Thread: Learner...

  1. #1
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    Learner...

    Hi, I am new to programming and i just need some help.

    If i want to learn C++ or C, from beginner to expert so in the end ill be able to program proper programs and games, what books would i need? whats the best books you can get to help with everything and is there any website to teach me it?

    please let me know asap.

    thankyou. hugo.

  2. #2
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    First a beginnerbook look here
    Operating Systems:
    - Ubuntu 9.04
    - XP

    Compiler: gcc

  3. #3
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    Depends on how you like to learn. I always liked reference books like Herb Shildt's "C++: The complete reference". You can find it in most bookstores. After that, I read a good part of Bjarne Stroustrep's "The C++ programming language." Keep in mind, some people hate both of these books. The bottom line is, it really depends. Make a list of about 10 recommendations from this site, and then go to a bookstore and browse all of them. Pick one that looks interesting to you.
    The crows maintain that a single crow could destroy the heavens. Doubtless this is so. But it proves nothing against the heavens, for the heavens signify simply: the impossibility of crows.

  4. #4
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    The Cprogramming.com tutorials should get you started. Here's another tutorial. You will need some books too... Most of the online tutorials are "lightweight" compared to a tyical 500 page beginning C++ book.

    In a few months... or several months, when you get comfortable with Standard C++ and you're ready for some GUI programming, take a look at The Forger's Windows Programming Tutorial. Then if you really want to learn Windows Programming, get Petzold's book. (It's in the recomended books post.)

    ...so in the end ill be able to program proper programs and games...
    Just keep in mind that a commercial-quality game really can't be made by one person. If you want to get an idea of what an individual programmer can do, most "shareware- type" programs are written by one programmer.

    The big game companies use a team... probably at least 10 programmers, and each programmer has a speciality. If it takes a 10 person team a year to make a game, it would take you 10 years.... if you had all the knowledge of these professionals!

    Some projects are really huge... Linux started-out as a one-man project, but I remember reading that Linux 2.4 had 2.4 million lines of code! That's about 1000 lines of code per day, 7 days per week, for 7 years!!!!!!
    Last edited by DougDbug; 04-19-2006 at 02:23 PM.

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    thanks

    Thanks alot everyone who replied.
    I am not a complete beginner as such, i know all of the tutorials on this website. i have made very simple things like a calculator and stuff like that. is C++ for dummies any good for me?

    i would like to make small online games and card games .. poker and stuff. even a trading card game or like a textbased fighting game.

    ill look for them books you said.

    thanks.hugo.

  6. #6
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    It sounds like you might be ready for "Accelerated C++" (Koenig, Moo), which is a highly acclaimed beginning book that is more advanced than most.
    Last edited by 7stud; 04-19-2006 at 11:29 PM.

  7. #7
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    Thanks all.

    I'm going to order a couple of Books of Amazon.co.uk.

    If i get Herb Shildt's "C++: The complete reference",(as its also rated 5 stars)

    and "Accelerated C++" (Koenig, Moo), which is rated 4 stars, would that be enough to teach me how to program programs?

    I am aiming to be able to create card games like poker and rummy and some arcade type games.smal things. will these books be enough to get me that advanced?

    also, whats the best Compiler and add ons to use???

    cheers.hugo.

  8. #8
    Frequently Quite Prolix dwks's Avatar
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    Use Dev-C++.
    dwk

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  9. #9
    Frequently Quite Prolix dwks's Avatar
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    If i get Herb Shildt's "C++: The complete reference",(as its also rated 5 stars)

    and "Accelerated C++" (Koenig, Moo), which is rated 4 stars, would that be enough to teach me how to program programs?
    Probably, if you read them.
    dwk

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  10. #10
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    Interesting book choices, about as opposite as you can get.

    Schildt's books are known for being very easy to read and follow, but don't teach what are currently considered best practices in C++. Accelerated C++ is known for teaching modern C++ the way most C++ leaders think it should be taught, but is often considered too accelerated and difficult to get through. Reading them both should give you the best of both worlds.

    For a compiler, consider VC++ 2005 Express or Dev-C++. Both are free.

  11. #11
    Its hard... But im here swgh's Avatar
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    Hugo- in answer to the question about the compiler, like dwks said, use DevC++ as you are learning and starting out. Make sure you get DevC++ 4.992 as it is the most recent one.
    You can download this from the website so do a google.

    As you get more into it, and if you are interested in windows programming and perhaps game programming using Direct X then you can use Microsoft Visual C++. Version 9 which is called Express Edition 2005 Beta 2 is at this time free of charge for download too. But for now use DevC++ and see how you get on. Post any problems you have, and the board members here will try to help you the best we can! lol

    best of luck in your studies

  12. #12
    Frequently Quite Prolix dwks's Avatar
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    The Dev-C++ download site is at: http://www.bloodshed.net/devcpp.html
    dwk

    Seek and ye shall find. quaere et invenies.

    "Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it." -- Alan Perlis
    "Testing can only prove the presence of bugs, not their absence." -- Edsger Dijkstra
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  13. #13
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    Before you go into programming of any language read How to Design programs (free web version at www.htdp.org.) Yes, you might be anxious to code in C/C++ but trust me when I say it will make the learning curve of C/C++ as steep as an ant mound.

  14. #14
    Frequently Quite Prolix dwks's Avatar
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    That book seems Scheme oriented.
    dwk

    Seek and ye shall find. quaere et invenies.

    "Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it." -- Alan Perlis
    "Testing can only prove the presence of bugs, not their absence." -- Edsger Dijkstra
    "The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing." -- John Powell


    Other boards: DaniWeb, TPS
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