how to keep interested.

Over the past few years my interest in programming (C++) has drifted in and out. I've picked the hobby up and dropped it about 3 times now... and I think I'm about to do it again. I think it's fun and all - but I think the reason that I lose itnerest is because I am trying to currently teach myself - and with schoolwork, and other hobbies, it certainly is hard to keep myself interested in learnign a programming language.

So I ask you, what advice can you give on how to stay interested in programming?

think of c++ like it's a woman.

Take a class!

The regular class schedule, assignments and the pressure of exams will keep you on track. If you do take a class, I'll bet you enjoy it!

I never actually taken a C or C++ class myself. :D But, I have taken classes in a couple of other programming languages.

I can relate to your situation... Once in a while I do some programming for my job, but mostly it's a hobby. A few times, I've started a big hobby-project, and then lost interest before I finished it.

I'm working on a hardware project now, and it's taking too much time... It's getting hard to stay motivated and I almost I have to force myself to work on it a little each evening.

[ EDIT ] -
And, so what if you loose interest once in a while! It's OK to have more than one interest. I'm not programming when I'm working a hardware-electronics project, or playing around with audio editing, or video editing, or woodworking or working on my income taxes... or doing nothing useful at all!!! Of course, this is NOT the road to becomming an expert or professional programmer. :rolleyes:

Develop an app that someone else uses, then you have to debug it and add functionality all the time. That is what happened to me. I also now work in the field so some things are easier, others are harder. The fact that I program tools all day kinda makes me not want to do that sort of programming when I get home, so I am learning SDL and hoping to feel confident enough to pick up OpenGL in another month or 2.

Find something in the language that intrests you or you can use more often. Maybe going and learning Perl will do you some good, it is a great tool for writing quick tools. I use it along side of my C++ and PHP stuff I do, because it is so handy and makes some thing easier.

The class thing is dull and boring and in fact, I dislike it to a great degree. If you know any C++ then taking a class in it at a community college or something will bore you, because you are forced to go through the basics first (yay for learning the size of ints and how to use a for loop!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Brain

think of c++ like it's a woman.

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:D

To OP: I've had the same thing over the past couple of years - you just loose interest. It feels like you've tried everything (and / or things you haven't tried are out of your understanding) - been there before and I found the best remedy was to learn another language or refine on details in your favourite language.

Here's a quick list of some interesting languages:

Ada - I've never actually used it for anything but found learning about it quite interesting

Brain.......... - Ditto

Ruby - This too

Smalltalk - I've started to learn this one a couple of times but the lack of good tutorials just p........es me right off

You could also just dive right into something you don't understand, probably never will (properly) and don't ever intend to use. For me that was encryption.

Just experiment and if all else fails, take The Brain's advice and caress your compiler. Or the gentle curve of proper indentation.
:p

EDIT: I just read back to Wraithan's post: I keep meaning to learn PHP, I don't do much web programming so it'd be something interesting for me - anyone know of some good tutorials?

I don't know of any good tutorials. But if you know Perl, then it will be second nature to do PHP, otherwise, get some scripts that are like something you want to do, download the php documentation from http://php.net (best documentation on a language I have seen) and look up the things you don't understand or to find commands you need.

I learned PHP over 4 days, after learning Perl over 2 or 3, both are really simple to use and great for what they were written to do.

Ok thanks for the link I'll have a read around and get learning :)

C++ is not fun, its about as fun as ... well, I dont know... something thats not fun.
Try python, now thats fun!

Also try doing interesting projects, not ones that solv a boring problem that nobody cares about. Try doing CGI.

OMG! What planet are you from? I spend almost all my spair time writing C++ code XD. I guess its an opinion thing. I like seeing all my lifeless text come to life I guess :P. C++ = Total computer control ';,.,;'. Ah, crud, I just set my computer tooverclock to quickly >.<.

:). Boy I'm a nerd :P.