Matthias Member Posts: 23 From: Spencer, Iowa, USA Registered: 07-28-2004 |
I'm thinking I'd like to learn C\C++ now, but I'm not sure. What is this language good for? It seems like kind of an all piurpose language to me... which would be good for me. Also where would I find a good source to learn it? |
CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
You pretty much answered your own question - it's an all-purpose language  .I've found Deitel books to be good. ------------------ Switch Mayhem now available! Get it here |
D-SIPL Moderator Posts: 1345 From: Maesteg, Wales Registered: 07-21-2001 |
There are plenty of resources and books out there, but it all depends on what experience you have. If you are new to programming then i would go for a book that takes you from the ground up and presumes no previous programming knowledge. If you are completely new and want to learn c++ then i would recommend: You Can Do It! A Beginners Introduction to Computer Programming My friend bought that book and i had a flick through, it's really really good. other then that maybe the Sam's books? Anyways hope this has helped. --D-SIPL ------------------ |
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Matthias Member Posts: 23 From: Spencer, Iowa, USA Registered: 07-28-2004 |
I've programmed a bit. Had High School courses in VisualBasic (Got to try to make a movie and failed miserably because of bad start) also had course on Pascal (which I'll never use again) and I've been working with BlitzBasic through the summer, got one completed game and to en route. Do you reccomend any books for experienced programmers then? Was Sam's good for that? Oh, is it very similar to Basic at all? I'm pretty used to basic now, so maybe an example of code? That'd be cool, and thanks very much. |
bennythebear Member Posts: 1225 From: kentucky,usa Registered: 12-13-2003 |
i'm not that experienced at programming. but from what i've seen of c/c++ it's nothing like basic. if you've ever messed with java, it's very similar to it. hope this helps...i'm just posting before the experienced and more knowledgable do. ------------------ |
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D-SIPL Moderator Posts: 1345 From: Maesteg, Wales Registered: 07-21-2001 |
If i could personally recommend a language to start with it would be Python. I might write some tutorials for Christian Coder, so that people new to programming can get to grip with the concepts in a very easy to understand environment. Python is good because you can use it for OOP or not, it's your choice. So no longer having to write shed loads of code to do something very simple. The syntax is also very BASIC looking, although it's very quick. I think they dubbed python... "Programming at the speed of thought". and better still, it's completely cross platformable. Anyways just my 2 cents. --D-SIPL ------------------ |
silicon_chippy Member Posts: 208 From: Scotland Registered: 10-26-2002 |
""I've been working with BlitzBasic through the summer, got one completed game"" well done, that is one more game than most folk that have joined have got. Is it available online? ------------------ |
HeardTheWord Member Posts: 224 From: Des Moines, IA Registered: 08-16-2004 |
C/C++ is a powerful programming language. It is what most commercial games are written in. I learned from the Sam's books when I started, but don't expect to "get it" right away. I struggled for a while before I started grasping the concepts. Any programming language is good so you start to get down the logic. Once you figure the logic out you can learn just about any language. [This message has been edited by HeardTheWord (edited August 16, 2004).] |
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d000hg Member Posts: 144 From: Durham, UK Registered: 07-27-2004 |
C is pretty similar to BASIC really (and it's easy to see the connectin to assembly language too for that matter), with a little more low-level functionality. C++ is different but then it is an ObjectOrientated language so it has to be. Java looks like C++ on the surface but internally is very different. If you've done programming already you should be largely able to transfer your skills to anew language fairly rapidly. And C++ is proabably the most useful language to know to let you learn others later, and in terms of widespread use. |
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CobraA1 Member Posts: 926 From: MN Registered: 02-19-2001 |
quote: Except that it's got a completely different syntax, uses pointers, and is compiled
quote: Java was easy for me to pick up. Yeah, it's a bit different, but the OO programming concepts are the same. The most difficult thing about moving to Java is that there's no pointers, and the syntax for OO programming is a bit different. ------------------ Switch Mayhem now available! Get it here |
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D-SIPL Moderator Posts: 1345 From: Maesteg, Wales Registered: 07-21-2001 |
I think personally that C++ would be a bad place for any beginner to start. It takes a long time to learn, and you won't see results for ages. So that great idea you have won't become anything for like 2-3 years, you'll end up getting dis-heartened and not bother... anyone been there? I know i say it a lot... but go with Python. It's just as powerful as C++ it's cross-platformable like Java and has a BASIC like syntax to it... you get the best of all the worlds. --D-SIPL ------------------ |
Klumsy Administrator Posts: 1061 From: Port Angeles, WA, USA Registered: 10-25-2001 |
the problem with C/C++ is its error messages often lead you (and especially beginners) on a wild goose chase, and its not very forgiven.. but other than that, if you use it in simple ways its about as simple as any other language. the problem is to use C++ in a game context requires a decent knowledge, some background, and ussually a lot of overhead into getting something to at least a 'starting' point.. as others have said, you want to learn a langauge, and get the 'concepts' of programming, getting them to click in any language or a couple of languages first, then move onto C/C++ my question is what do you want to program in the learning process? this will determine the language/platform/system you want. if you are interested in the web stuff, and already know HTML, and can get a webserver you could work choose from learning perl,phython,php, asp or whatever else, or if you want to just do some script in your html on the client/browser.. you could learn javascript.. problem with working with alot of these script languages though, is you don't have good debugging techniques easily available (i.e debugging javascript can be a nightmare) i'm personally a graphics man, so i go the graphics way, i mean you can even start making graphic scripts for winamp plugins like milkdrop, or rabid hamsters r4, but something like blitzbasic may be the best.
