New Member with a couple quick questions....

Hello, I just joined this forum because I'm interested in learning C and maybe C++

I just got another side job for building/maintaining a website and doing a little SEO and while I was going through the source code with the people their eyes lite up...

They are working on developing a product that uses an industrial controller with an LCD screen and had a C program wrote for the proto-types. Their old programmer when out of business and they've been having problems finding someone reliable.

When I was reading through their HTML script for their old website, it reminded them of the C programing that they had done. I currently run the website and SEO of their sons company so they know I'm a reliable person and they asked me if I'd be interested in learning C programming so I could help them out.

They are even willing to pay me for my time to learn it. I just don't want to get involved in it if its going to be way over my head, so I figured I'd ask on the forum and see what you guys think.

First a little background on me and my skills.

I taught myself HTML 10+ years ago when I started building hovercrafts so I could keep a website of what we've done. Since then I've also added another site to mine for our hot rod V8 Beetle project. On the side also built, maintain, and work on SEO for the company I work for as an industrial mechanic. Now I've taken over this other company's website.

So I'm decent with HTML, but not an expert, no formal training, just taught myself what I needed to know.

I'm good with computers and always willing to learn something new (especially if I'm getting paid LOL)

Several years ago I learned some Java, enough to modify simple games and such, but I haven't used it since and probably forgot it all. LOL


Now back to this potential C programming job:

-Like I said they are willing to pay me for my time to learn it, plus they aren't in any hurry for programming work. They want to test several proto-types with the current program, but eventually in a few months would want me to re-write the program to be prettier and flow better, etc.

They even gave me several C and C++ books.

-The current program is in C, but the controller will handle C++, but they said they aren't even stretching the limits of C so didn't see any reason to jump to C++
The program is several pages long and there are 8-10 different screens for the LCD, but they said all the algorithmic stuff for the sensors was done by a software programmer and didn't need to be touched, they thought I'd just be able to copy and paste it into the new program? I just need to be able to write a program.

So do you guys think this is something I could potentially tackle???

Are there any simulation programs out there so I can mess around with the program they already have written???

Any good tutorials or sites you guys recommend???

I'm going to start looking through this site and see what I can find, but any input would be greatly apriciated!!!!


THANKS!

If you learned Java before, then I would probably say that you have the basics of a programmer.
If you really want to learn C, you will have to get your hands dirty, because it's very different compared to Java. It will a lot of time to learn, due to its low level-ness.
C++, the higher parts of it anyway, I think you could learn in lesser amounts of time since it is similar to Java, yet has more powerful features and some C legacy.

So you would probably be able to learn C++. It's a matter of learning differences mostly and new functions, ie looking at documentation mostly. C is another matter. It's not object-oriented at all, so you will probably have to be prepared to dedicate a lot of time into getting it to work properly.
I cannot say if you have the dedication or the skill, but I would at least give you the advice to look at some tutorials and books to see if it clicks or not. That is, if learning it will be easy or not.
If you like programming (try and see), then I would definitely take the chance to try learning it. You're paid for it, so hey?