Learning C++

Undead_Mercenary · Post by **Undead_Mercenary** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 3:21 pm

I'm starting to get into learning C++ now. My buddy gave me a ton of tutorial pages to learn the basics (from www.functionx.com) and so far it isn't too difficult.

My question is, which program/compiler is best to use for programming C++? In the tutorial, he mentions Borland C++ Builder and KDevelop. Since he says the rest of the tutorial will be using KDevelop, I tried getting it. Yet the file extention is .bz2 and I wasn't able to find a program able to unzip it.

Anyways, if any of you know of the best free C++ program to use, please tell me.

midnightservice · Post by **midnightservice** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 4:15 pm

well kDevelop is a compiler for linux/mac/unix/beos2 so it won tdo you any good for windows. i would use the text based compiler that comes with c or get visual studio 6.0 and use the built in exe builder it has. or you can go to http://mono-project.com and download the new multi platform compiler for linux/mac/windows caleld mono by novell.

-Mid

XoR · Post by **XoR** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 5:00 pm

Merc, since you are a student, you should be able to pick up a student copy of Visual Studio 2003 for $89 -- or wait until VS2K5 comes out and use what Midnight suggested until you have enough money (your parents may spring for it since it's for school).

Dev C++ from Bloodshed Software and mono-project like Mid posted are great freebe's, but in my opinion after using VS, it's hard to beat VS2003.

Now, a bigger question -- Should C++ be your very first language to learn from nothing? WHEW, it can be, but you could easily become buried under the weight of such a type rich language. Python is a great language to start out with to get used to the fundamentals of programming first. Once you learn programming per se, the language used is less important. Coming to terms with variables, functions, pointers, methods, arrays, structures etc with C++ from nothing can be a very VERY difficult task.

I started out with plain C about 7 years ago and it took me MONTHS of glazed eyeballs understanding NOTHING I just read -- and then I discovered that C/C++ probably wasn't the best FIRST language. Don't get me wrong, it can be done if your desire to program is big enough ... if you find yourself HAVING to program and cannot stop -- then C++ is for you. If you find yourself lost all the time and the desire to program dwindles to the borderline of quitting, then maybe you need to learn more of the easier fundementals inside of programming itself using a friendlier language like Python.

I've seen many people try to learn C++ on their own and then burn the books in a campfire. I just don't want to see that happen, because it's great fun once you get it. Me and Arch are studying C++ for the Torque 3D engine to make games, and I haven't had this much fun/challenge in a LONG time.

midnightservice · Post by **midnightservice** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 6:19 pm

well i want in on some the fun to xor and arch...........pass me the ball

Undead_Mercenary · Post by **Undead_Mercenary** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 7:08 pm

Well, technically, I'm not starting from scratch. My first programming language was Visual Basic, but thats NOTHING compared to C++. I only wanted to do this because I plan on taking a programming course in college and I want a head start. My friend has been learning C++ for months now, and from what I know, he was only familiar with Pearl and Pasqal before getting into C++.

I figure that if he can learn it, than so can I. But maybe I'll take you advice XoR and try out this Python. Heck, I have all summer. Maybe I'll take a look at Java too since I'll be learning that this coming school year.

Post by **Archangelus** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 8:46 pm

Many of the books and courses I used for C++ recommend Visual Studio, but they have also said that they support Borland. One major point to make is that as far as just strictly compiling your code, if it is truly straight C++, then the compiler shouldn't matter to JUST compile. If it does matter, then there may be a chance that the programming course or book you are using references product specific functions and variables. There isn't anything wrong with that either except that it may end up precluding you from making a program that runs on multiple platforms.

So, in summary

:

1) I agree with XoR, if you have the means, get Visual Studio (Academic) in the latest version possible. (I do believe you can get the beta of VS2005 for free here.)

2) If you can't get Visual Studio now or in the future, there is nothing wrong with Borland and it is still widely considered a "standard compiler" for using straight C++

3) If you need any help, let XoR or I know, and we'll do our best to help.....

-Arch

Hiyden · Post by **Hiyden** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 10:03 am

I use Visual Studio 6.0 Enterprise which gets you a lot of bells and whistles. For a starter, I would go with Arch's suggestion on VS200x Academic. You would most likely progress beyond a simple compiler fairly quickly anyway.