Thread: Where to go from here? ( not a coding question )

Hi Guys,

I'll try keep this brief, plus sorry if this has been asked before but i think its a personal / situational based question that could have different answers per person asking.

Ok so started learning C in 1st year of college and am presently in second year, we aren't doing C this year instead we are looking at Java and SQL stuff. I'm not sure but i assume we will come back to C at some point during my degree.

Problem is I want to master C, C++, C#, Java and a few others. This all starts with learning C fully though.

Last year we did all the basics in C, functions, arrays, pointers, stuct's etc and i must say I'm probably rusty on these now due to not focusing on them.

My question is, what is the best root to take for me to learn how to properly code in C? ie all I know how to do is make small programs that pop up in the command line. I want to be able to write actual software with UI's etc.

I'll have to learn by myself so any suggestions to ease this process would be great.

>This all starts with learning C fully though.
No, this all starts with learning how to program! The specifics of the language isn't much important.

>I want to be able to write actual software with UI's
Fine, you have several choices...Using OS specific API `s or more generally...cross platform widgets like GTK, Qt, wxWidgets ..etc.
But unless you have the concepts cleared, you are going to have a tough time with those.

Well i was assuming that learning C would be equivalent to learning to program? ie its the language i have most experience in ( still not much i admit ).

How do I start to learn these concepts?

Basically I'm trying to jump ahead of college, I still have two and a half years left and maybe it all starts to fall into place later in the course?
I know its is a very broad question and is probably hard to answer fully, but like how did all you experienced guys get where you are now? do you see what i mean.

Try to create a project. Choose yourself a task, for example create a simple monopoly.
Now start looking in the web for how to create GUI and such and start.
You have to start from a project. there is nothing like learning while trying..
Good luck

Originally Posted by l1ttledb

Well i was assuming that learning C would be equivalent to learning to program? ie its the language i have most experience in ( still not much i admit ).

Knowing a language does not make you a linguist... You can know all the words and all the grammar in any language (even English) but until you learn how to express concepts and ideas in that language, you cannot hope to communicate. Thus the simple act of speaking is more than merely knowing the language.

How do I start to learn these concepts?

By writing code... Set your self a tall challenge... Something just out of your grasp... For Example: Houshold inventory... you need to list, account for, evaluate, change, add, remove items and you need to store the data between program runs...

Think about what you need to store.
Think about how you will store it.
Think about how you will administer it.
How do you add a new item?
How do you remove an old one?
etc.

Now apply yourself to the task of planning out the code, writing the code and debugging the code.

Once you finish that pick something again just beyond your skills and go at it again... Each new challenge brings new insight.
You'll get there eventually.

Basically I'm trying to jump ahead of college, I still have two and a half years left and maybe it all starts to fall into place later in the course?

Grab some tutorials and/or a good book... give yourself a review, work the thing beginning to end, then, as I said above, pick a challenge that's just beyond your grasp and stick with it... then the next challenge... and the next.

I know its is a very broad question and is probably hard to answer fully, but like how did all you experienced guys get where you are now? do you see what i mean.

We were all where you are, at one time or another... We got where we are (wherever that is) through persistence, experience and genuine interest.

Thanks guys,

i think I didn't express myself the right way in parts there so i got answers that were different than expected

For example, the part about "it all falling into place" was actually me saying i doubt it will and i think i need to take the initiative. Hence this thread.

Anyway, I got some idea's on where to start out of the replies which is better than what i had this morning.

Cheers
Gav