Learning C++ how to go about it?

[grayg1]

I want to learn the programming language C++ and my only experience of any other language is Visual Basic.
Where should I start? What university courses/degrees are mainly focused on C++? Are all uni courses aimed at people who are quite experienced with programming in other langauges or are there any good beginner ones for C++?
Are any of these online learning websites any good for this sort of thing? (computeach, IT learning centre etc)
Would anyone reccomend me meeting with any specific company or uni etc. to give professional career advice?

I have read that trying to pre teach yourself is a very bad idea? e.g. you may pick up nasty habbits

I'm finally giving myself a kick up the ass and trying to get somewhere in life

[staffsMike]

Urgh programming. My Computer Science degree draws to a close tomorrow.. I think I'm saying my farewell to programming lol.

On my course you could pick and choose which modules you wanted to do so you could take a more focussed route in java or C (C++) but it's best to talk to the lecturers before you start any course to see if this is possbile as some courses are very rigid and so you learn what they want you to etc..

Learning from books (learn in 21 days etc..) isn't actually that bad as thats how I taught myself to do most of the C++ I know. Suprisingly to some, uni isn't that great for teaching you that much, you tend to have to do a lot off your own back.

Coming from Visual Basic I would deffinatly suggest getting your feet wet with real programming before you decide to commit to it as it was my plan when I started uni to be a software engineer and now I couldn't think of anything worse tbh.

[kasavien]

I don't think you'll find a uni course that will just teach you C++. As far as i'm aware universities tend to teach the basics in such a way that you can apply it to other similar languages. For example loughborough teaches C for procedural programming and java for object oriented, from that i have found it fairly simple to move to c++, c# and php, and i i can understand code in other languages and what the code is trying to achieve.

If you want to start c++ try some online tutorials and i would suggest getting some of the express editions of Visual Studio so you can try programming.

[Stringent]

C++ is the core bones though of languages. It will form a good base for you to maybe go into something else if you like. Most languages are object orientated anyway.

[aidanjt]

The best way to learn anything is by doing it, get yourself a C++ compiler (Visual C++ 2008 Express will do, as will a MinGW environment), notepad (or editor of choice), and start Googling C++ tutorials and references.

[directhex]

i'd say a book is a much nicer resource to work through than a bunch of disparate websites

find a good-looking book with relevant lessons about the language (not just about a specific IDE), and splash out

[Steve]

Visual Basic is a higher level language than English, so forget everything you know about that before embarking on C++

OK, a few of the concepts of procedural programming are shared, but C++ is a lot closer to the ground.

I reckon hexeh's suggestion is the best. I learnt C in the first year of my degree. We've never been taught C++, but we have to use it here and there for assignments and we've learned enough other languages for it to be easy enough to pick up a new language of almost any kind.

[grayg1]

Thanks for sharing your experiences guys. I will continue to research courses/degrees to see if I can find a suitable one. Though no one said anything about these online companies, are any of them actually quite respectable in the IT world? (obviously they always claim they are)

I'll grab Visual Express too.

Any particular books you would recommend? Particular authors or publishers I should look at?

[Fraz]

i'd say a book is a much nicer resource to work through than a bunch of disparate websites

find a good-looking book with relevant lessons about the language (not just about a specific IDE), and splash out

Totally agree. A good book is the way forward, and it will be excellent reference later on.

[staffsMike]

This is the book I mentioned
Waterstones.com: Computing: Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days - Sams Teach Yourself...in 21 Days (Paperback) by Jesse Liberty, et al. (2004)

It's everywhere really and it's pretty good, was for me anyway.

[mediaboy]

I'm busy teaching myself Java from a book that promises to do it in 24 hours.

I've gone through the first three hours in about one so far... hoping to learn java by weekend... then I'll try putting it into use, fail miserably and spend the weekend perfecting my technique.

Books are good... you can pick and choose which bits you want to do, can refer to it constantly whilst on a computer trying to programme something and they generally don't have flashing adverts all over them.

Oh - and you can't get sidetracked from a book.. there aren't links leading to pornograhpy, free stuff or anything else that is commonly available on the internet.

Good buy... but only if you find a good book.

Don't know what to suggest bookwise for C++ though... try that one in the post above me that got posted while I typed this long post out!

[staffsMike]

Don't know what to suggest bookwise for C++ though... try that one in the post above me that got posted while I typed this long post out!

Lol I said earlier as well, this one will be in most librarys if you want to check it out first.

[Rosaline]

As people have said, most degree courses don't offer C++ except as perhaps a 4th year module. However many do offer C, which is the basis of C++ and will help you get to grips with the most tricky part of C++ - pointers. They then typically formally teach you an object oriented language (normally Java), which will help with understanding the OOP aspects to C++.

Given the low level of C, those degree courses that cover C tend to only give it a cursory skimming. Having done both a computer science course and computer systems engineering, I would recommend the later if you are interested in low level systems work. The main difference between the two tends to be more maths and advanced computational theory in CS, and more electronics and systems design in CSE.

As for books, nothing beats physically going to a book store and browsing. I personally found the SAMS guides unbearable and patronising Instead I actually used the "C++ for dummies" book, as I found it to be a good book for someone already competent at programming and object orientation, simply needing to learn the C++ way of doing things.

[grayg1]

hhm I'll have to dust off the old library card then

Thanks everyone but unfortunatley there are just too many people to "thank" or it's going to turn into a thank spam

Edit: infact turns out I have been walking around with a little library barcode scanner attached to my key ring for years

[mediaboy]

You said it earlier? Maybe I missed that one too...

I might go see if it's in my local library. Money is on it's not, but I can order it in for 55p, and teach myself another language... I need something to yell at on weekends.

[jimbouk]

I didn't do C++ at Uni, but am now picking it up as I go along at work. The web has a few good reference points, but if you get a good grounding with C and some knowledge of OO like java then it shouldn't be too much of a jump.

Any particular reason for C++? Getting into something like php+mysql+javascript would probably be nicer as you can work on something website related and get something fun and usable out the end.

If you are sticking with C++ then MingGW and VIM isn't a bad combination for compiler and editor, although I'm sure there are 'nicer' ones.