Microsoft C/C++ Compiler Central
At Microsoft, the Visual C++ team is C++ compiler central. In my first two posts, I gave some basic descriptions about the release role I try to fill and gave a basic picture on how our team fits into the whole of Microsoft. What reader Wil inquires about - if I may paraphrase - is, are there other C++ compiler teams at Microsoft? No, we are the grand-daddy of the Microsoft C++ compiler offerings!
Prior to Whidbey (which will be the 8.0 release of the Visual Studio line of C++ products, the compiler alone is on its 14th release*), we used to ship two versions of our compiler. An optimizing version in the Professional and Enterprise level product lines, and the same compiler without optimization features in our Standard and Book product lines. In Whidbey, we ship optimizing compilers in all product lines. Not only that, but we ship five different optimizing compilers: one compiler hosted on x86 and targeting x86, along with compilers targeting either Itanium or x64 - hosted on your choice of x86 or native 64-bit. We work on the compiler features that you have mentioned, along with many others. As C++ compiler central, the Windows CE and XBOX toolsets are based on our releases. All Microsoft products written in C++ our built with our compiler and tools - either released versions or in many cases the version under development. These give us great test cases for validating the product and also getting a feel for how much impact certain changes have on real world source bases.
april
*I think this is right, I'll double-check with the team...this is my third product with the team so I may have lost track!
