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Time to learn C++... any suggestions?

F

Fides

Member
Arite... So after much debate, ive decided to go with learning C++. I got Visual C++ 6.0 a week ago or so, and now I gotta decide how im gonna tackle the sucker. Can anyone here suggest any good books (preferably cheap) that theyve used before? Any help would be appreciated.
 
Visual C++ can be quite different from C++. Obviously you can choose a small console app to try and get as close to pure ANSI C++ as Visual C++ will let you get, but chances are there's going to be differences (I could be wrong, it's been a while since I tried doing pure C++ with Visual C++, usually I use Borland).

If you want to learn Visual C++, and therefore C++ along with it, I would suggest one of the Wrox books on visual C++. Usually they are quite good, and they will teach you the interface of visual c++ and not just what to do with the language. They will also cover how to write different little windows applications and the events involved, etc.

Hopefully that helps a little, I'm a tad tired, so what I just said may be a bit off. 🙂
 
If you don't want to spend money to buy the book, you can always go on GOOGLE and search for C++ tutorial.

All the introduction is about the same.

They teach you how to make a "Hello World" program first, and then teach how to do "if else" statement, then it goes to "looping" methods.

A good reference book is always good though.
 
Stroustrup's text is NOT good for beginners, although it's a strong, very comprehensive treatment of ISO Standard C++. I never liked Dietel & Dietel, but it's been too long for me to offer an opinion. Neither text is low-priced.

If money is an issue, then download Thinking in C++ freely:
http://www.mindview.net/Books/TICPP/ThinkingInCPP2e.html

It happens to be pretty well regarded.
 
I think the Wrox book IS by Ivor Horton... and yes, he is usually considered to be quite good when it comes to books on Visual C++. You can probably find a review of the book on Amazon as well.

The book, "Beginning Visual C++ 6" is $34.99 US from Amazon.com. I dunno if that's in your budget or not.

I think it's also important to take a minute to decide what you're trying to learn. Do you have previous programming experience? Do you need a beginners book? Obviously you're working with Windows if you're using Visual C++. Do you intend to write Windows applications? Do you want to learn just C++, or do you want to learn the windows related aspects of Visual C++ as well?

There's a ton of material out there, and the book I've mentioned gives you the basics of the Visual C++ IDE, an overview of C++ (if I recall correctly), and guides you through using Visual C++ to write windows applications. There isn't alot of straight C++ information in this book. If you want to learn how to write classes, how inheritance works, or what the heck a pointer is, then you should probably pick up one of the books the other people have mentioned, or try for a free online primer.
 
Well I think you should go with manly's advice, read "Thinking in C++" 's online version.... pratice a bit using your Visual C++!

Get to know to know C++, after try reading "Using the STL..." it's a good book for the Standard Template Library!

After you're done with that, learn a bit about the Win32 API and MFC.

Check out Relisoft's site for a good introduction to C++ and Win32 (no MFC)!

BTW, like Glitchny states "Accelerated C++" is a good book to get you using C++ very fast!
 
I've found Practical Visual C++ 6 published by Que to a very practical intro to windows programming with vc++. That's not the same thing as C++ in general though, and I used the Deitel book C++ how to program to do that at about the same time.
 
Deitel and Deitel's 2nd edition was better than the 4th =P. Also, don't learn java first, if you want to learn something first learn C first. Java takes a lot of things in c++ for granted, like

pointers and not having to manager your memory the same. I'd suggest the deitel and deitel "C How to Program" book. It devotes the first 3rd or so of the book to the c language (which is

very similar to c++ and java). The rest of the book goes into classes and object oriented programming (the ++ part of c++) and then talks about java as well. I think that is the best bet,

and if you learn c++, then java is really easy which is not necessarily true the other way around. I know a lot of people who have no problem with java, but can't seem to grasp pointers. I've
picked up java on my own very easily just because I've spent so much time with c++ over the past two semesters.

 
The Dietel books are good and comprehensive but difficult for a beginner because they are so detailed....

"Complete Idiots Guide to C++" (no joke) is one of the better "easier" books for total beginners and would be a good starting point.

I have one to sell cheap. PM me if interested.
 
Originally posted by: bigshooter
Deitel and Deitel's 2nd edition was better than the 4th =P. Also, don't learn java first, if you want to learn something first learn C first. Java takes a lot of things in c++ for granted, like

pointers and not having to manager your memory the same. I'd suggest the deitel and deitel "C How to Program" book. It devotes the first 3rd or so of the book to the c language (which is

very similar to c++ and java). The rest of the book goes into classes and object oriented programming (the ++ part of c++) and then talks about java as well. I think that is the best bet,

and if you learn c++, then java is really easy which is not necessarily true the other way around. I know a lot of people who have no problem with java, but can't seem to grasp pointers. I've
picked up java on my own very easily just because I've spent so much time with c++ over the past two semesters.
Click to expand...

exactly. Learn C++ first. And stay away from the visual aspects at first if possible.
 
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