Thread: Question about C and C++

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    Question Question about C and C++

    Im a freshman in college and im taking C but i may transfer to a college that uses C++. I was wondering if anyone thinks i would get credit for the course and the diffculty of moving to C++. I think the C course is at a fairly basic and simpy level so far if that makes a difference.
    I also thought i've seen on some board that C is easier or makes poor programmers, or something of the sort and was wondering if there is any advantage of learning/using C instead of C++.
    Thanks

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    Devil's Advocate SlyMaelstrom's Avatar
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    I don't know about C making poor programmers, but yeah, I would worry about whether you could transfer the credits. It's already hard enough to transfer credits for anything but your basic courses, even if it's the same exact course they offer. It would be even harder if you have no experience in the language they teach.
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    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    Actually, given some of the more recent posts, I'd be more worried about the quality of the teachers rather than the language they chose to teach in.
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    Devil's Advocate SlyMaelstrom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Salem
    Actually, given some of the more recent posts, I'd be more worried about the quality of the teachers rather than the language they chose to teach in.
    Those posts don't reflect the quality of teachers, they reflect the quality of the students.

    Let me give you an example. I'm currently in a Data Structures course which is now my third programming course in college. This is my first programming course that the majority of the students are CS majors.

    I don't know when it happened or if it's something new, but it seems being a Computer Science student is an extracurricular activity for the confused and uncertain on where their future is going. Maybe they can stick to these courses long enough to be able to hack into their friends computer.
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    Quote Originally Posted by SlyMaelstrom
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem
    Actually, given some of the more recent posts, I'd be more worried about the quality of the teachers rather than the language they chose to teach in.
    Those posts don't reflect the quality of teachers, they reflect the quality of the students.

    Let me give you an example. I'm currently in a Data Structures course which is now my third programming course in college. This is my first programming course that the majority of the students are CS majors.
    Let me give you alternate examples -- instructors are in fact recommending:
    fflush(stdin)
    gets()
    scanf()
    void main()
    system("pause")


    Need I go on? I agree with Salem.
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    Code Goddess Prelude's Avatar
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    >Those posts don't reflect the quality of teachers, they reflect the quality of the students.
    So it's *my* fault if I don't question my teacher when he *forces* me (with the threat of a lower grade) to use something that the standard says is undefined? You're blaming the students for the inadequacies of their teachers. If you really believe what you've said, then tell me this: How does the quality of the teacher *not* effect the quality of the student?
    My best code is written with the delete key.

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    Devil's Advocate SlyMaelstrom's Avatar
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    I agree with you that teachers have a tendancy to teach non standard practice. Hell, I've had teachers that said things so ridiculous, I couldn't help but argue with them infront of class. But I just can't help but get ticked off when a new poster asks how to use an array when the assignment he is working on is clearly beyond comprehension of arrays. Then they go on and explain how their teacher didn't explain arrays, as if it were something a teacher would feel is a negligible subject. It's not a matter of understanding, so I can't give these people sympathy. A person that doesn't understand would know every bit of the syntax, they just wouldn't get the concept. No, it all comes down to a lack of attention and ultimately a lack of interest in the subject of programming.

    I find it very unfortunate that people post homework assignments so we can help them get a good grade. I'm not referring to the posts where the OP tries, I'm refering to the posts that glare with the image of a 15 year old kid pulling a lab sheet out of his backpack and copying the lab word for word onto a post. No attempt at code and no attempt at caring. I think programming is something you should care about. It's not math, or history, or literature that people should know whether they like it or not. It's a trade. It's something you do it cause you like it and you don't because you don't. So why am I seeing posters with such a lack of interest in a programming course?

    Anyway, that's the point I was making.
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    Quote Originally Posted by SlyMaelstrom
    Those posts don't reflect the quality of teachers, they reflect the quality of the students.
    IMHO, those posts can reflect quality of students OR quality of teachers.

    There are some students who will do things poorly, no matter how well they are taught. And there are some teachers who will teach poorly, no matter how good their students are.

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