one of the best and maybe the best of compiler in the programming word is gcc you can use it with C/C++ language for example with its g++ or gpp,...
also linux has some quite good IDEs
like:
anjuta
motor
kdevelop
and Eclipse that originally created for java but it support C/C++ also (if I don't mistake....)
I think durning the installation if u u have selectd the software packages not an issue but however as far as I know u should be able to work wth C and C++ with the help of Vi editor n GCC