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Hi everyone.
I'm taking my first few steps in C++ programming. The only programming I did was BASIC :o and that was quite a long time ago.
No questions really here, just would like to know if it's a right thing to do, i.e I'm trying to learn both C++ and Visual C++ at the same time, when I dont have any experience in C++ at all. Because there are some that say, you'd need at least the fundamentals of C++ to begin using Visual C++.
Thanx.
I would recommend learning the concepts of programming first before thinking about windows programming and game programming.
edit:: by the way, welcome!
1) C++ is a computer language
2) Visual C++ is a compiler
3) if you want to learn windows programming finish learning the basic of C/C++ then go to WIN32 like me :)
Cool thanx :)
More questions.
Other than C++ what else do they do to code games/apps?
What abt the C++ language itself? There must be some program used to create C++??
How long do I need to become good at coding? :D
Just would like to clear my mind on this.
Thanx.
games and apps can be created by a number of languages; C, C++, Java, and etc.
What do you mean program to create c++? If you mean something to create apps, you need a compiler and some kind of text editor/IDE. Some IDEs allow you to select a compile option, which does the compile and linking work for you, so you don't have to do it at the command line. Some would be Bloodshed Dev-C++ (www.bloodshed.net), Quincy (www.alstevens.com/quincy), and Visual Studio. These aren't all, there are many others. Compilers, well, you can do a search. There are many out there, such as mingw (www.mingw.org), Borland BCC55 (www.borland.com), and etc.
As for length of time, that is upon an individual basis. For C++, there is quite a bit of abstract thinking to say the least. OOP can be difficult to grasp for quite a few. So, no one can really say how long it will take you. For some it can take a month to learn syntax, classes, templates, etc. For some, it can take a year. It is dependent on time, you, and your commitment. Just learn at a comfortable rate, and when you have questions, ask. That's what this forum is here for.
Any more questions, post up.
Standard (ANSI/ISO) C++ does NOT include any graphics, GUI, or Sound. So you have to use "extensions" to the language. Visual C++ includes the WinAPI (Windows Application Programming Interface). This includes 1000+ functions which interact with the windows operating system.Quote:
Other than C++ what else do they do to code games/apps
All of this non-standard stuff is platform and compiler specific. So, you can write a console (keyboard and display) program in standard C++ and simply re-compile it for use on a PC or a MAC. You can't simply re-compile the graphics part of your program... You'd have to re-write it using the graphics library/functions for each particular platform.
If you're going to create a language, you start with assembly. Assembly language is essentially human readable machine language (the language that the microprocessor understands.)Quote:
There must be some program used to create C++??
Then libraries can be created using the new language itself, or a combination of the new language and assembly.
I have a book called "Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days" by Jesse Liberty. I think it took me about 4-6 weeks (evenings and weekends) to work my way through the book. I think I could have done it in 21 days, but I took my time, and hand-typed in all the example programs.Quote:
How long do I need to become good at coding?
I'd say that C++ is at least "twice" as hard as BASIC. The syntax is a bit less English-like, there are LOTS of library functions, OOP, polymorphism, etc.
Charles Petzold, in his book "Progrmming Windows", says it takes 6 months to learn windows programming, assuming you already know text-based C.
So, you're not going to be "good" in a month... You're not going to impress your friends with your programs in a month... After two or three months of study and practice you might get a feel for how long it's going to take you to become "good".
I just happen to have that book "Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days" by Jesse Liberty! But so far I've been mainly using a text book, kinda introduction to "problem solving w/ C++". Forgot the author's name.
Anyway, what's html really? It's not a programming language I can say that.
Also, these php, asp, jsp and the like? What are they for in terms of creating applications?
A couple of minor observations.
>>>
Visual C++ includes the WinAPI (Windows Application Programming Interface).
<<<
The API and platform SDK are available for free download/update from MS's website, where you can find complete documentation also for free. You do not need to buy a compiler/IDE to use the API.
>>>
If you're going to create a language, you start with assembly.
<<<
That is no longer really true. Delphi for example, is written exclusively in Delphi. Borland make a marketting point over the fact to demostrate the capabilities of the software.
I highly recommend that you learn C++ very well ( if you are planning to use C++ for prgramming ), and don't think about games programming now, just think about learning C++, when you become good enough in C++, you can learn what to do with it...
Really??? :confused:Quote:
Delphi for example, is written exclusively in Delphi.
I'm trying to understand how that's possible... Any Computer Science majors or graduates out there care to explain this? All the Delphi instructions have to be converted to machine language... Can that be done without using anyassembly/machine language (or, some other language)???
I think it works like this:
They write a Delphi compiler in some other source, say C.
Then they compile the source to the Delphi compiler.
Then they rewrite the source into Delphi, which can now be compiled on the initial Delphi compiler.
>>> They write a Delphi compiler in some other source, say C.
Turbo Pascal. From memory, Turbo Pascal 6. Delphi 1 was "Turbo Pascal 7".
I was giving myself a headache trying to comprehend how to do this. My first thought was that it was impossible and I started writing a sarcastic response... Then, I got a little more humble... I know a lot about electronics and computers, but I'm not a CS expert!
After all that thinking... I think it is possible to write a language exclusively in that language if that language includes it's own assembly language! In that case, you'd still, in effect, be starting with the CPU's machine language. I dunno if that has ever been done, but it would be interesting. You would have all the low level assembly stuff directly available to you without invoking a separate assembler.
it IS a kind of programming language used for creating websitesQuote:
And what is HTML really