What have done in the past when there were dependency issues, I will open Synaptic (Debian's Package Manager GUI) and one by one search the list and install them. Often, the ones in the list will grab other ones on the list. Once they are all installed, go back and try to install packages outside of the GUI.
I don't know enough about the RH/Fedora systems, never like them so don't use them. You have to also remember the .deb files were converted to the .rpm format may loose something in the process.
You talk about using C++. All the distros should be able to run it, write it and compile it. Just a matter of installed in the program. (gc++)I have matplob running on my versions of debian. That program in my computer is listed under the python programs and add ins.