Need help in starting C++...

[bob05]

Hey,

I'm trying to start to learn how to code in C++. It looks real complicated and I've never programed before (except for a little HTML). Does any one know of a nice guide to get me started (that is easy to understand)? Also, can anyone recommend a free C++ complier?


Thanks :t

[nothing]

A google search for C++ beginner's tutorial (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=C%2B%2B+beginner%27s+tutorial) returned a lot of matches.

I have a book called C++ How to Program (Fourth Edition), by Deitel, and I think it is pretty good for beginners like us.

As for the free compiler, I recommend MinGW (http://www.mingw.org/) if you're on Windows.

[fishybawb]

There are a shedload of tutorials on the 'net, some of them pretty good, and others horrible. Look at the URLs and pay the most attention to the ones originating from colleges/universities - alot of them publish course notes from computing modules, and could be useful if you can find some beginner ones.

Having a hard copy's good though, like nothing was suggesting. I've heard good things about Teach Yourself C++ (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0078823927/qid=1073238558//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i7_xgl14/104-3687954-3544755?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), although there are literally thousands of decent books available. Check out some user reviews on Amazon.

Mingw's good, but I prefer Bloodshed's Dev-C++ (http://www.bloodshed.net/) for the free route. If you wouldn't mind spending a bit of cash and you're at school/college, you could look into getting hold of an educational version of Visual Studio :t

[bob05]

Originally posted by fishybawb

Mingw's good, but I prefer Bloodshed's Dev-C++ (http://www.bloodshed.net/) for the free route. If you wouldn't mind spending a bit of cash and you're at school/college, you could look into getting hold of an educational version of Visual Studio :t

I already have a copy of Bloodshed C++, but I wasn't sure if it was good or not (I dunno what makes a compiler good in the first place ;) ). My sister(s) go to college and they have a nice software collection there that I can borrow, install, and give back, all for free. They have a license with Microsoft ( http://www.wright.edu/cats/help/software/software.html ).

Anyways they have 2 Visual's there, Visual Studio Professional and Visual Studio .NET. Which one should I get? Which is better?

[bassman]

Originally posted by bob05
I already have a copy of Bloodshed C++, but I wasn't sure if it was good or not Anyways they have 2 Visual's there, Visual Studio Professional and Visual Studio .NET. Which one should I get? Which is better?
I love it :) It's not a compiler, it's an IDE (Integrated Development Environment), wich usually integrates an editor, a compiler, debugger, etc...But you won't probably need it if you install Visual Studio, as it comes with it's own IDE (at least .NET does)

I dunno what makes a compiler good in the first place
And you won't need to know, at least not yet, while you're starting

Anyways they have 2 Visual's there, Visual Studio Professional and Visual Studio .NET. Which one should I get? Which is better?
They're different, but one might say .NET is technologically more "advanced"; it uses one IDE for all it's languages (VB.NET, C++.NET, etc...) allowing you to use all of them in cooperation (not all at a time) to solve a problem (iow, develop a program that accomplishes a goal (**** these language differences :rolleyes: ) ) All it's languages are built on the .NET framework (http://www.microsoft.com/net/basics/) making them more "state of the art" than other editions of VS; as there aren't many syntax differences between both versions, although there are some new features, IMO you'd be better off starting off with .NET as it will probably be way more future proof. You can get some documentation on C++.NET here:
http://www.msdnaa.net/resources/display.aspx?resid=1587 And here's a load of examples:
http://www.planet-source-code.com/vb/default.asp?lngWId=10#categories

[bob05]

Do you know anything about the upcoming C#? Is it going to replace C++?

[bassman]

I don't think so: http://msdn.microsoft.com/vcsharp/productinfo/default.aspx

I'm more into plain old rough C :p