Software Troubles. And more :/

[DylnCox]

Obviously, I'm a beginner. I've been contemplating, the last 7 months or so, on learning C++ and I'm finally getting to where it's become like a need to Google anything about it. So I've been checking on various sites, at free source codes, to try and pick up some things, without diving right in, automatically. But, I'm running in to a problem just doing that. See, I've downloaded Microsoft VS 2010, and Python, and Panda3D, etc. Trying to even run a code. I can't seem to find anything that will run a code. Either I have no idea what I'm doing (which is exactly what it is) or I'm plain stupid. I've opened various source codes, I think correctly, lol, into Microsoft VS 2010 (evaluation) of games, apps, etc. hoping to run one to see the final product of what one of the codes looks like in action. But I can't. Can someone tell me what to software I can download (prefer free, but trials will work for now, too) or how I can run the codes with said software.

Also, if possible, could someone tell me, when downloading a code, which code I should open, I downloaded a chess game source code, and after unzipping the folder, it contains a couple empty folders and about 10 files, half of which are C++ formats, for example, one is named Demo another ChessBoard, etc.

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Newb DylnCox

[cnoeval]

You're trying too much too fast. Forget the chess games, etc. for now as they may rely on external libraries that you don't know about. Look at the MS VS help and learn the basics of creating a project, adding a cpp file, and debugging/executing it. Then write your own simple programs like the good 'ol "Hello World!". At the same time read the tutorials:

http://cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/beginner/cc305129.aspx

[DylnCox]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!