C++ Where to begin?

Author Message
TKS

  • Total Posts : 188
  • Scores: 0
  • Reward points : 0
  • Joined: 5/16/2008
  • Status: offline
C++ Where to begin? Sunday, May 18, 2008 5:17 PM (permalink)
0
Hi,

Just the other day, I downloaded a couple C++ compilers, and played around, but I could see this stuff is way beyond other programming languages: HTML, VBS & JavaScript.

Anyway, I'm really new to C++. So I need some advice on where to start... like... where I could learn about the beginnings of the language? How it works... how compiling works, etc. Know of any good sites... and please... nothing to do with paying money in any way. I'm not looking to buy any books / special registrations. I'm just looking for a straight forward free B site. Free access. Know of any? Tutorials? Guides... I mean, that's how I learnt HTML and many other languages.

Thanks in advance.

-TKS

 
#1
    TNO

    • Total Posts : 2094
    • Scores: 36
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 12/18/2004
    • Location: Earth
    • Status: offline
    RE: C++ Where to begin? Monday, May 19, 2008 3:06 AM (permalink)
    0
    Some corrections:

    HTML isn't a programming language, its a description language. it doesn't DO anything really

    Visual Basic languages (VBS, VBA, VB.NET, VB6, etc) were meant to be easy to learn. (BASIC = "Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code")

    Saying that C++ is beyond VBScript or JavaScript is completely wrong. For example. In JavaScript if I do this:

    function foo (n){
         return function (i){
             return n += i 
         }
      } 


    In C++ I would have to do this:
                           template<typename T>
                           struct Acc {
                             Acc(T n)
                             : n(n) {}
     
                             template<typename U>
                             Acc(const Acc<U>& u)
                             : n(u.n) {}
     
                             template<typename U>
                             T operator()(U i) {
                                 return n += i;
                             }
     
                             T n;
                           };
     
                           template<typename T>
                           Acc<T> foo(T n)
                           {
                             return Acc<T>(n);
                           }
     


    Programming is not only about creating things, but its also about Managing Complexity. There are literally hundreds of programming languages out there, and all were designed with a different goal and focus in mind. C++ if I remember correctly was designed in Bell Labs to help manage alot of different Unix machines without having to write the same code over and over.

    VBScript on the other hand was designed to help System Administrators (usually) manage large networks of computers instead of Batch Files.

    JavaScript has a much more troubled and detailed history (which I can go over if you wish). But to say it simply, Brendan Eich wanted to Implement a Scheme/Self type of language in a browser (Netscape at the time). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javascript

    As for learning C++, I learned it about 7 years ago from here: http://www.cplusplus.com/ there are probably better tutorials out there these days but it worked for me. The primary use for C++ these days is in .NET I believe.

    (In all honesty I wouldn't suggest C++ as a beginner language to learn since the learning curve can be pretty steep)
    To iterate is human, to recurse divine. -- L. Peter Deutsch
     
    #2
      TKS

      • Total Posts : 188
      • Scores: 0
      • Reward points : 0
      • Joined: 5/16/2008
      • Status: offline
      RE: C++ Where to begin? Monday, May 19, 2008 4:05 AM (permalink)
      0

      ORIGINAL: TNO

      Some corrections:

      HTML isn't a programming language, its a description language. it doesn't DO anything really

      Visual Basic languages (VBS, VBA, VB.NET, VB6, etc) were meant to be easy to learn. (BASIC = "Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code")

      Saying that C++ is beyond VBScript or JavaScript is completely wrong. For example. In JavaScript if I do this:

      function foo (n){
           return function (i){
               return n += i 
           }
        } 


      In C++ I would have to do this:
                             template<typename T>
                             struct Acc {
                               Acc(T n)
                               : n(n) {}
       
                               template<typename U>
                               Acc(const Acc<U>& u)
                               : n(u.n) {}
       
                               template<typename U>
                               T operator()(U i) {
                                   return n += i;
                               }
       
                               T n;
                             };
       
                             template<typename T>
                             Acc<T> foo(T n)
                             {
                               return Acc<T>(n);
                             }
       


      Programming is not only about creating things, but its also about Managing Complexity. There are literally hundreds of programming languages out there, and all were designed with a different goal and focus in mind. C++ if I remember correctly was designed in Bell Labs to help manage alot of different Unix machines without having to write the same code over and over.

      VBScript on the other hand was designed to help System Administrators (usually) manage large networks of computers instead of Batch Files.

      JavaScript has a much more troubled and detailed history (which I can go over if you wish). But to say it simply, Brendan Eich wanted to Implement a Scheme/Self type of language in a browser (Netscape at the time). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javascript

      As for learning C++, I learned it about 7 years ago from here: http://www.cplusplus.com/ there are probably better tutorials out there these days but it worked for me. The primary use for C++ these days is in .NET I believe.

      (In all honesty I wouldn't suggest C++ as a beginner language to learn since the learning curve can be pretty steep)


      Hi TNO,

      Thanks for all the clarification. Yes please go over some JavaScript history with me... very interested.

      Thanks for the c++ site, am on it right now, and yeah I heard it can get pretty steep, but I'm still gonna give it a tackle. But theres no reason why I can't study another more BASIC complimentary language at the same time.. any suggestions?

      Again, thanks.

      -TKS
       
      #3
        TNO

        • Total Posts : 2094
        • Scores: 36
        • Reward points : 0
        • Joined: 12/18/2004
        • Location: Earth
        • Status: offline
        RE: C++ Where to begin? Monday, May 19, 2008 1:35 PM (permalink)
        0
        VBScript is a decent language to learn since its easy to figure out (no strange symbols), and you can ask questions in this forum to guide you along. Almost everything I learned about VBScript was from this forum. You can plug it into an HTA or just in a VBS file to see what results you can cook up. Play with things and ask questions. Search for random things on the forum and take a look at the frequently asked questions for some ideas where to start.

        Here's some history on JavaScript, I expect alot of this to go over your head right now, but at least its something, and I don't want to spend 2 hours writing a streamlined history at this moment:

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javascript

        http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/roadmap/archives/2008/04/popularity.html#more

        http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/About_JavaScript

        If you have any specific questions on details I'd be happy to oblige
        To iterate is human, to recurse divine. -- L. Peter Deutsch
         
        #4

          Online Bookmarks Sharing: Share/Bookmark

          Jump to:

          Current active users

          There are 0 members and 1 guests.

          Icon Legend and Permission

          • New Messages
          • No New Messages
          • Hot Topic w/ New Messages
          • Hot Topic w/o New Messages
          • Locked w/ New Messages
          • Locked w/o New Messages
          • Read Message
          • Post New Thread
          • Reply to message
          • Post New Poll
          • Submit Vote
          • Post reward post
          • Delete my own posts
          • Delete my own threads
          • Rate post

          2000-2012 ASPPlayground.NET Forum Version 3.9