cygwin and gcc

[3rdshiftcoder]

hi -

for Tcl and mktclapp i want to use g++.
i am new to cygwin but i have a little linux experience
so i am a little familiar with the cygwin tool indirectly.

my question is i want a more recent version of the g++
compiler like maybe the current stable version.
i have 2 C++ books and they are both 2005 and newer.

so is there a straightforward way to upgrade to a newer
version?

another question is what ide would you use if you
were using g++?  i have the fancy free version of visual
studio c++ but maybe things i can compile in that version
[to check syntax while i am coding] wont compile in g++?

do you think the ide is an issue or i can get away with it mostly?

thanks for any assistance,
jim