Visual Studio as Shell for GNU?

We've got a large portable code-base that compiles under GNU (Linux and
Windows).   We're having trouble with the Microsoft compiler in how it
handles (or doesn't handle) exports for classes containing STL based
instance variables.   So, we are looking at the possibility of using Visual
Studio as a Shell for editing and debugging, but using GNU to compile and
link within Visual Studio.  Is it possible to use the VC++ debugger (VS7) to
debug executables built using COFF object format, but that were not built
using VC++?

Overlooking the obvious political debates on this,  Can anyone provide
insight as to whether this is doable?

Thanks,

-- da

da wrote:
> We've got a large portable code-base that compiles under GNU (Linux and
> Windows).   We're having trouble with the Microsoft compiler in how it
> handles (or doesn't handle) exports for classes containing STL based
> instance variables.   So, we are looking at the possibility of using Visua
l
> Studio as a Shell for editing and debugging, but using GNU to compile and
> link within Visual Studio.  Is it possible to use the VC++ debugger (VS7) 
to
> debug executables built using COFF object format, but that were not built
> using VC++?
>
> Overlooking the obvious political debates on this,  Can anyone provide
> insight as to whether this is doable?
>
> Thanks,
>
> -- da
>
>

I don't know whether VC could do this, but Borland claims that their
CBuilder X can do that.  Its idea is to let you use any "tool chain" on
your code (on Windows, Linux and mobile).  They claim to support the MS,
GNU, Intel and Borland compilers *and* debugging within the IDE.  Many
of us accustomed to C++ Builder (different, older product) haven't been
excited by this newer tool because we have no interest in multiple "tool
chains."  But for you, maybe it's an option.