I've tried a few like CBuilderX, but i had some problems with it, and Intel's free one, i like the interface of it, but the problem is when i debug or try to run a program it says "Launch failed no libraries". so what files do i need to get, or what other compilers can i use? and are there any built in ones that i don't know about?

Are there any compilers at all? Or is it best to just stick with windows for programming?

Alright, I've found a program called KDevelop. I downloaded the .tar.bz2 file and I used the console to get to the right directory and then I typed ./configure, but it ends up with an error saying "checking for KDE... configure: error: in the prefix, you've chosen, are no KDE headers installed. This will fail. So, check this please and use another prefix!

If you want something better you can try Lazarus (http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org/). A Delphi multiplatform clone.

Here is a screenshot of a program I developed with it: http://www.braillevirtual.fe.usp.br/.../magnifier.png

The program works as great on Linux as on Windows and I'm planning a Mac OS X port. All with the same source-code on Lazarus.

Lazarus also contains GTK ports of the most used Windows API functions, so porting Windows applications is a piece of cake.

sghod1212 install programs using urpmi/Rpmdrake instead of compiling from source. Its much easier and you at least need to install the gcc compiler first before you can install things from source anyway.

Goto http://easyurpmi.zarb.org and setup access to the software repositories. Then use menu->System->Configuration->Packaging->Install Software to install things. The compiler package is called gcc but if you install kdevelop it will automatically pull in gcc and other useful things as dependencies.

There are probably more compilers available than on Windows, its just that Mandriva doesn't include them on the CDs on the download versions - that's why you have to setup the software repos at easyurpmi. I'd say Linux is far better for programming than Windows, the only disadvantage that it has is that there isn't an IDE that's as integrated and feature-full as Visual Studio. Kdevelop or maybe Eclipse are probably the closest you'll get.