title: C++ - Is it worth using GCC over MSVC on Windows?
body: <p>I have read some questions about GCC vs MSVC and the development of these compilers such as <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/8029092/gcc-worth-using-on-windows-to-replace-msvc">GCC worth using on Windows to replace MSVC?</a>, <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4708037/visual-studio-or-gcc">Visual Studio or GCC?</a> and <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4782714/gcc-vs-ms-c-compiler-for-maintaining-api-backwards-binary-compatibility?rq=1">GCC vs MS C++ compiler for maintaining API backwards binary compatibility</a>. But those are very outdated questions(2011). With new c++14 features coming things are starting to balance between the two compilers. Is it still worth using Code::Blocks on Windows with all the advantages of using Microsoft Visual Studio such as:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Native Windows libraries with support to using MFC, ATL, DirectX and other useful Microsoft libraries.</li>
  <li>Great debugging features, especially when using the disassembly view(it has so many useful features).</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>In most of the topics I have read, they always say GCC code generation was better than MSVC's, but the differences in that matter were starting to narrow. <strong>Is code generation still better in GCC? What about newest c++ features, which of them is ahead?</strong></p>
  
  <p>The biggest advantage I see in using GCC versus MSVC is that:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>It is open source, which makes custom compiler code possible.</li>
  <li>Easier to make portable code.</li>
  <li>IT IS FREE.</li>
  <li>???Better code generation???</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>C++14 features on GCC: <a href="https://gcc.gnu.org/projects/cxx1y.html" rel="noreferrer">https://gcc.gnu.org/projects/cxx1y.html</a></p>
  
  <p>C++11 and C++14 features on MSVC RTM: <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vcblog/archive/2015/06/19/c-11-14-17-features-in-vs-2015-rtm.aspx" rel="noreferrer">http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vcblog/archive/2015/06/19/c-11-14-17-features-in-vs-2015-rtm.aspx</a></p>