Thread: C++ to the next level

Pretty stupid question here, but I insist on asking.

I got 2 years of C++ at school, but I would like to learn on myself. Problem is what exactely is interesting enough to spend my time on ? Should I look at C# ? C++.net ? Or should I step away from C++ towards Java ?

Hope some experienced programmers can tell me what I should look at.

edit : or Visual C++ ?

I recommend you design and implement real projects including Windows and Linux using advanced C++. Here are some ideas.

- Text Editor
- FTP Client/Server
- Web Browser
- Image Viewer/Convertor/Editor
- MP3 Player/Ripper
- Video Player
- Game and Game Servers

Some of the ideas may appear as huge projects, but with two years C++ experience, you are very well prepared and are ready for real applications.

Remember that any given project begins with an idea that appear impossible at first.

Kuphryn

using nothing but text editor ?

Becoz that seems guge

In Visual C++ (if it's anything like VB) it sounds doable

Wouldnt it be smarter to learn more languages or newer "versions" of C then spending time in such a project ?

I'm anxious to see your replies

I agree with Kuphryn. It sort-of depends what you're most interested in.

GUI programming can get quite involved. If you want to learn Windows programming, get Petzold's book.

I work with a programmer that's learning windows drivers. Wow! This stuff is complicated! If you're intersted in hardware, drivers should be interesting too.

These things can become big projects, and sometimes its diffficult for me to keep motivated when I'm working on my "simple" windows program, because it's taking such a long time.

The other difficulty I've found with this more advanced shtuff, is that most of the books are not set-up as self-learning courses. I really liked the format of the "21 days" books (info-questions-exercises). With the more advanced books you have to make-up your own exercises, and you're really not sure if you've learned what you were supposed to learn.

A person may know many programming tools, but they are useless if the person does no work on real-world projects. Experience comes with 'doing," not "reading." A two year C++ experience is sufficient for you to begin a real-world project.

You have two options: do or quit (learn other tools).

Kuphryn

are there any sites with some "monitoring" of such projects ? Where I can see what steps need to be handled ? Some sort of analysis of the problem. And where I can get some feedback ?

Because just starting without any experience with such projects, will likely cause me to do things that aren't necessary at all. Or is that part of the project ?

I like the idea, but to be honest I'm a bit scared to start something like that on my own ..