Asking directions.

[Christine]

I am looking for some good C/C++ tutorials either online or in book form.

I am using Dev C/C++ 4 (from www.bloodshed.net) and I am using WindowsXP
operating system. I don't have the money for MS Visual C++ at this point.
Can anyone tell me if I have a good compiler/IDE? I don't plan on doing
anything huge.

Using tutorials, I have already written a few very basic programs and a game
using SDL library(from www.libsdl.org) and I understand how they work. Any
suggestions for other libraries I might try using?

It would really help me out if someone(s) could volunteer the story of how
they learned...I'm trying to do it on my own and I am frequently a bit lost
as to what to do next. Any advice would be a big help!

Christine

[Alf P. Steinbach]

Re: Asking directions.

On Tue, 09 Sep 2003 11:19:06 GMT, "Christine" <c.gehring@sbcN OSPAMglobal.net > wrote:
[color=blue]
>I am looking for some good C/C++ tutorials either online or in book form.[/color]

No-one has been able to spot a quality online C++ tutorial since the
www was invented, with one possible exception: the one referred to
in the ACCU pages, but alas, it's a 404 "page not found".

So keep in mind that online C++ tutorials are full of incorrect
information and bad practice, having mostly been written by
enthusiastic students.



[color=blue]
>I am using Dev C/C++ 4 (from www.bloodshed.net) and I am using WindowsXP
>operating system. I don't have the money for MS Visual C++ at this point.
>Can anyone tell me if I have a good compiler/IDE?[/color]

Yep.

[color=blue]
>I don't plan on doing anything huge.
>
>Using tutorials, I have already written a few very basic programs and a game
>using SDL library(from www.libsdl.org) and I understand how they work.[/color]

That doesn't seem to be very basic.


[color=blue]
>Any suggestions for other libraries I might try using?[/color]

Take a look at
<url:http://www.accu.org/resources/public/terse/cpp.htm#C++ Libraries>


[color=blue]
>It would really help me out if someone(s) could volunteer the story of how
>they learned...I'm trying to do it on my own and I am frequently a bit lost
>as to what to do next. Any advice would be a big help![/color]


Check out
<url:http://www.utvikling.c om/cppfaq/01/02/index.html>

(This is a Norwegian FAQ, but links & book titles are in English... ;-) ).

[Gabriel Schreiber]

Re: Asking directions.

Hy Christine

I think C++ is too complex for a tutorial.
My advice would be:
1) make yourself familar with the basics of c++ (I think you did this
one)
2) practice (there are lists of exercises for this, but I do not know
them, for I never did some (well, I once did some at the university.
wasn't really helpful)
3) read books (at 11:30 this day there was a good thread about this)
4) if you have in any way the opportunity for this: have a experienced
c++ programmer read/review your work and give you tips on how to
improve. I think this one is important.
5) read code written by experienced programmers.

The Choice of the IDE/compiler does only matter for some advanced
issues. You should concentrate on the comfort provided by the editor
(where, I think, MSVC is just fine). When you one day plan to do
template specialisation, you should think about your compiler choice.

Gabriel

Christine wrote:[color=blue]
>
> I am looking for some good C/C++ tutorials either online or in book form.
>
> I am using Dev C/C++ 4 (from www.bloodshed.net) and I am using WindowsXP
> operating system. I don't have the money for MS Visual C++ at this point.
> Can anyone tell me if I have a good compiler/IDE? I don't plan on doing
> anything huge.
>
> Using tutorials, I have already written a few very basic programs and a game
> using SDL library(from www.libsdl.org) and I understand how they work. Any
> suggestions for other libraries I might try using?
>
> It would really help me out if someone(s) could volunteer the story of how
> they learned...I'm trying to do it on my own and I am frequently a bit lost
> as to what to do next. Any advice would be a big help!
>
> Christine[/color]

[Govindan]

Re: Asking directions.


