Converting simple python method(s) to C++
<p>I want to create an RLE compression and decompression method for a CS project I have to do. The problem is not so much the logic, but the know-how of C++. All I currently have learned in school is Python so I tried doing this project in Python and it was really easy...</p>

<p>I plan to become well read in C++ but tonight there is not enough time. I hope to get help because if I can understand the equivalent C++ code I might feel much more comfortable with the language.</p>

<p><strong>Can someone help me convert the following python code into C++ equivalent code?</strong></p>

<pre><code># compresses data using RLE compression
def compress(data):
    letter_counter = 1
    new_data = []
    for i in range(len(data)):
        try:
            # if the element is the same as the next one
            if data[i] == data[i + 1]:
                letter_counter += 1 
            # if different element than previous index                
            else:
                new_data.append(str(letter_counter) + data[i])
                letter_counter = 1  # reset the letter count
        except IndexError:  # when the index is out of range (no more elements)
            new_data.append(str(letter_counter) + data[i])
    return new_data
data = ['w', 'w', 'w', 'w', 'w', 'b', 'b', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'e']
data2 = ['w', 'w', 'w', 'w', 'w', 'w', 'w', 'w', 'w', 'w', 'w', 'w', 'w', 'w']
return compress(data)  # prints ['5w', '3b', '1c', '1d', '2e']
return compress(data2)  # prints ['14w']
</code></pre>
