Learning C++

KiTBoH

KiTBoH

KiTBoH

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2 Nov 2008
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790
Im looking to learn the basics of C++ over the uni summer holidays. There are a lot of tutorials and guides online that cover the simplest tasks but now that I've downloaded Visual C++ 2008 Express I've realised I have no idea how to use the program :P

I then read a guide and it said that there are several compilers for C++ and I was wondering what the best compiler to use would be, considering i'm about as beginner as you can get so an easy to use one would be nice :D

The only programming I know currently is VERY basic VB code :P
 
Try using 'Bloodshed Software - Dev-C++' Instead. Its my preferred IDE for windows use (kate in linux).

All you can do is start with the basics, spend time trying to understand actually the point of object oriented programming and go from there. The important thing is thinking of projects that will keep you interested in the language.
 
I don't see any reason not to use Visual Studio 2008...

Did you pick C++ for a specific reason? If not, there are better choices to start out (and probably stay) with.
 
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Personally I'd stay clear of the M$ visual carp. Just install cygwin and g++ and hey presto a free and easy environment to learn C++.
 
wush said:
I don't see any reason not to use Visual Studio 2008...

Did you pick C++ for a specific reason? If not, there are better choices to start out (and probably stay) with.
Click to expand...

C++ seems to be one of the more prominent programming languages and will be one hell of a lot more beneficial than visual basic.

What other languages are there that you would suggest?
 
KiTBoH said:
What other languages are there that you would suggest?
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C if you want to get down and dirty with the fundamentals.
C# if you don't mind staying Windows specific, otherwise Java.
Maybe Python if you want to see results quick.
 
Java is a good language to learn. You can learn OO concepts with relative ease :)

I recommend the BlueJ IDE if you're pretty new to coding. It's designed as an educational tool. You can directly interact with objects, you get a nice UML class diagram and so on.
 
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I wouldn't start with C, unless you plan to become a programmer. It's got lots of nasty features, which unless you really are a C pro can through you of and introduce some serous security flaws into your code
 
I would start with C rather than C++, but I wouldn't start with either. It depends from your point of view really. If you're good at maths and logic, start with an 8086 emulator and code assembly, and work your way up. If you're not so good at maths and logic, start at a much higher level. Maybe, since you already know a bit, learn some more VB.

If you really want to learn C, get The C Programming Language and work through it slowly. It'll introduce you to everything you'll need to then learn C++.

As for editor, Visual C++ is fine. I wouldn't recommend Cygwin and gcc if you've not used Linux before. Also, gcc on Cygwin is so much slower than it is on an actual Linux installation.

Python is a much nicer language for a beginner, very nice to use. Java is loved by some, hated by others. Generally hated by python / perl / C programmers. :)
 
well it seems a lot of people are saying java is a good language to learn, so i'll probably go for that.
I'm not learning a language for any reason in particular, just to expand my knowledge of programming since i'm doing a computer related uni course and it could end up being helpful later on.

Apparently Java is very similar to C and C# anyway, is this true?
 
KiTBoH said:
well it seems a lot of people are saying java is a good language to learn, so i'll probably go for that.
I'm not learning a language for any reason in particular, just to expand my knowledge of programming since i'm doing a computer related uni course and it could end up being helpful later on.

Apparently Java is very similar to C and C# anyway, is this true?
Click to expand...

Java and C++ are both based on C. C is much more low level and not object orientated.

If your on a CS course you really should be learning programming there?

To be honest you might want to start with something like perl or python they're more friendly for people new to the ideas of programming
 
I'm doing forensic computing at uni, which kind of skims over programming languages in that we learned a bit of VB in the first year. We didn't learn a lot, though, and I also didn't learn it very quickly at all and I'm pretty sure I could learn faster if I put my mind to it.

The course will cover small bits of coding in the later years, but it will be a very small amount IIRC.

Perl and Python I know nothing about. Since Java and C are more common I thought they would be more useful when put into practice.
 
Try and think of a wee application/utility that you'd personally like and set about learning to build it. This will also help the language selection greatly.

Deciding to learn something without concrete goals is a recipe for fizzling out quickly, at least for me :/
 
Good advice from wush. The problem is thinking of a decent app to code :/

I'd love to code a sentry BB gun but haven't got the money for resources.
 
I was thinking of learning C++ for the benefits it would have in just being able to make simple programs.

Java was always a possibility because of how useful it would be in webdesign aspect.
I suppose my end goal would be being able to make a working website using html, css and java.
 
Don't confuse Java with JavaScript.

Java would be run in a desktop environment whereas JavaScript is deployed in a web environment :)

Choose which road you wish to go down because they're quite different.
 
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