Learn Programming in 24 hours

Hi Im currently using book "Learn your self programming in 24 hours" (somethink like that) I am reading czech version by the way but that is probably not the cause of the problem.

There are some sources prepared to be used which are also meant to be learned from. But my compiler is not able to compile any source from the book. Means that I cant try it myself.

Does anyone have some experiences with this book?

Dev-C++
VSC++

Do you have a short but complete example of such code? If so, it would be good to provide it. If not, then the book was probably not properly tailored to beginners.

The problem with an awful lot of books is they're written with a specific compiler in mind. If that's not yours, then you're out of luck.

It's even worse if you do have the compiler, because inevitably, you end up learning a lot of compiler specific junk and a "works for me" mentality about your code.

http://www.rafb.net/efnet_cpp/books/
http://www.accu.org/index.php/book_reviews

When you get errors, fix them, most of the time different compilers just allow different exeptions and sytaxes, just alter the code to make it work, and if you can't, post the code and the errors you get.

Unfortunately, Queatrix, a beginner would not know where to start fixing errors. If they do, they are past the beginner stage.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by laserlight

Unfortunately, Queatrix, a beginner would not know where to start fixing errors. If they do, they are past the beginner stage.

---

You made a good point I try to fix the code but not successfully. The source is created by 6 files I paste here just one if it is enough, because I dont want to waste your time.

Code:

---

//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Game Skeleton Application
// C++ Source - Skeleton.cpp
//-----------------------------------------------------------------

//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Include Files
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
#include "Skeleton.h"

//-----------------------------------------------------------------
// Game Engine Functions
//-----------------------------------------------------------------
BOOL GameInitialize(HINSTANCE hInstance)
{
  // Create the game engine
  _pGame = new GameEngine(hInstance, TEXT("Game Skeleton"),
    TEXT("Game Skeleton"), IDI_SKELETON, IDI_SKELETON_SM);
  if (_pGame == NULL)
    return FALSE;
 
  // Set the frame rate
  _pGame->SetFrameRate(15);

  return TRUE;
}

void GameStart(HWND hWindow)
{
  // Seed the random number generator
  srand(GetTickCount());
}

void GameEnd()
{
  // Cleanup the game engine
  delete _pGame;
}

void GameActivate(HWND hWindow)
{
  HDC  hDC;
  RECT  rect;

  // Draw activation text on the game screen
  GetClientRect(hWindow, &rect);
  hDC = GetDC(hWindow);
  DrawText(hDC, TEXT("Activated!"), -1, &rect,
    DT_SINGLELINE | DT_CENTER | DT_VCENTER);
  ReleaseDC(hWindow, hDC);
}

void GameDeactivate(HWND hWindow)
{
  HDC  hDC;
  RECT  rect;

  // Draw deactivation text on the game screen
  GetClientRect(hWindow, &rect);
  hDC = GetDC(hWindow);
  DrawText(hDC, TEXT("Deactivated!"), -1, &rect,
    DT_SINGLELINE | DT_CENTER | DT_VCENTER);
  ReleaseDC(hWindow, hDC);
}

void GamePaint(HDC hDC)
{
}

void GameCycle()
{
  HDC  hDC;
  HWND  hWindow = _pGame->GetWindow();

  // Draw the skeleton icon at random positions on the game screen
  hDC = GetDC(hWindow);
  DrawIcon(hDC, rand() % _pGame->GetWidth(), rand() % _pGame->GetHeight(),
    (HICON)(WORD)GetClassLong(hWindow, GCL_HICON));
  ReleaseDC(hWindow, hDC);
}

---

I am not really sure if it help because As i said its just one fie out of six.

Dev-C++
MSVC++
P.S. The code should be available in MSVC++ at least the writers say it.

All those functions are part of a class named GameEngine, you will need to add GameEngine:: before every function. If you do not understand what I just said, put the book away for a moment and go back on your basics (not meant to be mean).

(I own this book in French)

<sigh>

That book is not called "Learn programming in 24 hours", but "Game Programming in 24 hours".
And it is assumed that you already know C++, as is clearly and explicitly said in the preface.
You need to learn C++, not to make 2d games.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pronecracker

<sigh>

That book is not called "Learn programming in 24 hours", but "Game Programming in 24 hours".
And it is assumed that you already know C++, as is clearly and explicitly said in the preface.
You need to learn C++, not to make 2d games.

---

I used to programme in C++ console apps. But no previous experiences with winAPI.
Therefor thx for previous help from everyone. I will learn winAPI first before I continue the book.

P.S. Sorry about the name I used, I am reading czech version (different name)