What is a good study method to use for C++

[BarringtonT]

hey guys, i am fairly new to C++ i was wondering; what types of study methods do you guys use to learn this stuff.

[Moschops]

Write code, read code, rinse and repeat. Every so often, open the reference book to read about the code you just read.

[JLBorges]

The most effective way to increase your knowledge is to try new problems in a controlled way. Pick one aspect of C++ that you haven't understood before and write a program that, aside from using that one aspect, uses only things that you have already mastered. Then do what it takes to understand what your program is doing - and why.

- Andrew Koenig and Barabara Moo in 'Ruminations on C++'.

If you just read about how command line parameters are passed to main(), write a small program:

#include <iostream>

int main( int argc, char* argv[] )
{
    std::cout << "#arguments (argc): " << argc << '\n' ;
    for( int i=0 ; i<argc ; ++i )
        std::cout << "argument #" << i << " (argv[" << i << "]): " << argv[i] << '\n' ;
}

Then run the program from the command line with different command lines, look at the output and reason about it. For example, with a program called test, try:

> ./test
> ./test one two three four
> ./test -one -two=2 three,four

Often, a few lines of code which you write and reason about is worth more than reading a thousand words.

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