Programming question...

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:32 pm

Okay, I'm going to camp this summer to learn how to program games using C++ and DirectX as the compilers. One problem, though; I've never programmed IN MY LIFE! Even though the camp says you don't need to know programming at all to go, I want to have SOME C++ knowledge before attending. Anyone know a good book/reference/program that could teach me the basics of C++? And I mean BASICS (no programming pun intended

)!

Thanks,
CronoTriggerfan

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:44 pm

"sams teach yourself C++ in [some unreasonable amount of time]"

"sam" makes a whole line of books designed to teach you comptuers in anywhere from 24 hours to 3 weeks.

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:47 pm

I was looking at that book today at Borders... looked ok, but have you used it personally? I guess what I'm really looking for is someone who can tell me that they have actually learned programming from a book. Can you verify? Thanks!

Post by **Sparkfist** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:55 pm

Programming Logic and Design... it was the college book I used for the Intro Programming class. It doesn't really teach you how to program in C++, at best it has examples of how to program in Object-oriented languages (C++, Java, ect.). It focuses more on teaching you the logic.

If you think it could help I'd say buy, though just so you know most of the example in it are psudo code. So either learn the basics of BASIC or learn the basics of another langauge.

Good luck.

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 10:46 pm

Hmmmm... I may need to check that out, if it's not too expensive. Anyone heard of/used this book?: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=books

Post by **Skyone** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 11:03 pm

timmeh87 wrote:"sams teach yourself C++ in [some unreasonable amount of time]"

"sam" makes a whole line of books designed to teach you comptuers in anywhere from 24 hours to 3 weeks.

It's so wierd, I have an 11 day Visual Basic Book by them.

WHY 11 DAYS?!

EDIT: Didn't see your post Chrono, I have that book, and the Game Programming All In One by the same guys. It's really good for a beginner as the title says, so yes, get that!

Post by **gannon** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 6:13 am

I had Sam's teach yourself C++ in 24 hours and it sucked. It did get the code across though, but a lot of the examples were wrong (fairly simple things though) for both *nix and windows.

Post by **marshallh** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 7:17 am

I've found books to be too complicated - they're good as a reference AFTER you know the subject matter.

I know what I know just from reading on my own, playing with code samples etc...

Sir Games-A-Lot · Post by **Sir Games-A-Lot** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 7:46 am

Try about.com they have a very basic guide to C++ there which I tried but gave up on because I just couldn't find time to make my way through it (not that it's extremely long but time management isn't one of my best skills)

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 10:11 am

yeah ive never used a sams book personally.

it might be easier to learn C first, then learn about C++. C is very easy.

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 10:35 am

Thanks for the advice! I'm ordering that book, and I'll try about.com. Do you have a link? Also, I didn't want to learn C first because I was told the move from C to C++ is difficult because C will give you "bad habits". Is this true? The people who told me this are pretty reliable, but I need a second verdict.

Thanks,
CronoTriggerfan

sam fisher · Post by **sam fisher** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:42 am

Well C++ is object orientated unlike C so it will be different but knowing C will make it actually easier to learn C++ in the first splace as oyu will be familiar. Are yo ucurrently familiar with any programming or even scripting languages?

Post by **Sparkfist** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:46 am

CronoTriggerfan wrote:Thanks for the advice! I'm ordering that book, and I'll try about.com. Do you have a link? Also, I didn't want to learn C first because I was told the move from C to C++ is difficult because C will give you "bad habits". Is this true? The people who told me this are pretty reliable, but I need a second verdict.

Thanks,
CronoTriggerfan

I've read that going from C to C++ isn't the best thing. C is a basic high level language, then you have C++ which is an Object-oriendted language. They share for the most part the same syntax but a lot of articles say to learn C++ first if that's what you want to program with.

As for habits... Don't know all I know if as far as those are conserned is that you don't want to be to low in comments or have "spegetti code". I was told that for every two lines of code you write you should have one for comments. Again that's all I know, and to be truthful I don't know a whole lot.

Krepticor · Post by **Krepticor** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 12:00 pm

that is a rediculous time frame....

I know people i go the college with who take MULTIPLE SEMESTERS of C++

sam fisher · Post by **sam fisher** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 12:26 pm

C is a low level language. Basic is an example of a high level language.