According to Microsoft: "Microsoft Visual C++ is the most productive C++ tool for creating the highest-performance applications for Windows and the Web.
Nearly all world-class software, ranging from the leading Web browsers to mission-critical corporate applications,
is built using the Microsoft Visual C++ development system.
Visual C++ 6.0 brings a new level of productivity to C++, without compromising flexibility, performance, or control.
If you're building component-based code, Visual C++ provides native Component Object Model (COM) support,
visual COM editing, and language-independent COM browsing. MFC templates reduce the time it takes
to create lightweight, fast COM objects. And, you can use these software components in other COM-enabled applications,
including those created with Visual C++ and the Microsoft Visual Basic programming system."