What is the best way to learn C++?

[Shafee]

I have Microsoft Visual C++, but I don't understand it. I don't even know where to get started. Any suggestions? Good books, online tutorials...... anything?

(I'm not familiar with the C language at all, but I am familiar with VB.)

[Vlatko]

Sites:
http://www.cplusplus.com/
http://www.strath.ac.uk/CC/Courses/N...e/ccourse.html
http://www.aul.fiu.edu/tech/visualc.html
http://www.gator.net/~garyg/c/cref.html

Books:
"thinking in c++"
http://www.codecuts.com/codecuts/pdf...l/TIC2Vone.pdf
http://www.codecuts.com/codecuts/pdf...l/TIC2Vtwo.pdf

http://www.itknowledge.com/reference...708/ewtoc.html

http://newdata.box.sk/bx/c/

[Vlatko]

Also when you get familiar with C++ go to windows programming. This is a great tutorial covereing the basics if that area:

http://www.winprog.org/tutorial

[CyberCarsten]

I'm also learning C++, and has just bought the book Visual C++ 6 for Dummies, which shows you the Basics in C++ and MFC.

[parksie]

Originally posted by Vlatko
Also when you get familiar with C++ go to windows programming. This is a great tutorial covereing the basics if that area:

http://www.winprog.org/tutorial

I would not suggest trying to learn windows programming until you're familiar with these things (among others):
pointers / arrays and the differences between them
structure packing
calling conventions
typedefs
function pointers (this is nasty )

Although if you've got them pretty much sorted after 2 hours learning...go for it! For the Windows API you don't really need classes, although they can help to simplify what you do.

[Megatron]

Try Teach Yourself Visual C++ In 21 Days. It's a great book for beginners.

[Vlatko]

Originally posted by Megatron
Try Teach Yourself Visual C++ In 21 Days. It's a great book for beginners.

Teach Yourself Visual C++ In 21 Days is not a book for begginers. At the beggining i explains some basic things and then stsrts with SDI and MDI apps, window DCs and other not so simple windows programming related stuff. Also every piece of code is MFC

Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days is another story. It is great for begginers.

[CyberCarsten]

It sure is! I have an HTML version of it that I'm guarding with my life!

[Megatron]

Originally posted by Vlatko
Teach Yourself Visual C++ In 21 Days is not a book for begginers.

It's a matter of preference. I found it to be very useful.

[sail3005]

Yeah, i found teach yourself C++ in 21 days to be very useful too. The best part is that it is free!

[Active]

Is this Deja vu or What ? This question comes up for the Unteenth time and the same people are answering it again!

[sail3005]

It gets more exciting each time!

[MPrestonf12]

Well, I have had decent luck reading C++ THe Complete Reference and then using what I learned to make a simple program. Experimenting with it also helps.

[Megatron]

Yes experimenting helped me a lot as well. I always tried to do more of what the book asked of me.

[Shafee]

Thanks guys for your help.

I have started to follow the online version of Learning C++ in 21 days. There is a simple example included in the tutorial:

1: #include <iostream.h>
2:
3:
4: int main();
5: {
6: cout <<"Hello World!\n";
7: return 0;
8: }

Will this work in Microsoft Visual C++? I have tried it but it didn't work. Can you guys pls help me?

[parksie]

That looks okay (obviously don't put the line numbers in the source code). Make sure you have "Win32 Console Application" as your project type.

[Shafee]

What do you mean by "Win32 Console Application"? Is it a template in C++? Like the ones you get with VB? (Data Projects, ActiveX Dll etc) ?

[parksie]

When you create a new project, you have a big list of project types. Use that one.

So yes you're right, it's a template (but not in the C++ sense )

[Shafee]

So when I select "Win32 Console Application", some components will be already be added? Like some ActiveX controls?

[parksie]

Nope. It's totally empty. The two projects "Win32 Application" and "Win32 Console Application" have nothing in them -- you write everything yourself.

The only difference between these two is that the Console one is for console/command-line programs, while the other is for Windows programs.

[Shafee]

Thanks guys.... I can't wait to try it out.

[Wynd]

Originally posted by Shafee

1: #include <iostream.h>
2:
3:
4: int main();
5: {
6: cout <<"Hello World!\n";
7: return 0;
8: }

Will this work in Microsoft Visual C++? I have tried it but it didn't work. Can you guys pls help me?

There is a semicolon after the main() that shouldn't be there. That's probably what is wrong.

[sail3005]

I just got C++ How to Program by Deitel and Deitel and i HIGHLY recommend it. I have learned more from this book in a few days than months with help files and tutorials! If you want to learn c++, i recomend putting out the extra $$$ and getting this book!