Thread: Starting out...

Is it better to learn C first and then C++ or can I just go straight into C++?

If you want to learn C, go straight to learning C.

If you want to learn C++, go straight to learning C++.

I've just started with 'C for dummies' and in it, it says that if you learn C you'll end up knowing 95% of C++. Is this true or will I have to relearn everything from scratch?

It's probably false, or at least an exaggeration. It's hard to measure "95% of C++" anyway.

There are MANY things that are exactly the same in C and C++ - so if you know C first, then you don't have to learn those basic parts of C++ that are identical to C.

There is one main difference in C++ - you are supposed to use object oriented design in C++ - it is perfectly possible to produce C++ code that doesn't, just like you can use a Land Rover (serious off-road vehicle) to drive on London streets - but you aren't really using the language as it was designed to be used. [In both examples, there are many that don't use it as it was intended!]

There are also a bunch of tiny differences - there are new reserved words, so some names that are OK to use in C are now used by the language itself as keywords, so you won't be able to use those names for your own names, such as "operator", "new", "delete", "template", and several more. C++ is more strict about types, so some code that works fine in C will give compiler errors in C++.

There is also a large set of "Standard Template Library" functionality that gives powerful functionality to the C++ application programmer. To understand and use these libraries is part of learning C++.

Also, bear in mind that if you are learning to program as well as learning C or C++, you will be learning two skills:
- Programming as such generally how to make a program do what you want, which consists problem solving, splitting a problem into smaller portins, debugging, and many other skills.

- The syntax, functions and behaviour of the C or C++ language.

The far more complex part of that is to learn how to program. The language may seem daunting, with strict rules about how and where you can put what, you have to put semicolons in certain places, shouldn't have them in other places, etc, etc. But that is still a lot shorter/simpler process than becomming a skilled software developer.

In summary, you have a lot to learn whichever way you do it, and you will have to work at it - don't believe for an instant that the books called "learn C++ in 21 days" actually mean that you are a quality programmer after 21 days [assuming you even manage to get through the examples in the book in that time].

--
Mats

I think the reverse is a little more to the truth - know C++ and you know 90/95% of C.
But they are different languages with different ways of making your code. Ie, in C+, we use object oriented approach, but we can't do that in C.
Two different languages, so like each other. so with as much as anything else, learn one, stick with one.