Using c++ to make a real time application?

[yol]

Hi ppl.. I need help regarding to using visual C++ to come out with an real time application to track object using a stereo vision camera? Can anyone help??

[jonnin]

Once you have written and debugged your application, you can go back and make it faster for real time processing. Keep in mind as you write the software that it WILL be a real time application, so you are constantly asking yourself "is this an efficient way to do this? did I need that self-validating, memory managing, heavy handed container or would an array do it?" and similar questions.

Part of real time programming is buying hardware that can do the job in time; if you have the best algorithm in the world and drop it onto a 80386, it will only go so fast. For the problem you are solving, you need some decent power, probably at least a solid quad core with a cleaned OS (get rid of the background windows junk), lots of ram, good video capture cards, etc.

[hendrixj]

There's an old saying that real-time has only two speeds: fast enough, not fast enough. The only way to guarantee fast enough is to carefully control what is competing for computer resources. A general purpose operating system (gpos) like Windows, Mac OS, and vanilla Linux are designed to maximize throughput (where speed is a spectrum from slow to fast). At any critical moment, though you have the most optimized algorithm in the world, a gpos will decide to run a virus checker or service the ethernet device.
If you have no choice but to use windows, Jonnin's advice is the best anyone can give you. If you can use a real-time operating system (there are free Linux RTOS's out there),you'll have more luck.
Sometimes a "federated" approach is best: use a micro-controller for the real-time tracking and control for the cameras and have it send data over ethernet (use UDP) to your Windows machine to display for humans to see.