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I just got a copy of Microsoft Visual C++ V.5 new. I got it to tinker with this fall , so that I might have some understanding of programming before the intro class to it in college.
Can anyone give me some recommendations on how to start learning, and/or with this program? Sites, Books, just general good advice would be nice.
Oh yeah, you can assume im a retard about this. Nothing would be to basic or simple in regards to this.
My recommendation is to wait for the intro class. Thats what I did and I got farther in a couple weeks than I ever did on self study. But... if you insist... I would start up the program and try to do something simple. Like really simple... maybe something that needs an if/else. Then go online and search for that material. Then do it over, and over, and over again with slightly more complex things. You'll eventually begin to get a better feel for things.
Thats how I learned Visual Basic and, to a lesser extent, Perl.
Any Dietel & Dietal (sp) book is good. I'd shop around the books store though and look and see which C++ books are written in a way that clicks for you.
Teach Yourself C++ In 21 Days is an excellent books. Almost all of the Teach Yourself ... in 21 Days books are great.
um...class was the first way I leanred, then the 'Teach Yourself' book, after that my practice (and interest) tapered off.
I commented about this to one of my friends the other day and he said C++ and visual C++ are done sort of backwords of each other. Is there any trueth to this? can I use a book about C++ with this program or just ones about visual C++?
I don't know much about Visual C++, other than it is somewhat different than C++. Whether the difference is huge or small...beats me.
Visual C++ is just a compiler, an IDE. There may or may not be differences in implementation compared to the Way Its Supposed To Be, but then again, it wouldnt be much different from what Borland does (whose IDE I hate). Visual C++ just has features like... autocompleting function names, displaying headers when you make a function call (so that you know what variables the function needs), File/ClassView, and various other things... useful stuff if you ask me.
Microsoft is trying to throw its weight around with C#, Java, and Visual Basic... this is not so much the case with C++. Its a pretty straight implementation of what C++ should be (small bugs and discrepancies notwithstanding, I suppose). So, yes, you can use any C++ book with Visual C++. If you look at the VC++ books, youll find that they are mostly about using the IDE to its full potential. Which is waht VC++ is... a compiler + IDE.
here's a good question...is there any significant difference between compiling code and finding an error or running the code through a debugger?
Compiling doesn't just find bugs. Compiling code turns it into machine language. You can debug your code all you want, but unless you compile it you won't be able to run it.