&!*% it I'm going to learn C++

[Cogman]

I like Dev C++ as well.

Cogman's concerns are well taken, however.

I think the last major release was in something like '04, 6 years ago. Back in the day, I used Dev C++, however, its been a long time now since it was a viable alternative. Now, it is very dead.

 

[tvdang7]

i use it as well. it runs on my usb just fine. My class recommends it for noobies like us. But sopposedly there are better ones out there.

 

[Kirby]

The problem with things like Visual xxx based products is they have you doing a lot of things that have nothing to do with learning the language. You don't need to manage projects or worry about settings or quirks of an ide to learn a language. All of that is just time wasted when you could be learning the language itself rather than learning an ide.

I agree with above, get DEVC++. 10MB download and is very easy to use.
http://www.bloodshed.net/dev/devcpp.html

It's not that bad. New project, type in the name, add a .cpp, and make sure precompiled headers are off. Then just go at it. Build and run. No problem.

 

[Modelworks]

Do NOT get Dev-C++. Under no circumstances should this ever be recommended as an IDE. For 3 major reasons

1. It is not being actively developed
2. It has lots of bugs that I've personally ran into, ranging from stability issues to "mess up your project" type bugs.. Very annoying.
3. It is using, by default, a very old version of gcc. With all the bugs and holes that come along with that.

For learning c++ it is more than adequate and very beginner friendly. Any bugs in GCC 3.4.2 are unlikely to show up with beginner type code.

I have never encountered 'mess up your project type bugs' and I have used it for USB driver development.

If the older version of GCC is a problem for the user they can download the newest version of GCC . It would be good for new users to do this so they can understand where an IDE starts and the compiler begins. I have encountered people that think Visual Studio is the only way to write applications in windows, they don't understand the separation of the compiler from the IDE but consider it all one application.

 

[Engineer]

Deitels books are among the best. My professors taught C++ from them, and when I taught C++ myself for 2 semesters, I taught from it.

Sorry to jump into this thread but didn't see the need to start a new one (unless the OP wants me to get off of his lawn, lol). I notice that there are 7 editions of this book, each one going up progressively in price, naturally. Would I need the latest (7th) or would an older, cheaper edition suffice?

The reason that I'm asking is that I need to learn C++ to further my career but need to do it on the cheap as I'm laid off starting March 5th. I see many Controls Engineering positions requiring C++, Visual C (C++) and Visual Basic. I have programmed in C but it's been 16 years since I really used the language and I'm sure that changes are massive since then. As for the visual series, I've done nothing. I loaded up Visual Basic and Visual C++ 2008 and just opening them up left me with a blank stare (not surprising considering how long it had been since I've programmed in anything and the newness of this all).

Any other hints for a near C++ (visual too) noob are appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Modelworks]

VTC has a lot of online videos for learning. I see courses for C, C++, Visual Basic, Visual C# and more. For $30 you get full access to everything on the site for 1 month, no commitments or having to pay for a yearly subscription. And they have a ton of subjects. Very hard to beat.
http://www.vtc.com

 

[Engineer]

VTC has a lot of online videos for learning. I see courses for C, C++, Visual Basic, Visual C# and more. For $30 you get full access to everything on the site for 1 month, no commitments or having to pay for a yearly subscription. And they have a ton of subjects. Very hard to beat.
http://www.vtc.com

Thanks for that. I know that part of my getting laid off, I might be eligible for paid training because my company essentially offshored my job. I'll check to see if the training office will count this as it will be "new" for my possible future job.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Given your field/experience, my thoughts would be that learning VB or C++ would be a better benefit than trying the VC# route.

 

[Engineer]

Given your field/experience, my thoughts would be that learning VB or C++ would be a better benefit than trying the VC# route.

Yes, I think so too. About Visual C++ (that's what I downloaded)?

I've found a good primer tutorial online and am going through it to try to refresh my C skills as well as start building C++ skills. I really do need to play with VB though as it might be more in demand than even the C++.

 

[Tristicus]

I just looked at Dietel's latest book (the 2009 edition of C++), and it's near $100. Is it cheaper anywhere else? I have C++ for Dummies, but I'm afraid I don't like it that much and don't know if I'll stick with it...is it even worth it?

 

[Markbnj]

I just looked at Dietel's latest book (the 2009 edition of C++), and it's near $100. Is it cheaper anywhere else? I have C++ for Dummies, but I'm afraid I don't like it that much and don't know if I'll stick with it...is it even worth it?

I don't know why on earth anyone would pay that kind of money for a programming book these days. Everything you need to know is online.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I don't know why on earth anyone would pay that kind of money for a programming book these days. Everything you need to know is online.

Pretty much. I actually bought a few books at one point, but it's so much easier to search or ask for something on a forum then try to find it in a book. Though google searching for code related help can be frustrating sometimes. Hard to find something when you don't know exactly what you need, to do something specific. Ex if you don't know the function name or something.

Though a book is good if you want to learn a whole set of new concepts, or learn from scratch then you can start at page 1 and read the whole book. I did that with a php book and it helped me learn lot of new stuff.

 

[Engineer]

I found this tutorial online and really like it (nice and easy and exercises too).

 

[Tristicus]

Well I had started using this, http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial/lesson1.html and after the first 20 lessons or so (earlier, but) I started to experiment with variations of the tutorials it told me, and was actually interested. But not sure if they had more, and fell off it for a while...I'm probably just not motivated enough.