"Christine" <c.*******@sbcNOSPAMglobal.net> wrote in message
news:KG***************@newssvr22.news.prodigy.com. ..
I am looking for some good C/C++ tutorials either online or in book form.
I am using Dev C/C++ 4 (from www.bloodshed.net) and I am using WindowsXP
operating system. I don't have the money for MS Visual C++ at this point.
Can anyone tell me if I have a good compiler/IDE? I don't plan on doing
anything huge.
Using tutorials, I have already written a few very basic programs and a
game using SDL library(from www.libsdl.org) and I understand how they work.
Any suggestions for other libraries I might try using?
It would really help me out if someone(s) could volunteer the story of how
they learned...I'm trying to do it on my own and I am frequently a bit
lost as to what to do next. Any advice would be a big help!
Christine
Try a search on Google "IDE compiler C++ free", you will find at least a
dozen free C++ compilers.
Get a good STL library and place it in the library path of your chosen IDE.
Do another search "C++ class libraries free" , you find a large collection
of C++ class libraries already
written for various domains.
As for learning C++, get one or two tutorial books on C++, beginner or
intermediate level
and read it together with a good updated C++ Standard Library reference.
Beware of free C or C++ tutorials on the net, mostly written by students or
hobbyists. May not be always accurate.
For a free book, try "Thinking in C++" by Bruce, I have not personally used
it, but heard very good
reviews from professional users. This book is a bit verbose.
Read the tutorial , references, try typing in the code fragments, run them ,
modify them and try include
them in your programs. Do some exercises at the end of the chapters, just to
test your grasp of the content.
Read others programs , code where your interest lies like games or graphics
etc.
After you have become confident of the core language and libraries, look at
the applications other have written.
Search "Open Source C++ projects" or look at Sourceforge where lots of
applications and program are hosted by
programmers, developers and enthusiasts. You can download and use their apps
or participate to help develop them.
Regards,
Govindan