Thread: New to c++ some specific questions, gui, db, xml

  1. #1
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    Question New to c++ some specific questions, gui, db, xml

    Hi guys,
    I am new in c++ development and I just found this board.
    I started developing in c++ 2 days ago ... and it's quite fun and funny as well. The syntax and the basics are quite easy for me, because I am developing in PHP since 3 years, and as we know PHP is actually based on C. So thats not the big deal.

    I read the c / c++ made easy tutorials on your suggested site Cprogramming.com - Programming Tutorials: C++ Made Easy and C Made Easy and some german tutorials as well.

    But I want to get deep into c++ as fast as possible...the first challanges I would like to take are:

    storing data in a database and / or XML files
    GUI

    To the GUI subject: I was searching a little bit with google and co, but actually I could not find anything helpful for starting GUI development with c++. But I found the qt framework, which provides a lot in GUI and other options, such as database and xml.

    So therefor I have the questions, if you recommend starting with qt at this early point or do you know some specific things I should take a look at according to my written points (db, xml, gui)?
    Honestly I prefer having the knowledge how to do it plain first, and not using a framework, because I want to know what is actually happening in the background.

    I am afraid to say that, but I am also asking you if you could give me some suggestions / examples of "mini projects" I could start off with c++. I am quite idealess and I dont know anything appart from a calculator what i can do with CLI at the beginning of my c++ career : / What did you do first when you were starting c / c++? If you type me some tags I probably can figure out some things I could possibily develop.

    Anyway, I hope it was not to difficult to understand my crap english and I am looking forward to hearing some hopefully helpful answers from you.

    Take care and best regards,
    Bjoern

  2. #2
    Cat without Hat CornedBee's Avatar
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    Qt is a good framework, but it actually uses a special preprocessor to extend the capabilities of C++ a little bit beyond what the language actually provides. On the other hand, there is no "easy" way to do GUI, DBs or XML in C++. So if you really want to dive into these things right away, Qt is as good a way as any other. You should just make sure you're clear on what part is C++ and what part is Qt. (Hint: anything to do with signals and slots is Qt.)
    All the buzzt!
    CornedBee

    "There is not now, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be, any programming language in which it is the least bit difficult to write bad code."
    - Flon's Law

  3. #3
    Registered User jeffcobb's Avatar
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    If you wanted to get quick experience with a simple DB, check out SQLite; most of the "bigs" have rather heinous (for a beginner) administrative and setup needs. SQLite is simply a file yet supports SQL (duh), transactions, etc.

    As for XML Google for something called TinyXML, it will get you into XML fast, is both C and C++ friendly...
    C/C++ Environment: GNU CC/Emacs
    Make system: CMake
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  4. #4
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    Thanks for your answers, well then I give qt a try
    And maybe I will have a look at the mentioned things from jeffcobb

  5. #5
    Registered User jeffcobb's Avatar
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    I just wanted to add: At the risk of re-inventing the wheel you could also write your own DB...it may not turn out as nice as the most established ones but I promise you will learn a lot in the process, particularly if you make it thread-safe.... ^__^
    C/C++ Environment: GNU CC/Emacs
    Make system: CMake
    Debuggers: Valgrind/GDB

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