Is it time to say goodbye to VC6 compiler?

Question

Of late I'm facing the issues that points finger to VC6 compiler.

Few of them are:

1. A function-try-block doesn't work. Related Q
2. in-class constant doesn't work.
3. __FUNCTION_ (Macro to get function name) doesn't work
4. The latest addition is it doesn't allow void functions to be passed as part of for_each.

The below example is not compiling with VC6 compiler. It says "error C2562: '()' : 'void' function returning a value". It looks like VC6 doesn't like void functions to be passed to for_each.

class Temp
{
public:
    Temp(int i):m_ii(i)
    {}

    int getI() const
    {
        return m_ii;
    }

    void printWithVoid()
    {
        cout<< "i = "<<m_ii<<endl;

    }
    bool printWithBool()
    {
        cout<< "i = "<<m_ii<<endl;
        return true;
    }
private:
    int m_ii;
};

int main(void) 
{
    std::vector<Temp>  arrTempObjects;

    arrTempObjects.push_back(Temp(0));
    arrTempObjects.push_back(Temp(2));

    //Doesnot work, compiler error 
    std::for_each(arrTempObjects.begin(), arrTempObjects.end(), std::mem_fun_ref(&Temp::printWithVoid));

    //Works
    std::for_each(arrTempObjects.begin(), arrTempObjects.end(), std::mem_fun_ref(&Temp::printWithBool));

    return 0;
}

Have you faced any other issues related to VC6.0. Any workaround to resolve these issues ? Or is it time to change the compiler?

Answer 1

Quite frankly I can hardly understand why you wouldn't buy a modern computer and switch to Visual Studio 2008.

VC6 has got a deficient STL, poor C++ standard compliance and obsolete GUI.

You shouldn't let your competitors use better tools than you.