Thread: Getting started with programming

  1. 11-20-2006 #1
    Nathan
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    Getting started with programming

    Hello, I'm interested in programming, but I heard that a lot of resources (even books!) can be very bad. Can anyone help me to figure out which resources are high quality enough to get me started on the right track? I tried looking at books, but my lack of knowledge about the subject means I don't know if they teach the right things and there are just so many online tutorials that they can't all be good. Links would be nice, but some common idioms to search for in a resource would be just as helpful, if not more so.

    Thank you
    -Nathan
  2. 11-20-2006 #2
    Tonto
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    Sticky: C++ Book Recommendations

    Unless you have some crazy reasoning, a general C++ beginners book should be healthy for you. Also a quality resource for good beginners C++ books: http://brian.accu.org/bookreviews/pu...nner_s_c__.htm
  3. 11-20-2006 #3
    manutd
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    One to avoid: C++ for Dummies. I almost gave up on C++ because of that book.
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  4. 11-20-2006 #4
    Daved
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    >> Unless you have some crazy reasoning, a general C++ beginners book should be healthy for you.

    Actually, most C++ beginners books teach C style C++ despite the fact that many (most?) C++ experts feel that it is better to teach C++ style C++ from the beginning.

    That accu link is a good place to go if you are concerned about this issue, though. In general, the accu reviews put a very high priority on not teaching C++ with a C mentality.

    This all assumes that you want to learn C++ specifically. You can learn programming techniques in other languages as well.
  5. 11-20-2006 #5
    Zappy
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    Anyone know any good ones on the web besides the ones on cprogramming.com? I am pretty new to c++ myself, i have been over most of the basic dos tuts.
  6. 11-21-2006 #6
    swgh
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    Do a google called "C++ tutproal" but be prepared to work at lightning speed to keep up with the pace of online tutorials.

    One good book range is the Deitel series. They are bricks of a book, but are excellent for beginners - intermidiate programmers. Cramed with exercises too
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  7. 11-21-2006 #7
    Etinin
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    I'd definitly recommend the Thinking in C++ books, after it I would also recommend The C++ Programming Language from Stroustrup (he who created C++).
  8. 11-21-2006 #8
    bumfluff
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    SAMS Teach Yourself are ok at the beginning but then tend to jump to harder stuff.

    C++ Programming In Easy Steps isn't really in depth but it is a good supplement to other m=books as it glosses over some of teh really complicated stuff and is easy to look up as a resource.
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  9. 11-21-2006 #9
    Nathan
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    Great! Thanks for all the replies If no one objects, I'm thinking about getting this book: http://www.amazon.com/Accelerated-C+.../dp/020170353X
    In addition to people in this thread recommending it, the book has excellent reviews.
  10. 11-21-2006 #10
    Mario F.
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    Yes. That and Addison Wesley C++ Primer 4th Edition are in my opinion the two best C++ introductory books anywhere.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.
  11. 11-22-2006 #11
    indigo0086
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    I didn't like the accelerated C++ book much. I thought primer conveys the same ideas and early introduction to the STL in a much less pressing manner than AC++ does. I would read ACPP after I finish primer, but I learned a lot of what AC++ has from C++ Primer
  12. 11-22-2006 #12
    dwks
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    I like C++ Primer Plus. It only has about ten errors in it . . .
    dwk

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  13. 11-22-2006 #13
    Mario F.
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    Yes, well, C++ Primer Plus and C++ Primer are two different books altogether. The first is not even near the quality of the second.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.
  14. 11-22-2006 #14
    dwks
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    I wouldn't know; I haven't read C++ Primer.

    SAMS Teach Yourself are ok at the beginning but then tend to jump to harder stuff.
    Those books usually only have 25 errors each . . .
    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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  15. 11-22-2006 #15
    Mario F.
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    Ok hehe. You are making me laugh. I think you are making some kind of point here, but I'm failing to see what?
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.
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