Thread: New to C++ Programming, but is it worth it to learn?

I'm 18, from the UK, and going to go to Uni to study Maths next year. Hopefully Warwick, if anyone's interested. I'm currently employed part-time doing PHP for a local website-building firm, and I love it, and am seriously considering programming for a job after Uni.

So I'm wondering if it's worth learning C++. I mean, are people currently programming in it, and will people (probably) be programming in it in a good few years time, or will I be starting to learn an old language or anything? I'm pretty damn good at PHP, so I'm hopeing for a relatively smooth transition into application programming.

The main reason I'm learning C++ is to have a heads up for programming out of Uni. I dont want to be stuck making small-time websites for a small-time firm forever, and want to branch out into more profitable (for me, that is) stuff. Is anyone able to advise as to weather C++ is the right language to go about learning, and if not, which one is?

C++ is certainly not dying out. It's also wide spread so you shouldn't have trouble getting help when needed.

Also, C++ is the king of OOP, so if you know C++, all other languages are not that hard to learn. It's always a good idea to know multiple languages.

Well, that's good to learn. I guess I'll begin the basics then. On a sidenote, I'm running Vista with Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition. Is that a good combination? I mean, Vista's staying, because I like Dx10, but just wondering, in case VCEE is a bad compiler. If it is generally is considered not very good, any recommendations as to a first one, so as not to start off on the wrong foot?

Well, good or not, it's too damn complicated for me. I'm going to Dev-C++, I think. Seems much simpler to use.

Yes, large GUI's can be somewhat confusing for new programmers. I have been using Visual Studio 2003, then 2005, but I have decided that it has too many things working without my knowledge, so now I am using Dev C++ as well. It may be harder to create a WinApp without Visual Studio and such, though. Also, programs of the sort check and debug code better. But first, you have to know them.

hi im new to this and im doing the tutorials on this site for C++. i if i may add that its harder done then sed soo many combinations of code u can do . and i got some questions if someone could help me answer. neways i just learned the basics of points of pointers, structures and arrays like i kno wut their used for, but could someone tell me whats the best language to learn for like game programming? and for normal application? people at skool sayin c++ but on job listings i see like java script and MSCE or however u spell that and like visual.net wut is the ".net" for because i see that alot and i try to google it and i get all these course listings. and if ne help im using that new visual studio 2005 program from the microsoft website thats for free for c++ thnx in advance.

Just a little further questioning. I've been bashing away at C++, just getting used to it and all that, and note immediately that all the programs I've been making are as little black DOS boxes. Is that OK, or (considering the fact that I want to make programs), how do I make programs in Windows Boxes, rather than black DOS windows?

>> Is that OK
Yes. A lot of programs simply provide a console interface (the black box is a console). It is also important to learn the core tenets of the language before learning more advanced things like user interfaces. Many folks would recommend staying away from windows based user interfaces until you've learned the language well.

Mclaren_LM, consider putting your question in a new thread so people can see it better. Make sure to search this forum and the Game Programming forum as well to see similar questions that have been asked and answered.

No, it's OK. Thanks for the advice, and I want to do this thing properly. I have a friend who programs in VB/C#, which always seemed a little but like painting by numbers to me.

And, I really want to get into high-level programming when I'm out of Uni, so I'll get myself a good grounding in my little Black-Box-DOS C++ first

I have learned many languages so far, C++ is by far the more complex to learn, but it has provided the most benefits. There are ways to create Windows in C++, but it is a higher level programming, and you really just create a window without a rendering section. The best thing I suggest is to stick with it. C++ is very beneficial in the fact that so many people program in C++, not to mention the tons of pre-made algorithms, and structures and much more code. (STL, OpenGL, Direct X)