less ‘kitchen sink’ than VS6 and RAD is always nice.
> Codewarrior
I’ve use codewarrior on Mac’s, PC’s and under BeOS. The Mac IDE is pretty good (it was the Palm edition.) Under Windows, it’s a little clunky and un Windows like. I have version 6 installed at the moment. Every now and then I look at it, but I find that the IDE is still more confusing than, say C+ builder. But hey, I’m a Delphi programmer, so I already know the IDE framework!
BeIDE, which is basically a cousing of the codewarrior IDE, absolutely RULES. It’s leaps and bounds ahead of CW proper. Best part is most of the shortcuts are the same as in Windows/Mac too 😉
So a benchmark against the king of the current wintel compilers, that Intel one, would be nice.
I also was a MacOS8 user till I went Windows. VC is pretty good but I felt far more comfy in MW env, but then when I had to debug, I would find the VC debugger far more powerfull and it just plain works.
Same issue on BeOS, code works on BeOS without errors, VC is finding problems that MW didn’t but probably should have. I will give MW another try to check if debug has gotten better. Not sure if I’d pay to switch unless its vastly better than VC.
But overall MW is far more pleasant to use.