How to get started in C++
I'm a grade 12 student and i'm in a programming class, what they teach is VERY basic. I'm wondering what others have done to learn basics and on from there. so if anyone has advice or simple coding projects, i would enjoy to see what you have to teach ^^
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The sites tutorials are a good place to start:
http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/
http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/
Rather than starting a new thread, it makes sense to tack a reply to this one.
I'm looking to learn c++ because I'm tired of leaching off of others in the open source community. It might sound like a strange reason, but I've taken a lot of OS programs and I'd like to help on some existing projects. What I'm looking for is some advice on the books that I bought, and how much time I should plan on working each day to become "proficient" enough to contribute something meaningful.
Based on what I could gather from Amazon (not the best of resources, I know), these four books in the order listed should help me go from absolute beginner to somewhat proficient. Am I on the right track? My only experience is really in compiling programs and getting a few games to work on linux, and with NWScript (for the Neverwinter Nights game). Are these books too far over my head?
1. "C++ Primer Plus (5th Edition)"
Stephen Prata
2. "Algorithms in C++"
Robert Sedgewick
3. "The C++ Standard Library: A Tutorial and Reference"
Nicolai M. Josuttis
4. "The C++ Programming Language: Special Edition (3rd Edition)"
Bjarne Stroustrup
I'm looking to learn c++ because I'm tired of leaching off of others in the open source community. It might sound like a strange reason, but I've taken a lot of OS programs and I'd like to help on some existing projects. What I'm looking for is some advice on the books that I bought, and how much time I should plan on working each day to become "proficient" enough to contribute something meaningful.
Based on what I could gather from Amazon (not the best of resources, I know), these four books in the order listed should help me go from absolute beginner to somewhat proficient. Am I on the right track? My only experience is really in compiling programs and getting a few games to work on linux, and with NWScript (for the Neverwinter Nights game). Are these books too far over my head?
1. "C++ Primer Plus (5th Edition)"
Stephen Prata
2. "Algorithms in C++"
Robert Sedgewick
3. "The C++ Standard Library: A Tutorial and Reference"
Nicolai M. Josuttis
4. "The C++ Programming Language: Special Edition (3rd Edition)"
Bjarne Stroustrup
4 will be useless to you. 3 is good, but probably a bit advanced. 1 will probably be the most useful.
You can spend an infinite amount of time working with C++ and still never know everything there is to know. It is up to you to decide how much time you want to spend.
Familiarize yourself with the basic syntax of the language and write small programs that solidify your understanding of the syntax. As you read through 1, try to make programs that take advantage of the various topics. For example, when you read about I/O streams, write a program that uses streams to read in a file and echo it back out.
I learn best by doing; no matter how many times I read something I will not internalize it until I use it.
You can spend an infinite amount of time working with C++ and still never know everything there is to know. It is up to you to decide how much time you want to spend.
Familiarize yourself with the basic syntax of the language and write small programs that solidify your understanding of the syntax. As you read through 1, try to make programs that take advantage of the various topics. For example, when you read about I/O streams, write a program that uses streams to read in a file and echo it back out.
I learn best by doing; no matter how many times I read something I will not internalize it until I use it.
Thanks for the advice. I'll get started with the first book, then come back here when I run into my inevitable problems. ;)
Til then, I'll be browsing!
Til then, I'll be browsing!
Deitel Books are good but very expensive. If don't have the slightest clue on C++ programming I suggest "C++ for Dummies". If you know how to program a little and understand the basic concepts then you might want to try "Practical C++ Programming"
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