Where to start, from the ground up
I'm sure you all get this sort of question a lot, and it must be annoying, but I've no where else to turn. I'm completely lost.
I've finally decided to dedicate my free time to teaching myself C++, since I have many months with nothing to do ahead of me. The only problem is, where do I start?
I've done a lot of research and there are some widely varying opinions for everything, from IDEs to books, but most of what I have turned up is either several years old or not as informative as I'd like.
I'm looking to eventually get into game development, permitted that I can get that far. I have some small experience with Visual Basic .NET from a class I took two years ago, but I have little experience with C++. I'm hoping to be able to work with both Windows and Linux, but if it came down to only being able to choose one, I'd have to go with Windows. The same is for OpenGL/DirectX. I'd rather learn OpenGL, but if DirectX is proven to be more suited to my needs, I'll take that instead.
So that's everything about my situation, now I just need recommendations. I'd like to get a good book which will get me started, but I can't find any good recommendations that aren't several years old. I also would like to know what the best IDE for C++ would be, and would gladly welcome any other advice you may have.
I've finally decided to dedicate my free time to teaching myself C++, since I have many months with nothing to do ahead of me. The only problem is, where do I start?
I've done a lot of research and there are some widely varying opinions for everything, from IDEs to books, but most of what I have turned up is either several years old or not as informative as I'd like.
I'm looking to eventually get into game development, permitted that I can get that far. I have some small experience with Visual Basic .NET from a class I took two years ago, but I have little experience with C++. I'm hoping to be able to work with both Windows and Linux, but if it came down to only being able to choose one, I'd have to go with Windows. The same is for OpenGL/DirectX. I'd rather learn OpenGL, but if DirectX is proven to be more suited to my needs, I'll take that instead.
So that's everything about my situation, now I just need recommendations. I'd like to get a good book which will get me started, but I can't find any good recommendations that aren't several years old. I also would like to know what the best IDE for C++ would be, and would gladly welcome any other advice you may have.
http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/
and some fun exercises:
http://www.cplusplus.com/forum/articles/12974/
as for wanting to work on both windows and linux, this kinda suggests MS VC++ is out of the question(mostly for syncing reasons)
Eclispe & CodeBlocks is available on linux and windows, just check the Codeblocks forum for the latest "nightly build" cause they have more goodies than the standard release.
Or if your interested in java programming as well, then I'd say go Eclipse, or hell you may just prefer Eclipse over CB anyway...
On a side note you could just go MS VC++ for windows programming and then something like VIM for Linux up to you, just play with them all and learn them and use whatever tickles your fancy..
Just don't play with them for too long as it can take up valuable programming time :P ( VI for example )
EDIT: actually forget I mentioned VI, it can takes months to learn :)
and some fun exercises:
http://www.cplusplus.com/forum/articles/12974/
as for wanting to work on both windows and linux, this kinda suggests MS VC++ is out of the question(mostly for syncing reasons)
Eclispe & CodeBlocks is available on linux and windows, just check the Codeblocks forum for the latest "nightly build" cause they have more goodies than the standard release.
Or if your interested in java programming as well, then I'd say go Eclipse, or hell you may just prefer Eclipse over CB anyway...
On a side note you could just go MS VC++ for windows programming and then something like VIM for Linux up to you, just play with them all and learn them and use whatever tickles your fancy..
Just don't play with them for too long as it can take up valuable programming time :P ( VI for example )
EDIT: actually forget I mentioned VI, it can takes months to learn :)
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Eclipse is the best bet for cross platform. Eclipse is one of the most powerful IDEs available, especially free. If you are going windows only VC++ is just as good though.
The tutorial on this website is the best free way to learn C++; you won't see too much STL which is too bad but it covers all the language stuff syntax and goes into file IO.
Where do you get that much free time from anyway?
The tutorial on this website is the best free way to learn C++; you won't see too much STL which is too bad but it covers all the language stuff syntax and goes into file IO.
Where do you get that much free time from anyway?
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