Neophyte Seeking Advice

[super n00b]

Hi, I started my first ever programming course this fall and I discovered I enjoy programming. The introductory C++ class is winding down and the next level class is full. I don't want to get rusty waiting until next semester, and actually want to learn more outside of school. I'm thinking about getting "The C++ Programming Language" by Bjarne Stroustrup and "Workbook for C++" by Yedidya Langsam PHD. Are these good learning/study guides? What do any of you experienced programmers recommend? Also, would any experienced programmers tell me how much time per day minimum I should devote to learning programming so I am able to make use of it over say, about a year's time?

[TheBeardedQuack]

Not sure about the books you mentioned there but I started off programming with "Beginning C++ through Game Programming" by Michael Dawson (I think).

I found it really easy to follow as it explains everything in clear detail, and just in case you still don't understand, it gives almost every new thing you learn an analogy in terms of where it'd be useful in a computer game (because we would all understand that perfectly fine!)

I have never taken any classes in C++ or been tutored, I just read this book for about 3 hours a day and got most of the way through it before I had my first idea of a little test project (encryption program), slowly making it more stable and more useful as I learned more stuff (by now I was also following tutorials on this website, and downloading 3/4 PDFs to read on the bus).


Anyways, good luck (and maybe this could go in the lounge or beginners next time)