From: Alex Zupancich <Alex.Z@Duke.edu>
  To  : 
  Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1999 12:36:04 -0500

Re: Group Project Developent using MS Visual Studio tools?

Hey Luke, Thanks for the response.

>alex- mmmm......  i dunno about that one.  there are some pretty big
>differences between the platforms.  if you notice in the syllabus, we have
a
>section on interfacing with the unix environment, and later some stuff on
>java networking that i seriously doubt will be anywhere close to the same
on
>microsoft platforms.

I have never done any cross-platform development, and only have some basic
C++ knowledge (Duke CS courses) but I was under the impression that C++ was
supposed to be very portable provided you didn't use platform specific APIs
or classes... so I sorta assumed that If I avoided using the MFC and windows
APIs as well as OLA's tapestry classes, that I should be allright. Not
knowing anything about how platform dependent the java networking is for
example, I guessed this would be an easy transition. Does anyone know
authoritatively whether or not this will be a problem? Perhaps one of the
TAs or Prof Duvall?

>
>but there is an answer.....
>
>linux!


Yup, thanks for the info on linux. I guess thats always a good alternative.
My reasons for wanting to use Visual studio were not so much based on the
lack of available computers in teer, but more on the excellent line-by-line
debugger, the ability to watch variables, and other superior features it
offers. While the emacs/gcc/rcs combo on acpub/linux is more than
adequate... it certainly does not compare to the very impressive package
M$oft have put together. If I cant use it though... I'll have to settle for
gcc....

I'm still interested in knowing if anyone has any more information that
might help me make a decision on wheter or not to use MSVS6 and in finding
group members who would be prepared to put a couple of extra hours into
playing with it to see if/how we can get it to work! Do let me know ASAP.