Want to Learn How to Build Simple Apps

[thatolchestnut]

Wheres a good place to start? Already know few languages, but I really have yet to learn how to utilize mouse input, how to make a dialog box (not in the command line). My goals are as follows:

First create and design a simple dialogue box that displays a response waits then closes.

Second, create and design a dialogue box that has two possible input boxes "Ok" and "cancle" both of which close the program

Third, I would like to learn how to modify the input boxes to what I want them to be ex instead of a square, a circle, or an image.

Fourth, I would like to modify the window itself, display images etc.

Fitfh, I want this simple dialogue box to be able to call programs that I have previously created via user input.


I think those are some fairly significant and good goals for the month. Any tips on accomplishing them? Books, sites, methods, etc? Thanks!

 

[esun]

Do you have Visual Studio? If so, it would be quite easy to do all of those things (and you could code in C++, C#, Basic, or another language even).

 

[thatolchestnut]

Yes I do. Where can I learn to do those things in VS? And would this still be using the same methodology as any other simple app out there?

EX I compile create the executable and then can use it on another computer?

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: thatolchestnut
Yes I do. Where can I learn to do those things in VS? And would this still be using the same methodology as any other simple app out there?

EX I compile create the executable and then can use it on another computer?

Erm, you'd probably want to buy a book or read some sample projects on codeproject or something. I think thats probably all you'd need. I think you can browse by the beginner category in the mfc part.

 

[jbubrisk]

"Microsoft C# Programming for the Absolute Beginner" is a decent book. I got that, and "Learning C#" when I started out a few months ago.

 

[aCynic2]

I'd recommend starting with some testbed type utilities. Learn what peripheral utilities you need across apps. Example: I'm developing a space shooter. I need to make a peripheral program that takes the model's 3D description and, given mass and scale, calculates various physical quantities: volume, density, moment of inertia as a tensor, center of percussion, center of mass, etc. That program needs error reporting. I find myself rewriting the same error reporting subsystem, so I'm making a dll of it. It's a simple system that passes a string to a function that tells where the error occurred, but doesn't say why. That's later.

 

[Techx4]

if you are more interested in just building the simple apps as opposed to learning a complex language i would recommend trying autoit, it is a simple scripting language that is really easy to learn and use but has powerful capabilities and allows you to do all sorts of GUI stuff.. it would take you 10 times the time and know-how to accomplish the same stuff in C++/java

 

[clamum]

Get the free version of Visual Studio, a beginning C# book, and go to town.

 

[SilentZero]

Eclipse IDE (for C++ or Java), a book or two, some online tutorials, and google.