I need a c++ compiler. It has to be free and I want to download it. please send link to website where I can do this. thanx

Google "Dev C++"

one more question why won't dev x compile this:It said something about cout being undeclared

//include this file for cout
#include <iostream>

int main() {

//print out the text string, "Hello, World!"
cout << "hello world\n";


return 0;
}

Yeah, you need to either write:

std::cout << "Hello World!";

or, before int main(), write:

using namespace std;

"cout" is in the std namespace. You have to tell the compiler where to look for cout, there are 3 ways to do so:

1. Use the scope resolution operator "::" every time you use cout, so every instance would appear as std::cout.

2. Use the declaration "using std::cout;" before your main function. So, everytime the compiler sees "cout", it will use the instance in the std namespace.

3. Use the declaration "using namespace std;", will use the std namespace throughout your entire program. Not a problem in most simpler programs, but potentially so in more complex ones where you would need to use multiple namespaces.

every time I compile something and try to open it in an exe format all I get is a black window that diappears in a fraction of a second

I presume you are running from within the Dev C++ IDE-
Programs such as your "Hello World" type that just run through a few commands and exit will do this. You can either add a command to make the program hold before it exits, or compile and run from the command line, which eliminates the problem (since the window the program runs in stays open).

Option 1: Add the line "system("pause");" at the very end of your program, right before the main function returns. Will make the program hold at that point until you press a key.

Option 2: Use the command line.
Go to Start>Run, enter "cmd" to start it.
Use the command 'cd "c:\my folder\whereever i store C++ files" to browse to your files
Compile with "g++ mycppfile.cpp -o whatIwantmyfilenamed.exe -Wall"
Enter the file name to run it.

No! Add this to keep the program up:

cin.get(); //add it right before return 0;
return 0;

I agree with homeyg, cin.get is better than system("pause").

You may need cin.ignore to be the line before though.

thanx it works now

I need a c++ compiler. It has to be free and I want to download it. please send link to website where I can do this. thanx

Search for gcc or g++.

I use Cygwin on Windows and g++ comes with Linux.