Thread: New C++ tutorial for beginners - opinions wanted!

Hello!


I was thinking that there are no really good C++ tutorials for total beginners, so I decided to create one.


At this moment, I would like to get some feedback. So, if you would be so kind, take a look there and state what you think. Your feedback will be appreciated.


Here is the computer programming tutorial for beginners, in the C++ language:


Learn Programming with C++

whats wrong with the tutorials on this site, or:
C++ Tutorial
C++ Tutorial for Beginners
C++ Language - C++ Tutorials
C++ Tutorials Forum | Dream.In.Code

also I think executing programs on paper is for primary school kids. how are you supposed to learn your way around the new IDE if you never use it? at most they should write out a small while loop iterating over an array or something.

Code:

vector<double> a = {2, -1, 4, 0.3, 11.7};

O_o

You should tell people you are introducing C++11 from the start.

We also say that the variable a is an array, or an array of 'doubles', or an array of 5 values of type double.

A `std::vector<???>` instance is not an array. The C++ language has native arrays.

You are trying to teach some foundation materials. Using the wrong terminology will do anyone reading the site a poor favor.

Soma

Originally Posted by Kevin C

The C++ language has native arrays, and they are terrible, at least for beginners. "std::vector is an array" - is close enough.

It would be more correct, and just as understandable to say "std::vector behaves as an array." You're not leading your readers astray, and you're still giving them useful info. Everybody wins.

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it IS a duck.

And, yes, I'm using the latest and greatest version of C++, of course. There should be no dilemma there. The readers will get the compiler when they install the recommended IDE.

And thanks for opinions!

Edit: Also note that the title of the tutorial is "Learn Programming - with C++", not "Learn C++ programming"

Originally Posted by Kevin C

The C++ language has native arrays, and they are terrible, at least for beginners. "std::vector is an array" - is close enough.

erm..., i disagree with that one... saying they are both ways of containing data is close enough i'll grant that. And as for being terrible for beginners, I think they are a fundamental concept that aids understanding of the higher level types. Using them dynamically is harder sure, but the static allocation and access is so graspable before feature-rich containers come into a beginners picture.

Originally Posted by rogster001

...I think they are a fundamental concept that aids understanding of the higher level types. Using them dynamically is harder sure, but the static allocation and access is so graspable before feature-rich containers come into a beginners picture.

That depends on the individual. Some don't care or grasp basic underlying concepts that are close to the hardware. Nor should they have to. An array should fulfill its function while exposing a rich, useful interface. That's std::vector and std::array in a nutshell. C arrays are dangerous and inherently low level.

"std::vector is an array" - is close enough.

O_o

Information which is completely wrong is "close enough"?

o_O

Sure...

It would be more correct, and just as understandable to say "std::vector behaves as an array."

A `std::vector<???>` template class really only has the subscript operator in common with native arrays.

The tutorial isn't just providing false information; the tutorial provides false information by way of comparison to a mechanism which hasn't been explained. Knowing "std::vector is an array" wouldn't be useful without having some knowledge of what it means to be "an array" even if were true.

The comparison is completely false and also unnecessary. The tutorial could just as easily be labeled "std::vector" and wording changed to describe exactly what a it means to be a `std::vector<???>` instance without the array nonsense.

Soma

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it IS a duck.

O_o

What a marvelously concise explanation for why you are choosing to misinform... you act like a crappy tutorial writer because you are a crappy tutorial writer.

Soma