Should I learn advanced C++ or go ahead to windows programming?

[jackabascal]

My final goal for C++ is to learn windows programming. I have completed

http://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Second-Herbert-Schildt/dp/0072232153/ref=cm_lmf_tit_5_rsrsrs0

and it says that once you have completed the book and thoroughly understand it, you know beginning and intermediate C++, yet not all of advanced features.
Just what should you know about C++ before moving on to windows?

[Lamblion]

If you got a good base from that book then you can go ahead and move into Windows programming. You will, of course, continue to learn C++ as you go, but that will come as you try to do various things that you haven't learned yet.

If you are going to program Windows, then Charles Petzold's book is must --

http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Windows-Microsoft-Charles-Petzold/dp/157231995X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278291196&sr=1-2

Although it's about 10 years old, it is still THE bible for Windows programming, and it has tons of examples with code that you will use in your own programs.

You can also learn from this online tutorial --

http://www.winprog.org/tutorial/

But Petzold's book is still an absolute MUST if you are serious about Windows programming.

[Kiana]

Learn C++. C++ will function as a language & is used by a large multitude of libraries, APIs, etc. while the Windows API is, however large, one single API.

[filipe]

jackabascal wrote:

and it says that once you have completed the book and thoroughly understand it, you know beginning and intermediate C++, yet not all of advanced features.

That claim is simply not true. That book will only present core language features in a very basic, very hushed fashion. I'd say after reading it you'll have a very basic understanding of the basic C++ features. Still a long way to go to "intermediate", however you define it.

As far as I remember, the book completely ignores the C++ standard library, choosing to teach C style programming and C library functions instead (which would be fine in a book on C, but a serious flaw in a book on C++).

Also beware of Schildt's doubtful claims such as the one you posted, or the one that opens the last chapter: "When you finish this module, you will have mastered the core elements of the language and will be able to begin writing real-world programs." It takes a lot more than simply knowing what each language feature does to be able to write "real-world" programs.

That said, I recommend you read Programming: Principles and Practice using C++, by Bjarn Stroustrup. It will give you a very solid C++ programming foundation.