starting C++ and intimadated
hey so im finally starting a C++ class next semester and im wondering what do i need for the class?? I mean should i buy a laptop or just get a desktop because ive known i wanted to become a programmer but which would be best for learning the language or does it matter at all? Also i have absolutely no prior coding knowledge but im pretty good at math and understanding math do you think ill do fine?
You could use either a laptop or a desktop computer for this purpose, it doesn't really matter. I'd base your purchasing decision on other priorities.
A good background and ability in maths is probably a good sign, though not all the knowledge will be applicable, some of the thought-processes and problem-solving skills should be relevant.
A good background and ability in maths is probably a good sign, though not all the knowledge will be applicable, some of the thought-processes and problem-solving skills should be relevant.
"I'd base your purchasing decision on other priorities."
thank you for the input but what do you mean when you say other priorities??
thank you for the input but what do you mean when you say other priorities??
Personally, I'd rather get a laptop, pretty much for the sole reason that you can bring it with you. Your class may involve using their networked computers though. Once you learn the basic syntax rules, most of the stuff is just using problem solving skills and looking up various built-in functions.
oh ok cool should there be any system requirements i should keep an eye on when im looking to purchase a computer or laptop??
| what do you mean when you say other priorities? |
For example:
Do you need portability?
Are you limited by a budget?
Do you want to customise/configure the hardware, e.g. for game playing or watching/recording tv, or need a high-quality monitor for photo editing etc etc.
A computer is a multi-purpose tool, you will surely find other uses than simply writing C++ code :)
Regarding system requirements - any modern machine should be capable of compiling/running C++ with ease. Plenty of RAM is always useful, but that applies for just about any usage. The same applies for plenty of hard drive space - though the availability of external drives and usb memory sticks can make that relatively less important.
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i want to give this advice for a new comer:
whatever your choice is.
communicating with other programmers gives more experience than any course on earth.
trust me on this one, i tried it.
whatever your choice is.
communicating with other programmers gives more experience than any course on earth.
trust me on this one, i tried it.
| communicating with other programmers gives more experience than any course on earth. |
Communicating with experienced, helpful programmers with good communication skills gives more experience than any course.
However, online fora do not give you that. On pretty much every one I've tried - including this one - I routinely see people with very little experience give misleading or incorrect advice on a regular basis. If I'd learnt to write C++ from an online forum, I would have become a much worse programmer than I am today.
| MikeyBoy wrote: |
|---|
| On pretty much every one I've tried - including this one - I routinely see people with very little experience give misleading or incorrect advice on a regular basis. |
For what it's worth, it's hard (but possible) to find incorrect advice on Stackoverflow.com, at least on highly-visible topics such as C++... But it's also hard for a beginner to ask an acceptable question there.
That's true... or, rather, it's easy to identify which advice is good and which isn't, because of of the up- and down-voting. It's an invaluable resource.
But, as you say, it's more suited for people asking specific, well-written technical questions, rather than for getting personal help with beginner-level issues.
But, as you say, it's more suited for people asking specific, well-written technical questions, rather than for getting personal help with beginner-level issues.
@MikeyBoy:
i somewhat disagree with you, i myself have learnt much much good practices from YOU and other experienced guys here in this forum.
even when i answer something and my answer is inaccurate, someone comes in and corrects me, and this is what i mean by experience.
and even in your above critic, i learnt that i should have an account in stackoverflow.
i somewhat disagree with you, i myself have learnt much much good practices from YOU and other experienced guys here in this forum.
even when i answer something and my answer is inaccurate, someone comes in and corrects me, and this is what i mean by experience.
and even in your above critic, i learnt that i should have an account in stackoverflow.
| even when i answer something and my answer is inaccurate, someone comes in and corrects me |
Apologies for this, since I haven't read all of your posts on this forum. However, it seems you are assuming that if no-one steps in to correct you, your post must have been correct. I'd gently suggest that assumption might not be correct.
@Chervil:
true, some of my posts may be inaccurate and i don't know about them.
its just, i'm no more like a "baby" programmer, i consider myself a "kid" programmer.
for example:
- i'm sure that i should initialize a pointer before using it.
- i'm sure that i should avoid using goto for several good reasons.
- i'm sure i shouldn't use C-style headers in a C++ program.
...etc.
such practices doesn't need confirmation to make sure it's true.
true, some of my posts may be inaccurate and i don't know about them.
its just, i'm no more like a "baby" programmer, i consider myself a "kid" programmer.
for example:
- i'm sure that i should initialize a pointer before using it.
- i'm sure that i should avoid using goto for several good reasons.
- i'm sure i shouldn't use C-style headers in a C++ program.
...etc.
such practices doesn't need confirmation to make sure it's true.
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