What should I start with? [help needed]
Hi everyone!
I want to start learning C++ and don't know what to start with. I have some VERY limited programming knowledge, and I want to advance to the point where I can create my own piece of software.
Ideally, I want to make an application that is able to take in a .las point cloud and do operations on it.
Now, for my question, C++ looks really scary to learn, especially due to the HUGE amount of things it can do and I don't have time (for now) to learn it all - What should I learn to get me as quick as possible (without compromising quality) to the point of making my own software.
I hope I'm making myself understood, feel free to ask for details.
*my initial idea was to learn first how to create a library that can read/write .las and work further from there
I want to start learning C++ and don't know what to start with. I have some VERY limited programming knowledge, and I want to advance to the point where I can create my own piece of software.
Ideally, I want to make an application that is able to take in a .las point cloud and do operations on it.
Now, for my question, C++ looks really scary to learn, especially due to the HUGE amount of things it can do and I don't have time (for now) to learn it all - What should I learn to get me as quick as possible (without compromising quality) to the point of making my own software.
I hope I'm making myself understood, feel free to ask for details.
*my initial idea was to learn first how to create a library that can read/write .las and work further from there
> What should I learn to get me as quick as possible (without compromising quality) to the point of making my own software.
The discussion in this thread would be relevant: http://www.cplusplus.com/forum/lounge/183836/
Either of the two books that Cubbi mentions would be a good choice:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0321992784/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0321714113/
The discussion in this thread would be relevant: http://www.cplusplus.com/forum/lounge/183836/
Either of the two books that Cubbi mentions would be a good choice:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0321992784/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0321714113/
Thanks for your input!
Those books look intimidating...
Also, any idea where I can find a list of interesting project ideas to work on while studying the language? Just reading and making short exercises will get me bored in 2 hours.
edit: I got the C++ primer and started on it
Those books look intimidating...
Also, any idea where I can find a list of interesting project ideas to work on while studying the language? Just reading and making short exercises will get me bored in 2 hours.
edit: I got the C++ primer and started on it
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Yes C++ can be pretty scary.
Why don't you consider learning C# or Java or Python instead.
The learning would be much easier and there are better learning resources available.
IMO it's not a good idea to start with the most difficult programming language.
Why don't you consider learning C# or Java or Python instead.
The learning would be much easier and there are better learning resources available.
IMO it's not a good idea to start with the most difficult programming language.
@Thomas1965
Absolutely disagree. Never ever have I seen a valid argument that says “to learn language X you must first learn language Y.”
If you want to learn C++, learn C++.
Further, while C++ can get very scary indeed, I would still be disinclined to characterize it as “the most difficult programming language.”
Absolutely disagree. Never ever have I seen a valid argument that says “to learn language X you must first learn language Y.”
If you want to learn C++, learn C++.
Further, while C++ can get very scary indeed, I would still be disinclined to characterize it as “the most difficult programming language.”
closed account (1vRz3TCk)
PluralSight is a good resource, not exactly cheap but may be worth a look.
https://www.pluralsight.com/paths/c-plus-plus
https://www.pluralsight.com/paths/c-plus-plus
closed account (1vf9z8AR)
Believe me if you study indian books which push you more than your capability then things will be easier for you later.
https://www.amazon.in/Computer-Science-C-Class-XI/dp/817700025X/ref=sr_1_2/258-6121312-2119608?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508421391&sr=1-2&refinements=p_27%3ASumita+Arora
https://www.amazon.in/Computer-Science-Concepts-Handling-Structures/dp/8177000241/ref=sr_1_3/258-6121312-2119608?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508421391&sr=1-3&refinements=p_27%3ASumita+Arora
read every single line.
An doubts that you get can be solved online.
https://www.amazon.in/Computer-Science-C-Class-XI/dp/817700025X/ref=sr_1_2/258-6121312-2119608?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508421391&sr=1-2&refinements=p_27%3ASumita+Arora
https://www.amazon.in/Computer-Science-Concepts-Handling-Structures/dp/8177000241/ref=sr_1_3/258-6121312-2119608?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508421391&sr=1-3&refinements=p_27%3ASumita+Arora
read every single line.
An doubts that you get can be solved online.
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| Believe me if you study indian books which push you more than your capability then things will be easier for you later. |
No, just no. Most people that post aberrations here like using conio, bgi (i.e: "graphics.h") and abusing the "system" function seem to have learned them from school/college/ textbooks/professors/teachers, plus they are also mostly from India. So I'd rather recommend to avoid any-kind of textbook, especially Indian (no offense, but that's the truth).
If you want to learn, do it right. Would you rather learn from the creator of the language or someone that has proved his worth in this domain, and more importantly, writes/has written production code or from some school teacher that has only written code on paper and doesn't actually know the language he's talking about? The choice seems obvious.
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Stay with C++ Primer (5th Edition); it is a good choice.
Avoid popular text books which are commonly prescribed; Indian text books are just as bad as the offerings which are popular amongst career teachers in the US; the only saving grace is that since you didn't have to pay the earth for a bad book, it is psychologically easier to do the right thing: throw it away.
Somewhat dated, these were the prices a few years ago: http://www.cplusplus.com/forum/lounge/123484/#msg672436
Avoid popular text books which are commonly prescribed; Indian text books are just as bad as the offerings which are popular amongst career teachers in the US; the only saving grace is that since you didn't have to pay the earth for a bad book, it is psychologically easier to do the right thing: throw it away.
Somewhat dated, these were the prices a few years ago: http://www.cplusplus.com/forum/lounge/123484/#msg672436
Last edited on
| Believe me if you study indian books which push you more than your capability then things will be easier for you later. |
Interestingly enough, that first amazon link has a review which contains images of the table of contents. The first 5 chapters have very little to do with programming, and the 6th chapter has such gems as:
Why include iostream.h? |
It does appear to devote 5 whole pages to C++11, so at least there's that!
I would definitely not recommend this book.
closed account (1vf9z8AR)
Everything that i study will go waste now????
nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
> Everything that i study will go waste now????
Everything won't go waste. But you may end up having to unlearn some of the things that you had learnt.
Though unlearning something wrong is more difficult than learning it right in the first place, you would have plenty of company; almost everyone who has been taught by a career teacher in a class room. Fortunately, his is quite well understood by the industry; unlike in medical education, programming is mostly taught by people who never had to program for a living. Software set ups do invest quite a lot in teaching programming to fresh recruits just out of college.
Everything won't go waste. But you may end up having to unlearn some of the things that you had learnt.
Though unlearning something wrong is more difficult than learning it right in the first place, you would have plenty of company; almost everyone who has been taught by a career teacher in a class room. Fortunately, his is quite well understood by the industry; unlike in medical education, programming is mostly taught by people who never had to program for a living. Software set ups do invest quite a lot in teaching programming to fresh recruits just out of college.
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