[This message has been edited by klumsy (edited August 18, 2004).] |
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Matthias Member Posts: 23 From: Spencer, Iowa, USA Registered: 07-28-2004 |
Wow, I haven't been here in a while huh? Okay I'll quickly address two questions that I saw while scimming and then read through in detail I guess. Is my game online? To be blunt, no, I don't know how to do stuff online (that is put stuff up) which is probably going to turn out to be the simplest thing ever, but how is that done? And what do I want to do with programming? I'd like to make a 3d game first off then use the grahpics and animation I get from that to help make and awsome OS. Would BB3D be good for the game? And I was hoping that C/C++ was OS designing material... Matthias |
crazyishone Member Posts: 1685 From: Registered: 08-25-2004 |
i just got the Microsoft SDK. What is a compiler for? why do i need one? ------------------ |
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Klumsy Administrator Posts: 1061 From: Port Angeles, WA, USA Registered: 10-25-2001 |
quote: both are lofty goals for experienced programmers especially the 2nd.. but to make a 3d game for a beginner is a big ask as well, unless of course you use a game engine, or a lanauge that itself really does everything and just allows you to control it easily like BlitzBasic3d.. sounds like a good starting place .. if you wanted to learn deeper programming, i'd start you out with C#, and managed Direct3d directly.. i can help on both fronts, but hte learning curve will be steeper and harder, but then again you'll learn more skills.. but first maybe blitzbasic would be excellent. ------------------ |
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Klumsy Administrator Posts: 1061 From: Port Angeles, WA, USA Registered: 10-25-2001 |
quote: what microsoft SDK, ms has hundreds of different SDK's for different things? a compiler is the language, such a a C++ compiler, a VB compiler etc. well its not really the language, but a program that turns the text of the language into a real program.. most compilers are run blinding from the command prompt (i.e you could write a program in notepad, then use the compiler to turn that into a program), but ussually people use an enviroment (IDE - intergrated Developement Enviroment) to make their code, and it runs the compiler automatically. what langauge are you looking at programming in? ------------------ |
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crazyishone Member Posts: 1685 From: Registered: 08-25-2004 |
I admit to having no programing experienace whatsoever. I just read that i need to get the microsoft platform sdk, so i downloaded every one on the windows site for XP. I dont have a compiler, but i know i need one. im trying to learn c++ since its the "all purpose" language. (i got rid of all of the SDK's last night when the setup wouldnt run because a file was misplaced, blah blah).(screwy installation fowl up). AAARG! i feel so lost in this world ------------------ |
Wacko4X Member Posts: 92 From: Bellvue, WA, USA Registered: 08-21-2002 |
If you would really like to get into C++ programming I would start off with a free compiler and IDE. The one that I use is Dev C++. This can be found at www.bloodshed.net And for C++ tutorials books are always the best way I think, but if your a little strapped for cash, or there is no Library around I would check out www.gametutorials.com Just for your knowledge, I started out with "Beginning Programming For Dummies" which I would certianly recommend. Even though it teaches you programming using QBasic its a lot easier to beginning learning with Basic that it is C++. Happy Coding! |
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Matthias Member Posts: 23 From: Spencer, Iowa, USA Registered: 07-28-2004 |
Hey thanks! I'm downloading it now (that and listening to White Stripes, Playing DroidArena 3.0 and Programming my new game "Cryptic". Multi-tasking is great huh?) Anyhoo, you guys are awsome! |
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Klumsy Administrator Posts: 1061 From: Port Angeles, WA, USA Registered: 10-25-2001 |
yeah that c++ ide looks like a good one to start with.. i would still recommend learning C# as a starting language, at least on the path to C++, you'd get alot more reward for effort, and the learning curve, can be just as steep but alot less painful.. and you have a couple of AWESOME fully features IDE's to choose from.. SharpDevelop, or borlands C#builder personal edition which comes free. ------------------ |
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crazyishone Member Posts: 1685 From: Registered: 08-25-2004 |
ide? i feel so stupid... ------------------ |
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Klumsy Administrator Posts: 1061 From: Port Angeles, WA, USA Registered: 10-25-2001 |
you aren't stupid.. IDE means intergrated development enviroment basically ytou can write programs in notepad, but it gets a bit tedious.. and IDE first of all color codes different parts of the language to make things easy, organise different files into project, often includes context sensitive help, and ways to navigate your code, if there is say a function called DoMyCoolThing, but you can't exactly remember it you type DoMy and a key and it will bring up a list of functions in the program to choose from.. it also ussually includes a debugger so that you can run your program STEP by STEP stopping at each line of code so you can see what is happening at every stage and hopefully find your bugs easier. ------------------ |
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crazyishone Member Posts: 1685 From: Registered: 08-25-2004 |
hmm. ty. i understand now... do i need a compiler if i have an ide, or is an ide just a fancy compiler that is better. ------------------ |
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Klumsy Administrator Posts: 1061 From: Port Angeles, WA, USA Registered: 10-25-2001 |
you DO need a compiler but many IDEs come with a compiler anyhow.. (packaged up as one) and in the case of C#, if you have the DOTNET framework (WHICH comes with XP, but you should upgrade to newest) you have the compiler without evcen knowing it  just need the IDE. ------------------ |
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crazyishone Member Posts: 1685 From: Registered: 08-25-2004 |
yesss.... so i have the dotnet thing.... where would i find this? ------------------ |
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Klumsy Administrator Posts: 1061 From: Port Angeles, WA, USA Registered: 10-25-2001 |
http://www.icsharpcode.net/OpenSource/SD/Default.aspx ------------------ |
goop2 Member Posts: 1059 From: Registered: 06-30-2004 |
I skimmed this thread and its just what i was looking for! I went with python but... Im having trouble... How do i load my text file? ------------------ "Democrats stink" |
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