My C++ Vow

dejai · Post by **dejai** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 12:46 am

Though, my C++ programming is somewhat functional I know its not up to scratch, so I am vowing not to use the irrlicht engine until I read C++ for Dummies from cover to cover.

Any Other Books I should read while i am at it?

monkeycracks · Post by **monkeycracks** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 12:49 am

I wouldn't read a book to help learn c++. I learned mostly through experience and failing really hard for about a year

zeno60 · Post by **zeno60** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:09 am

Or you could just read and code examples in the book and learn all topics of C++ in a few weeks; not just topics used in Irrlicht.

I've never read C++ for dummies, but i'm sure its a great place to start. For some after reading, I would suggest "Programming Pearls" by Jon Bentley, and for a reference book, you can't go wrong with Stroustrup's "The C++ Programming Language." A windows programming guide would also be useful unless you attempt to read through the MSDN resources. If you are looking more towards the graphics/game development aspect of programming, then I would suggest a 3D math buffer. Afterwards you should be able to search and download papers and abstracts from various c++ elitists.

Some other books I've heard thrown around, don't own them, but they may be of some use:

http://www.mindview.net/Books/TICPP/Thi ... CPP2e.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... s&n=507846

Effective C++ and More Effective C++ from Scott Meyers.
Exceptional C++ and More Exceptional C++ from Herb Suttner.
"Modern programming languages" by Adam Webber.

Good luck, just make sure you stick with it.

GameDude · Post by **GameDude** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:36 am

I've read C++ for Dummies. Its a good book to learn C++. Although it won't teach you windows based programming, it will teach just about everything you need to know about C++, programming wise.

dejai · Post by **dejai** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 4:41 am

Thanks for the suggestions, I have also heard of thinking in C++ or ts meant to be a great book. Thanks for the advice, and GameDude I am not really sure if I want to programmer for windows, I hate those guys.
But Ty anyway.

dejai · Post by **dejai** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 4:53 am

Cool, Just downloaded the 2 thinking in C++ ebooks

hybrid · Post by **hybrid** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 11:48 am

Read a book on OOP before doing too much with C++. That way you will concentrate on design first, without thinking about the implementation - where C++ alows things which are really awkward.

latentdisposition · Post by **latentdisposition** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 2:57 pm

I absolutely agree with the Effective and Exceptional C++ books. C++ : The Complete Reference, The C++ Standard Library - A Tutorial and Reference, Modern C++ Design, Effective STL and Code Complete will round out any book collection nicely.

FlyingIsFun1217 · Post by **FlyingIsFun1217** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:44 pm

For me, the best way I learned was messing with stuff like Irrlicht, wxWidgets, etc. for about a year, being told along the way to get a C++ to learn all of the advanced stuff that I didn't know at that point, kept coding, learning small things, and finally got a book. Which I REALLY regret not getting earlier.

FlyingIsFun1217

rogerborg · Post by **rogerborg** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:52 pm

I've never really learned much from "how to" books. I find it's much more valuable to find code that I don't understand, then wrestle it into sandbox and fiddle with it until I do understand it. Facts learned through investigation tend to stay with you longer than those that are just taught.

You will benefit from having a reference text to hand, and the reference text is, axiomatically, Strousrtup.

As a personal preference, I'd get K&R as well, because C++ is still basically C in lipstick and high heels. Don't get me wrong, I'm as anal as the next OOP zealot, but I find that coming at C++ with a grounding in C tends to give you a bias towards implementation rather than architecture that can get you over some self-imposed humps.

For example, if you're writing code for other people to use, then it's fine to go hog-wild with interfaces, private scope and friending. Irrlicht is a great model for a library. However, doing that in your own code can easily spiral into an activity for its own sake, that can even handicap you if you come back it after taking a break and can't remember if there was actually a good reason for Foo.bar to be private, or if you'd just read a really good article on why the left side of your brain shouldn't trust the right side.

anylo · Post by **anylo** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:20 am

C++ FAQ Lite.

dejai · Post by **dejai** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:44 pm

I am still reading C++ for dummies and its a good idea to learn by practice I will be sure to try my bbest to learn all I can about the language.