Thread: I want to learn how to program! Someone help!... Please

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    Lightbulb I want to learn how to program! Someone help!... Please

    Good Morning,

    I need help, or more of a push in the right direction.

    I really want to become an app developer, i don't have any background in computer programming or anything like that. I know how to use most apple products and i will soon be purchasing an apple mac.

    I understand that you need to learn about the language you use for your apps "C ... C++". How is the best way for me to go about learning this?
    I have looked at http://www.cprogramming.com which seems to offer a lot of info, could you recommend anything else or let me know what else i will need to do before even starting to per sue this challenge?

    Thank you all for your time!

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    Lurking whiteflags's Avatar
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    Buy a book and read it. C++ Book Recommendations Most books come with a IDE or recommend a certain one within the first few pages. Follow this. It will be easier for your first experience if you are using what the book is using, since the book is a source of help.

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    Registered User rogster001's Avatar
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    There is no fast track to yor goal, if you wish to really start programming then you need to start from scratch and learn by doing excersises to build your knowledge of the language 'tool box' and fundamentals behind it. these output of these excercises will not neccesarily be of interest to you, but simply serve as a learning vehicle.
    Thought for the day:
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    FLTK: "The most fun you can have with your clothes on."

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    @ Whiteflags & @ rogster001 - Thank you both for your input, i understand this is something that isn't going to happen over night however its something i really want to look into. Do any of you know the best book to go for for beginners!?

    Once again, Thanks!

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    whiteflags provided a link to a topic on C++ Book Recommendations. Did you read it? It's a long one.

    Accelerated C++ seems to be particularly well-received, but I've not read a C++ book in a long, long time.

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    Quote Originally Posted by rags_to_riches View Post
    whiteflags provided a link to a topic on C++ Book Recommendations. Did you read it? It's a long one.

    Accelerated C++ seems to be particularly well-received, but I've not read a C++ book in a long, long time.
    I did see the link yes, just there were a lot of mixed reviews in terms of which books to use, a lot saying that this isn't a book for a complete rookie!! Thanks for your suggestion!... i will have a look on Amazon.

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    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jaynorton17
    I did see the link yes, just there were a lot of mixed reviews in terms of which books to use, a lot saying that this isn't a book for a complete rookie!
    There is some truth in that the book assumes that you have a development environment whereas rank beginners may have no clue how/where to obtain and install a good compiler and text editor or IDE. Other than that, it should be okay even if C++ is your first programming language.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

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    Quote Originally Posted by laserlight View Post
    There is some truth in that the book assumes that you have a development environment whereas rank beginners may have no clue how/where to obtain and install a good compiler and text editor or IDE. Other than that, it should be okay even if C++ is your first programming language.
    Thanks for this... i best go out and buy a mac... first things first haha !

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    Quote Originally Posted by laserlight View Post
    There is some truth in that the book assumes that you have a development environment whereas rank beginners may have no clue how/where to obtain and install a good compiler and text editor or IDE. Other than that, it should be okay even if C++ is your first programming language.
    I'm looking at the "for dummies" range of books, there is a C++ and a Programming one, would you recommend getting both?

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    Quote Originally Posted by jaynorton17 View Post
    I'm looking at the "for dummies" range of books, there is a C++ and a Programming one, would you recommend getting both?
    I'd recommend the Programming one... even if it teaches another language(I don't know if it does..).
    After a good idea about what to expect from programming (which will be quite different compared to what you're probably used to; from computers), picking up C++(at least the basics) will be quite easy .

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    Quote Originally Posted by manasij7479 View Post
    I'd recommend the Programming one... even if it teaches another language(I don't know if it does..).
    After a good idea about what to expect from programming (which will be quite different compared to what you're probably used to; from computers), picking up C++(at least the basics) will be quite easy .

    Thats Great Thanks for that!

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    Registered User rogster001's Avatar
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    The C++ (dummies) one i recommend as it does have an interesting first half which is more 'generic' programming background and will teach you a lot about 'what is a variable', logic, data storage concepts etc. ok so it does this with an eye on C++ constructs but the fundamentals are there, and for me that section is an enjoyable read in itself, away from the keyboard, even when you think you 'know it', a bit like its nice reading cookery books (well i think so) even when you have no intention of cooking anytime soon. I read this for the first time when most of the stuff in it was already familiar ground to me, that didnt make it any less useful or informative though, especially for a self taught coder...like you are going to be..!
    The second half is more the defining C++ features of Object orientated concepts, STL and so forth, this again is presented in a fascinating way at first but then gets a bit repetitive in analogy and example, in my opinion anyhow, but for a total newbie it should be a really interesting and useful read.

    PS The copy I have is old now and recommends DEV C++ as the free IDE to obtain, this project is no longer under maintenance so if you see that anywhere you should instead use something like Code Blocks , or Pelles, both quality, and free.
    Last edited by rogster001; 01-12-2012 at 05:33 PM. Reason: IDE advice
    Thought for the day:
    "Are you sure your sanity chip is fully screwed in sir?" (Kryten)
    FLTK: "The most fun you can have with your clothes on."

    Stroustrup:
    "If I had thought of it and had some marketing sense every computer and just about any gadget would have had a little 'C++ Inside' sticker on it'"

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    Quote Originally Posted by rogster001 View Post
    The C++ (dummies) one i recommend as it does have an interesting first half which is more 'generic' programming background and will teach you a lot about 'what is a variable', logic, data storage concepts etc. ok so it does this with an eye on C++ constructs but the fundamentals are there, and for me that section is an enjoyable read in itself, away from the keyboard, even when you think you 'know it', a bit like its nice reading cookery books (well i think so) even when you have no intention of cooking anytime soon. I read this for the first time when most of the stuff in it was already familiar ground to me, that didnt make it any less useful or informative though, especially for a self taught coder...like you are going to be..!
    The second half is more the defining C++ features of Object orientated concepts, STL and so forth, this again is presented in a fascinating way at first but then gets a bit repetitive in analogy and example, in my opinion anyhow, but for a total newbie it should be a really interesting and useful read.

    PS The copy I have is old now and recommends DEV C++ as the free IDE to obtain, this project is no longer under maintenance so if you see that anywhere you should instead use something like Code Blocks , or Pelles, both quality, and free.
    rogster001 - Thank you so much for that !!!!!!!!! Its really helpful to have such a detailed input!! Would i not need to know about basic programming before i read the C++ Book... and by the way....YOU ROCK!!!!
    Last edited by jaynorton17; 01-13-2012 at 03:33 AM.

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    Would i not need to know about basic programming before i read the C++ Book..
    The For Dummies books all assume it's going to be the first thing you read, so don't worry about it. Do worry about misinformation though. For simplicity's sake they stay away from real issues like code portability, which with respect to Macs means taking a program and porting it to Windows for example. They don't talk about it.

    Out of curiosity, why did you pick C++?

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    Quote Originally Posted by whiteflags View Post
    The For Dummies books all assume it's going to be the first thing you read, so don't worry about it. Do worry about misinformation though. For simplicity's sake they stay away from real issues like code portability, which with respect to Macs means taking a program and porting it to Windows for example. They don't talk about it.

    Out of curiosity, why did you pick C++?
    I really want to start developing apps using a MAC and i read somewhwere in the guardian that this is the language they use?? So i just decided to go with that.... Is it not??

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