Unmotivated due to simplicity?

[Warrior2089]

Every time I get on here and read and do a tutorial, I get a bit unmotivated. I don't feel like I'm getting anywhere near where I want to be when I'm learning these tutorials (I'm a 14 year old who wants to eventually program games), so I get an unmotivated feeling when I do. I feel like learning that one tutorial isn't really going to get me anywhere.

So, my question is what would you "top dogs" of programming recommend I do in order to further my skills of programming C++ and among other things so I can get rid of this "feeling of not getting anywhere"?

That could include anything but not limited to learning specific different skills along with it, reading different articles or magazines related to programming; anything you "top dogs" can think of.

If I get more involved with the community and aspect of programming, I'm sure I'll feel like I'm moving along much more quickly.


Thanks, guys. If anyone can answer my question for me, I know it's this community.



EDIT: Note that I am on the "beginner" C++ tutorials. I'm studying and finishing up the Functions (I) tutorial currently.

Also, unrelated to the question: I'm seeing a lot of programs posted in this forum that have most of its code code that is not learned from this sites tutorials that are posted in the beginner forum? Not really what I would expect, since beginners that are on this site would generally be learning from this site's documentation.

[int main]

The tutorials teach you the basics of programming in c++.
As a programmer, your task is to turn the expactations of your customer into a running software.

So, if you think, the tutorials are too easy - which, I must admit, is true if you are a fast learner and have an above average ability to think abstract and logical, there is only one solution:

Set yourself a task that is a bit beyond that which you know already and programm it.

But! And that's a big but, you should still spend the time, even if it seems boring, to learn the basics simply because they are the basics.

Then you would realize, that almost everything in here is based on stuff from tutorials, just two, three or sometimes ten steps further down from the starting point of a tutorial.

Keep programming and set yourself interesting tasks.

int main

[z05DSL3A]

So, my question is what would you "top dogs" of programming recommend I do in order to further my skills of programming C++ and among other things so I can get rid of this "feeling of not getting anywhere"?

Doing tutorials is always dull and usually so far from real world that it can be hard to correlate it to the problem you are really facing. The way to make it bearable is to find a (few) project(s) on subjects that interests you or you know a bit about. The project should be able to be expanded as your programming skills expand. I have in the past suggested a text editor project; the person took it from very humble beginnings as they were learning, onto a very nice windows based editor. He still uses it as a platform to practise new things.

But don’t jump in over your head! The frustration of not knowing what is going on is a lot worse than the feeling of not getting anywhere. You see this a lot when people move from learning command line interface to a windowed interface before they are ready; or after a few months of learning, jump into something like Dark GDK.

On a different note; a book that I would suggest you at least borrow from a library and give some attention to is:

Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction
by Steve McConnell

By the way, welcome to the forum.

[Zaita]

Study a methodology. To be a proficient game developer you will need a firm understanding on graphics technologies, physics, AI, algorithm design, object orientated development, agile programming, networking, databases/data storage. There are a 1001 things you need to learn.

[mikeb570]

Pick a project to tackle and learn things while you're doing it. I think applying the stuff you're reading teaches you more than the actual reading. Things are also more interesting if you are able to apply to a situation at the time you're first reading about it. I suggest a blackjack game. I've made one which will never be done because I'm constantly improving it.

[audinue]

I suggest you, to plan whatever you want to learn...

Example:
If your purpose to learn programming is to program games, then answer these questions...

1. How to show a cool graphics in your program, either 2D or 3D?
2. How to make a good and cool GUI?
3. How to play animations in your program, either 2D or 3D?
4. How to play sounds in your program?
5. How to arrange logics in your program?
6. What game I want to make? Is it RPG, FPS, or something else?
7. How to make a well-designed game (based on question 6)?
8. ... more advance questions

Focus on one question.
Find the answer from friends, teachers, libraries, webs, forums, GOOGLE ... somewhere related.

And a motivation:
Learn it, try it, make it, play it, then show it to us that you could make a best game ever!

[Duthomhas]

I just wanted to agree with everything here.

I began learning by just jumping in and learning each piece part by part. I've written a lot of programs I never finished once I learned how to do what I wanted, and then figured out a better way to do it... :-)

This is a good way to work through things and get a feeling for how to program and research new information.

But, don't underestimate serious study. Zaita is absolutely right --programming games is probably the most intensive environment there is. You use (nearly) every piece of hardware the user has within nanosecond time constraints. Even real-time secure data networks have more leeway than a game that glitches here and there.

BUT, there are definitely ways to get started. Both SDL and OpenGL are good starting points.
http://www.libsdl.org/
http://nehe.gamedev.net/

While it isn't C++, the Python PyGame library is also a good workbench for playing around.
http://www.pygame.org/

Have fun!

[CamelCase]

Welcome to the forums, and may I say I am kind of in the same boat, but instead of feeling unmotivated I feel lost because I manage to learn stuff but then I can see no practical reason to implement it 9im tackiling pointers atm, which I kind of understand but why use them?)

All I can suggest is stick with it, you need to know the basics of the language before you can reach your dream!

You must understand that what you learn about c++ in the tutorials is just a small part of the bigger picture, there are many many other things you will need to learn about to become a game Programmer.

A good thing you should remember is you need to pick tasks to do that are big enough to enforce ideas that you have learnt but small enough for you to finish.

I hope my advice has been useful, cya round.

[QWERTYman]

If all else fails...

Amazon.com, search for C++.

:)

Try to get the "C++ Primer Plus 5th Edition."

[Zaita]

EDIT: Note that I am on the "beginner" C++ tutorials. I'm studying and finishing up the Functions (I) tutorial currently

You have a long way to go then. You are going to need a very strong grasp on the fundamentals. Once you have started getting a grasp of functions and arrays etc, have a look into classes. Then start to read up about "Object-Orientated Development". This will be an interesting read, and one of the most valuable pieces of knowledge you will use as a game developer. OO governs how the entire game is written, designed and thought about (as well as many many large applications).

Also, unrelated to the question: I'm seeing a lot of programs posted in this forum that have most of its code code that is not learned from this sites tutorials that are posted in the beginner forum? Not really what I would expect, since beginners that are on this site would generally be learning from this site's documentation.

The beginner forum is for questions relating to C++, not specifically the tutorials on this site. Even professional developers make as questions in the beginner section related to something they are working on, but unfamiliar with. C++ is a very open-ended and complex language.

I manage to learn stuff but then I can see no practical reason to implement it 9im tackiling pointers atm, which I kind of understand but why use them?)

Pointers are always difficult to learn. But they are often used, II am a big fan of pointer use. The major reason to use a pointer is to allow you to create an object dynamically (on the heap), as opposed to statically (on the stack). Once you have a pointer, that object will exist until you free the memory, it has no scope. So you can manipulate it from other parts of your code. A very quick, and simple implementation have a look at the "Singleton Pattern". Just google for it, it's a very valid use of pointers.

Also, when working with the STL, an iterator is merely a pointer to a certain object in your container.