Can a 12 year old learn C++?

[EwCjE3v7]

Hi there,
I'm a 12 year old boy who wants to learn c++. Is it possible or not?
I love programming and would love to take classes for it but there is none near me. And my family members also don't know much. My dad is a doctor so he can't really help me.I only know really little of java like if statements,while loops,scanner user input,operators and some other stuff but I want to learn c++.I know you cannot finish learning c++ but the basics. How long will it take me?


I already have visual studio 2012 and I don't remember the compiler because I'm on my iPhone now.

[vlad from moscow]

I think you can. But it would be better if you would have a tutor.

[Catfish4]

You may want to bookmark these sites, and start reading while you're at it.

http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/
http://www.cplusplus.com/forum/articles/12974/
http://en.cppreference.com/w/
http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq/
http://c-faq.com/

Then when you get stuck and have questions, we're here for you.

[EwCjE3v7]

Thank you guys u have been a lot of help. I have bookmarked them on my ipad...Thank you and also I'm reading c++ primer plus 6th edition.people have said it is a good book and I am watching buckys c++ tutorials
> http://thenewboston.org/list.php?cat=16

to Catfish4: should I read primer first or the links u have suggested.
To vlad from Moscow: I wish I could get one but the only ones in my school is animation and HTML.

Anymore suggestion I will do anything to become a pro..thank you all
Question to all: what age were u guys when u started programming

[Lachlan Easton]

It's never too early to start in my eyes. Here's a previous answering of that question http://www.cplusplus.com/forum/lounge/102313/
One of the more... Extroverted programmers on this forum is 12, if you are to learn anything from him it should be to avoid hubris.

[EwCjE3v7]

Thanks Lachlan wow loads start at young age I thought ppl start like at 17 .And sorry but I don't really know what hubris is.
Edit: searched it up.pride
No I do not want fame .i just want to create program's later on that are user friendly and useful. I barly tell my family about what I do. Thanks I wil keep away from it.:)

[Lachlan Easton]

Being cocky, getting a big head, thinking you're smarter than you actually are... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubris
That's not to say you should think in the opposite way i.e. extreme pessimism.

[EwCjE3v7]

I just want to learn for my future when I grow up ..And it's really fun to program if u know what I mean. To run your own program's is a good feeling.No one really knows that I program or am learning to.i am not chatty and I do not tell ppl what I succeseed in.thank you so much

[EwCjE3v7]

Thank you all. You have really encouraged me. I will start reading primer and catfish4 suggestions and will watch buckys videos.thanks all my question has been answer so I will close this topic

[klay2]

few years I did it before I was twelve

[Chillieman]

I can relate this to fixing computers. I started tinkering with the internals of desktops when i was 10. Keep in mind that it wasnt easy. i didnt have a teacher (other then information online) so it was hard to wrap my head around.

but what i found, is that i would reach a speed bump, and quit. But a year later. my interest would spark up and i would attempt again. Over the years of quitting and taking it back up.Things got WAY easier to learn, and because i had tried before. I started learning faster and faster, and i didnt have to learn the baby steps anymore!

Now, im pretty good at fixing any Windows software problems. So that means if i get a virus, i can take care of it pretty easily. Not many people think thats great sense its an easy problem. But i go a step further.

I started fixing computer screens, computer hard drives, drivers, eventually taking two computers, and combining them in order to have a stronger one.

I took that a step further, and now i fix iPhones! Any broken screen, or broken button, i can get in there and fix it! And all this was with NO TEACHER.

SO MY ADVICE TO YOU. Even if you start this up, and quit in about 6 months. just try your hardest to keep your interest in the subject. Nothing is wrong with a year break (except that you forget most of the format) But make sure you always go back to your subjects that you get fed up with.
TRUST me, this will get MUCH easier over the years. And once your 17, you will be able to understand it 100 times better then most 20 year olds!
I wish i started C++ when i was 12 =]

Dont let anyone tell you, your not capable. You can do it!

[EwCjE3v7]

to Chillieman:
Thank you so much. You have encouraged me a lot. Thank you for typing all of that. yes i also bought a graphics card,ram,fans,heatsink and a hard drive and
put it in my acer aspire m3201 which i got when i was i think 10. i do not play games that much i bought minecraft but than got boared and i used to play mw3 but now im bored so i just investigated in programming and fell in love with it.

I do not wish to get fame or a job just that happiness i love programming and i know all of u guys do to. u have inspired me alot that you had no teacher and u can build/fix PCs and fix iPhones. thank you

all i have is c++ primer plus 6th edition, the bookmarks that catfish suggested above to learn and am using visual studio 2012
is there anymore suggestions for me to learn.
Thanks no one can discourage me now. :P
thanks

[JLBorges]

> all i have is c++ primer plus 6th edition

I'm a little apprehensive about your attempts to learn C++ from that particular book. It is a bad book.

Here are two better options; both are free e-books:
http://www.mindview.net/Books/TICPP/ThinkingInCPP2e.html

http://cppannotations.sourceforge.net/annotations/html/
with C basics from: http://publications.gbdirect.co.uk/c_book/

You may also want to have a look at the books listed under the Beginner - Introductory section here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/388242/the-definitive-c-book-guide-and-list

[EwCjE3v7]

Thank you JLBorges for your suggestions.
to jlborgas
People have suggested the c++ primer a lot as it is not that out dated the 6th edition .ppl say try to read books up to date..so what should I do

[JLBorges]

> the books you have suggested are a little old or are they ok to learn from.

Bruce Eckel's book (and in the list from stackoverflow, Koenig & Moo's book) do not cover additions in the current standard (C++11). They are still good books to learn from; nothing that you learn from them becomes invalid or useless as you move to C++11.

The University of Groningen annotations are updated on a continual basis; it covers current C++. However, it presupposes basic knowledge of C; if you don't have that, you should also read The C Book.

C++ Primer 5th Edition (Lippman, Lajoie, and Moo) is thoroughly up to date; and is very well written, specifically targeting the current C++ standard.


> People have suggested the c++ primer a lot as it is not that out dated the 6th edition .
> ppl say try to read books up to date..so what should I do

C++ Primer 5th Edition (Lippman, Lajoie, and Moo) is up to date.

C++ Primer Plus 6th Edition (Prata) is thoroughly outdated (except for the cover, which claims that there is C++11 inside).
Cubbi's take on the book: http://www.cplusplus.com/forum/beginner/104737/#msg564798

[EwCjE3v7]

Thanks for your reply.i have download both of the thinking in c++ and will read them.thank you so much.
You guys have been a great help

Edit
Thank you jl I will read the websites u suggested and primer 5th edition.thanks