self teaching learning structure

[Grand Master stickshift]

so in my cpp journey, I have been self teaching. and for anyone else out there who is self taught you know how hard it is to learn without a structured course to fallow.

if anyone would help me out with this, I am trying to make a list of things that I should learn in order. So what order should I learn different aspects of this language in (e.g. Data types, then variables, then operators, then functions, etc.)


If you were to teach someone cpp in what order would you do it.

[dhayden]

It depends on your experience with other programming languages. If you have lots of experience with several languages then a cheat-sheet on the syntax of C++ will do. If you're learning programming for the first time, then you need step-by-step instructions on everything.

So are you learning programming, or are you learning C++?

[Grand Master stickshift]

I am learning programming. c++ is my first language. I have no experience with any other language.

[PiggiesGoSqueal]

First, I should note that there is no single good way to learn, and chances are many people here will disagree with other people's suggestions. Even the most popular and well known C++ books made by Bjarne Stroustrup (he created C++) do not have 5 star ratings. Additionally, all tutorials will have SOME flaws. Whether it be a single line of code the author shouldn't be using, the messy format of the code, how the author tells the reader to use something and they'll teach what it means later, etc. There is no "perfect tutorial". There are definitely some tutorials you should avoid and some are better than others. But if anyone claims there is a "perfect tutorial" then that's only from their perspective and not a fact.

If you're learning C++ as your first language I personally recommend the following. But please note that I am a beginner myself, so my suggestions may not be the best. That said, I have spent a lot of time looking for good tutorials and these are the main ones that really helped me.

Please note though that most tutorials I've come across use "using namespace std;". This line of code basically makes the language easier to learn, read, and use. However, it isn't considered a good programming practice. For example, let's say you want to print "Hello world". Here are the differences when using "using namespace std;" and when you're not:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    cout << "Hello world";
    
    return 0;
}

#include <iostream>
// Notice there is no "using namespace std;" line.

int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello world"; // Notice there is now "std::" before cout
    
    return 0;
}

Personally, I'd recommend using the "using namespace std;" line while you're learning the main basics. Then once you've become a little more familiar with C++, I recommend stop using that line and start inserting "std::" wherever needed.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Anyways, here are some tutorials I recommend:

YouTube Playlists:
1. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL318A5EB91569E29A
2. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6xSOsbVA1eYl_5aQUgxJYvJdzNBroGGy
3. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6xSOsbVA1eaxY06L5ZZJfDZSohwO6AKY
* Please note that this playlist is not official tutorials, but provides some C++ examples to gain a better understanding of concepts as you learn them, as most tutorials will only show you the basics and not give you in-depth examples.


YouTube Videos:
- Watching a "Full Course" video on C++ shouldn't be the only thing you use to learn C++. However, in my opinion it may be useful starting out.
1. https://youtu.be/vLnPwxZdW4Y


Websites:
1. https://www.pluralsight.com/paths/c-plus-plus
2. https://www.mikedane.com/programming-languages/c++/
3. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/cpp/cpp-language-reference?view=vs-2019
4. http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/


Textbooks:
- https://stackoverflow.com/questions/388242/the-definitive-c-book-guide-and-list
* Please note you can find C++ Primer online free here: http://www.charleshouserjr.com/Cplus2.pdf


I know you asked about the structure in which to learn things, not for sources. What I meant was all of these sources will likely have similar things to learn first. And if you don't have a place you're already learning from, they are some good places to start.

[mbozzi]

You should get a proper textbook as soon as possible. It is very important to pick a book that is well-regarded by experts. There lots of bad resources out there, and beginners can't necessarily judge content quality.

See the ISO C++ Foundation's page, in particular, the FAQ about "how to learn C++".
https://isocpp.org/wiki/faq/how-to-learn-cpp#start-learning
And https://isocpp.org/wiki/faq/how-to-learn-cpp#best-book

My suggestion is:
Stroustrup: "Programming: Principles and Practice using C++ (Second Edition)" Addison-Wesley 2014, ISBN 978-0-321-99278-9.
http://www.stroustrup.com/programming.html

[Grand Master stickshift]

Thx for the advice, i got me about 30 bucks im gonna see if I can get a proper textbook.

[arg57]

heres a good site plus check out free e books

https://www.learncpp.com/

[PiggiesGoSqueal]

mbozzi wrote:

You should get a proper textbook as soon as possible. It is very important to pick a book that is well-regarded by experts. There lots of bad resources out there, and beginners can't necessarily judge content quality.

See the ISO C++ Foundation's page, in particular, the FAQ about "how to learn C++".
https://isocpp.org/wiki/faq/how-to-learn-cpp#start-learning
And https://isocpp.org/wiki/faq/how-to-learn-cpp#best-book

My suggestion is:
Stroustrup: "Programming: Principles and Practice using C++ (Second Edition)" Addison-Wesley 2014, ISBN 978-0-321-99278-9.
http://www.stroustrup.com/programming.html

Good suggestion and you are correct.