Thread: Learning C or C++

Originally Posted by stahta01

FYI: You got two IDEs.

Code::Blocks sometimes is packaged with the MinGW GCC C/C++ Compiler.

Not really used devcpp; so, I am just guessing that it likely also uses MinGW GCC C/C++ Compiler.

Tim S.

Yap. I got the Code::Block from a post on cprogramming.com
It uses MinGW GCC C/C++ Compiler.

I'd say, go for python. It'll decrease the slope of the initial learning curve.
On the other hand, if you go with C++ (or C), the initial curve will be steeper, but will be over much quicker as you're forced to be within the good practices of these languages.

Originally Posted by laserlight

Otherwise... well, it doesn't really matter as programming languages are tools, not cults (I hope).

...as said by a "C++ Witch" !

A lot of good advice in this thread.

Anyway, don't use "Dev-C++"; development stopped before they fixed several dozens of bugs that will cause you problems.

Beyond that, use what you feel comfortable with and to that end I'd say install a few different "IDE" suites and see which you like best.

Soma

Originally Posted by kinsomicrote

Hello, am sorry if this is a wrong place to post this.
Plz i wana go into software programming. Which language should i learn? C or C ++.

Best approach is first to learn C and then learn C++.
I am a student at DIT .(this approach is used there)

Best approach is first to learn C and then learn C++.

No. It isn't.

The best approach is to learn whichever he intends to use of simply prefers for whatever reason.

They are two entirely different beast with different "Best Practices", "Canonical Code", and approaches to implementing designs.

You don't need to know anything that is C to learn C++ beyond the few bits which are the same which you'd learn in learning C++ in any event.

You don't need to know any C++ to learn C either.

Soma

On the other hand, if you go with C++ (or C), the initial curve will be steeper, but will be over much quicker as you're forced to be within the good practices of these languages.

Actually I'm pretty sure C/C++ doesn't force you to be good at anything.

Compile time errors essentially boil down to syntax errors and link errors.

Undefined behavior really doesn't teach anything. If people are lucky it just breaks, then they have to ask questions and learn how to do it the good way. And freeing dynamic memory just isn't emphasized at all in enough places, and people get away with trashing memory most of the time.

Run time errors can be rare and when they show up they aren't described at all.

It's awful at teaching its good practices.

Originally Posted by phantomotap

No. It isn't.

The best approach is to learn whichever he intends to use of simply prefers for whatever reason.

They are two entirely different beast with different "Best Practices", "Canonical Code", and approaches to implementing designs.

You don't need to know anything that is C to learn C++ beyond the few bits which are the same which you'd learn in learning C++ in any event.

You don't need to know any C++ to learn C either.

Soma

So you suggest a student should first learn C++ (OOP) and then C(procedural programming) ??

It's awful at teaching its good practices.

Perhaps he intended to imply that if you don't learn the "Best Practices" you'll quickly find yourself with no legs.

Soma

Originally Posted by std10093

So you suggest a student should first learn C++ (OOP) and then C(procedural programming) ??

And you suggest that C++ is only about OOP ?

So you suggest a student should first learn C++ (OOP) and then C(procedural programming) ??

That question implies that you think C++ is solely an "OOP" language or that "OOP" can't be done in C.

That said, if a person wished to learn C++ first because they intent to use C++ or because they find it superior to C for whatever reason then C++ is what they should learn and C should be avoided until a foundation is built.

I'd say the same for almost any other choice of language. "Intent" and "Preference" weigh a lot more than people who've never taught think.

Soma

Originally Posted by manasij7479

And you suggest thatC++ is only about OOP ?

I know(i am student you see) only procedural and OO programming (and a little of functional).So C++ is for OOP in my mind.However i am too young i guess to be absolute.So be my guest and inform me

Originally Posted by phantomotap

That question implies that you think C++ is solely an "OOP" language or that "OOP" can't be done in C.

That said, if a person wished to learn C++ first because they intent to use C++ or because they find it superior to C for whatever reason then C++ is what they should learn and C should be avoided until a foundation is built.

I'd say the same for almost any other choice of language. "Intent" and "Preference" weigh a lot more than people who've never taught think.

Soma

Of cource you can write OOP in C,but if it was ok,then why C++ became so popular?I think that if you want an OOP language and have to select between C and C++,of course you would use C++.
Same story with procedural.You could write procedural programming in C++,but C is far more appropriate