My first post

[Kirja]

Well as the subject line says, this really is my first post on these forums :wavey: . I have just finished school and have a good couple of months to spare before I start at college. I want to use this time to start the process of learning a programming language.

In the past I have only really used web based languages, such as javascript and php. I messed around with C++ but I have never had the time to commit to take it further. Now I have.

I spent some time googling on the subject and found this to be one of the best c++ communities around, so here I am.

Now I do also have a question....

I was searching for a good c++ tutorial online and found that the Sams teach yourself c++ in 21 days (second edition) published in May 1997 is availible in it's intirety for free from www.informit.com here (http://165.193.123.40/content/index.asp?product_id={83B8BE68-A805-4140-9F48-F2540866AC50}&view=article&session_id={D9A1564B-3237-4771-9779-C3C05127D42C}).

I had a quick flick through and it seems to cover a good range of subjects.

Since it was published a good 6 years ago is it worth reading? What type of subjects is it unlikely to cover? How standards compliant will it be?

Thanks for any help/guidence etc...

[DNAunion2000]

DNAunion: I thought that 1997, the year of the book's publication, was the year that ANSI standardized C++. I looked at the book's contents and found something that mentions ANSI working on a standard. So it is pre-ANSI/ISO Standard C++, but not by much (it might be that some things in the book are not ANSI Standard C++, but I don't think that should be a major concern). If it's free and covers all that the page's contents indicate, why not?

One topic I didn't see mentioned is the STL (Standard Template Library). But that is a more advanced topic anyway and is not dealt with in many introductory C++ texts.

If you make it through and still want to learn more, you could buy a more-recent and more-advanced book (for example, the STL - Standard Template Library - doesn't appear to be covered in the web book).

[coldflame]

Any of those learn C++ in 21 or 24 days is bull ****! and leaves out important information. I sugject buying C++ for dummies. It comes with a cd that includes all the source code from the book, along with a free gnu compiler. The author covers the extreme basics like variables and organises everything very neat so its easy to understand. Unlike other tutorials that assume you know the basics. Or that you already know C. This book assumes nothing and makes it all very clear.

I read the entire learn C++ in 21 days ebook when I was first starting out. But I didn't understand anything. I didn't actually start progressing untill I bought C++ for dummies.

[Programm3r]

Well.. yeah.. the title says that you will leran it in 21 days but that's impossible, exept if you work 25 hours per day on that book!

There is another free C++ book, and i'd reccomend that instead of this. It is by Bruce Eckel, and it is called "Thinkining in C++", the second edition.
Give it a try.

*****

>subject and found this to be one of the best c++ communities around
Yiap! here you are! We are the Best, and you have the honour to speak to the best programming of the world!!

By the way, there is a book called "SAMS:Teach Yourself Advamced C in 21 days".. do you know where to find it?

[coldflame]

I said that exact same thing after week in I was only like 5% through it!
Its bull...

[Programm3r]

>I said that exact same thing after week in I was only like 5% through it!
:D yeah.. that's what happens with everybody...

[Programm3r]

I went at www.informit.com and i can't find that book!!!!!!!
Can someone here tell me the path!?

[coldflame]

just google search for it

[Jamaican]

I really don't like the C++ for dummies books. I don't beleive its worth the money, anyways, people have different learning prefferneces, so I'd say, brouse it in the book store before you buy it.

two good books I've seen are: "Object-Oriented Programming in C++ Third Edition, by the Waite Group's" it is beginning to intermediate,

and "Starting Out With C++ Third Edition, Standard version," This one is even used in some colleges,
it is beginning to intermediate and mor: it gives more problems to solve which is more hands on training which is good, and they get you thinking too. I would give it a 9++ out of a posible 10, it even goes into some advance topics I recomend this book 10 times and more, oh yea, its all that and a bag of chips.

[CrazyMeat]

Originally posted by coldflame
Any of those learn C++ in 21 or 24 days is bull ****! and leaves out important information. I sugject buying C++ for dummies. It comes with a cd that includes all the source code from the book, along with a free gnu compiler. The author covers the extreme basics like variables and organises everything very neat so its easy to understand. Unlike other tutorials that assume you know the basics. Or that you already know C. This book assumes nothing and makes it all very clear.

I read the entire learn C++ in 21 days ebook when I was first starting out. But I didn't understand anything. I didn't actually start progressing untill I bought C++ for dummies.

Different people learn different ways. I personally have both the books and I have read ALMOST all of Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days (I'm on day 19) and some of C++ for Dummies. I bought the book C++ for Dummies and found it very confusing so I went and bought the book C++ in 21 days. I have also tried C++ Primer Plus and its hard for me to learn in that too. I think its just a matter of finding the right book for you. Thats why I think that some books should offer like 2 chapters free instead of just an introductory chapter(such as in Amazon). Otherwise I go to the bookstore and read them.

Basically all I am saying is don't assume that because the book C++ in 21 days is considered hard. It doesn't mean its hard for other people. In fact the only thing I was TRULY confused on was linked sists. Which the author did TERRIBLE job of explaining and I also went and looked at the C++ for Dummies version and the C++ Primer Plus versions and I still don't get it. Maybe it wasn't meant to be :( .

[Flangazor]

Linked lists are pretty simple. When I was at Uni, I was thinking of ways to do it before they told us you could have pointers to the type of class within the class (having a hard object would be recursive declaration and it would be messy!)

It clicked almost before I read about them. :)

So what trouble are you having with them?

[stuka]

/me notes that implementing a linked list in C++, while it can be a good way to learn, is REALLY redundant, what with std::list<foo> available.