"Christine" <c.gehring@sbcN OSPAMglobal.net > wrote in message
news:KGi7b.532$ AB3.441@newssvr 22.news.prodigy .com...[color=blue]
> I am looking for some good C/C++ tutorials either online or in book form.
>
> I am using Dev C/C++ 4 (from www.bloodshed.net) and I am using WindowsXP
> operating system. I don't have the money for MS Visual C++ at this point.
> Can anyone tell me if I have a good compiler/IDE? I don't plan on doing
> anything huge.
>
> Using tutorials, I have already written a few very basic programs and a[/color]
game[color=blue]
> using SDL library(from www.libsdl.org) and I understand how they work.[/color]
Any[color=blue]
> suggestions for other libraries I might try using?
>
> It would really help me out if someone(s) could volunteer the story of how
> they learned...I'm trying to do it on my own and I am frequently a bit[/color]
lost[color=blue]
> as to what to do next. Any advice would be a big help!
>
> Christine
>
>[/color]

Try a search on Google "IDE compiler C++ free", you will find at least a
dozen free C++ compilers.
Get a good STL library and place it in the library path of your chosen IDE.

Do another search "C++ class libraries free" , you find a large collection
of C++ class libraries already
written for various domains.
As for learning C++, get one or two tutorial books on C++, beginner or
intermediate level
and read it together with a good updated C++ Standard Library reference.
Beware of free C or C++ tutorials on the net, mostly written by students or
hobbyists. May not be always accurate.

For a free book, try "Thinking in C++" by Bruce, I have not personally used
it, but heard very good
reviews from professional users. This book is a bit verbose.

Read the tutorial , references, try typing in the code fragments, run them ,
modify them and try include
them in your programs. Do some exercises at the end of the chapters, just to
test your grasp of the content.
Read others programs , code where your interest lies like games or graphics
etc.

After you have become confident of the core language and libraries, look at
the applications other have written.

Search "Open Source C++ projects" or look at Sourceforge where lots of
applications and program are hosted by
programmers, developers and enthusiasts. You can download and use their apps
or participate to help develop them.

Regards,
Govindan

[Christine Gehring]

Re: Asking directions.

I really appreciate all the great tips you have all given me. It has really
helped me figure out where to go from here. Hopefully in the future I will
be able to play a bigger part in this newsgroup, but for right now, a lot of
it is over my head!

I am not sure where I picked this habit up, but I am hesitant to download
Dev-C++ 4.9.8.0 because it is still in beta. Should I upgrade from 4? Or
is it better to wait until 5 comes out?

Thanks to everyone,
Christine

[Agent Mulder]

Re: Asking directions.

<Christine>[color=blue]
> I am using Dev C/C++ 4 (from www.bloodshed.net) and I am using WindowsXP
> operating system. I don't have the money for MS Visual C++ at this point.
> Can anyone tell me if I have a good compiler/IDE? I don't plan on doing
> anything huge.[/color]
</>

If you are looking for your favorite compiler you
have fun ahead because your favorite compiler is
at

http://www.openwatcom.org/

Installation is a breeze.

-X

[Gary Labowitz]

Re: Asking directions.

"Christine Gehring" <c.gehring@sbcN OSPAMglobal.net > wrote in message
news:H8g8b.31$h 02.17@newssvr23 .news.prodigy.c om...[color=blue]
> I really appreciate all the great tips you have all given me. It has[/color]
really[color=blue]
> helped me figure out where to go from here. Hopefully in the future I[/color]
will[color=blue]
> be able to play a bigger part in this newsgroup, but for right now, a lot[/color]
of[color=blue]
> it is over my head!
>
> I am not sure where I picked this habit up, but I am hesitant to download
> Dev-C++ 4.9.8.0 because it is still in beta. Should I upgrade from 4? Or
> is it better to wait until 5 comes out?[/color]

While testing with both 4 and the beta I have had better results with the
beta. I think he must have upgraded the compiler because the error messages
are much better. In fact, it now flags void main. We have had various "hang
ups" using 4 in the classroom (getting spurious "Out of memory" messages and
the like) so I'm looking forward to 5. But my use in testing at home hasn't
run into any problems using the beta. Go get it.
[And yes, it is a pain. You have to uninstall one version before using the
other. Fortunately, I have dual boot with NT and W2K.]
--
Gary