c++ help - BASIC! PLEASE!

[LizzyMS9]

I've done a lot of programming with java, and now I'm learning c++.
I'm using a mac, and I'm not sure how, logistically, to get started. I started to use xcode, but I much prefer using simple shell commands...its projects, targets, etc. are just confusing me.
Is there a built in compiler for c++ on macs?
I'm not sure what to do?
ANY HELP! PLEASE!
THANKS!

[Spookster]

http://developer.apple.com/tools/xcode/

and

http://developer.apple.com/tools/mpw-tools/

seem to be the two major tools that are designed for Macs. I would never put myself through the agony of owning a Mac so don't know if you can use the command line to run the compiler(s) that come with those IDEs.

Also are you confusing and IDE with a compiler? They are not the same thing. An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is just a tool comprised of one or more smaller programs such as a text editor, compiler/interpreter, debugger, etc. Just like Java's JBuilder or Forte are IDEs. They are not the compiler. They both use the compiler that comes with the JDK. Obviously you can compile java programs from the command line outside of the IDE. So in that sense if xcode is using a compiler you might be able to run it's compiler from the command line outside of the IDE.