gcc/g++

Richard Stallman's gcc/g++ is widely used. I think, one could dare to say, without gcc there would be no GNU/Linux or FreeBSD - maybe we probably would have no internet as it exists now. Not only students, programming enthusiasts and small companies use gcc/g++ in these days. Large Companies compile their code with it as well.

Benefits of using g++

• g++ is free software provided by The Free Software foundation under the terms of the GNU Public License There is no license fee. It has beenn Richard Stallmans mission to provide an excellent programming environment for everybody. I wish more people would accomplish such a positive mission.
• Multiplatform. g++ works on all major platforms. Among them: GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, HP-UX, Tru64, Windows (cygwin). + g++ supports all relevant industry standards (ANSI C++, POSIX).
• g++ produces fast code. The multiplatform architecture cannot produce optimal results on every processor type, though. There are compilers, which can produce faster code. Companies like SUN or HP have developed very efficient backends, which produce code optimized for their particular hardware platform. If somebody needs extrem number crunching capabilities in the code, it might be wise to spend the money.
• g++ is used by many developers all over the world. There are not many bugs and if one is in the code, it is usually reported and fixed quickly. The FSF with all their supporters and volunteers are a very efficient not centralsed organisation, that provides excellent software quality to the people. Studies have revealed, that GNU tools are better in quality than most other commercial tools. What can the big companies learn from the open source community?

Documentation

The FSF provide online manuals for gcc. They can be used for g++ as well. gcc has it's own Homepage inside the GNU space.

Literature

Richard Stallman and other developers of gcc wrote a book on their baby. It is a reference manual that covers C, C++, Objective C, Java and libraries.
"GNU C++ for Linux" is obviously focussing on Linux. Starting with installing Mandrake many topics are covered in this book. It is more a guide, that a reference manual.