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Hi,
I am relatively new to C++, but know the basics. I have previously worked with Delphi, and I am sure there must be a similar application for C++ (so visually create the application, drag and drop components, etc.). I have visual C++ (which I thought was what I was looking for, considering the name), but it simply an editor & compiler. Help would be appreciated.
Nick
By creating an MFC application in VC++, you can do all of those visual manipulation things. The wizard will set you up. Even cooler, you can click elements on your app to show the related code for that instance. MFC's what you're looking for.
Moving from Delphi to VC++ and MFC involves a moderately large transition. If you want a smaller transition, look up Borland C++ Builder or, more recently, the Turbo C++ product line. These are from the vendors of Delphi (Borland, more recently Inprise), except they support an extended C++ rather than an extended Object Pascal. Delphi's VCL is reused to support drag-and-drop of GUI components in most versions, which means knowledge of VCL can be carried across from Delphi.
Hi,
I got Borland C++ Builder 6, and its exactly what I've been looking for. I want to learn C++ well, Iv been programming in PHP for years, and have basic C knowledge but always got stuck on structures and pointers. I was wondering if using C++ builder is a good way to learn C++ well, and also, what kind of excersizes (programs) can I practise with?
C++ Builder is a compiler, and a compiler is one tool you need to learn C++. Like almost every compiler, it supports extensions (features that make some jobs easier, but are specific to that compiler and not actually part of the C++ language or standard library) and, if you get hooked on using those extensions, it is more difficult to move to another compiler if you need to. The VCL is an extension (as GUI, database access, and other things in the VCL are also not covered by the C++ standard) and there are several language features (in rough terms, if you find yourself using keywords with two leading underscores in their name, you are using a feature that is not necessarily supported by other compilers).
AS to what type of excercises, that's really up to you. If you have a problem you want to solve, or a particular tool you want to produce, one of the best ways to learn is to try and create it. The process of going through the documentation to find ways to do your task will be a valuable learning experience. Only proviso is that, early on, try to keep your firsts tasks simple (eg build a tool that does a few things you can describe easily, rather than lots of things you can't describe easily) -- as you learn, and build confidence, you can try more challenging things.
Personally, I never "practiced" with C++, in the sense that I never worked through exercises that other people had given me for the express purpose of my learning. Instead, I had a job to do, and learnt by reading documentation and trying things out in the context of doing that job.
There's wxDev-C++, if you're interested. Doesn't seem as well developed as the other alternatives, but it's pretty much free and is based on the very standard MinGW compiler.