Being a comp-sci undergraduate, with a firm grasp of Java, I thought C++ would be relatively easy to pick up. I went through a big beginner''s C++ book in a few days and find command line compilers easy to use. But Visual Basic seems to be a whole nother story. I can''t even get the standard string class to work (despite the suggestions in my other post). What do I do? Do I buy a book on Visual C++, get another one on C++? Use a different compiler? Do a course, what? And my Visual C++ is minus the MSDN, which makes it hard. Everyone says it''s available online, but when I go to msdn.microsoft.com, It seems like a collection of semi-related, advanced material and no simple help or Java-like API. Surely this is not what the user gets when they press ''F1'' in Visual C++! Can''t I download that somehow? My goal is a Tetris-like game (as the game dev path suggests) - but that seems A LONG way off at the moment. It''s not the language that I''m having trouble with, it''s easy when I can find the resourses. But it''s just so confusing when the simplest little program doesn''t work (see my post r.e. strings), when it should work, and it does work fine in Borland''s command line compiler (plus much, much, much more complex stuff than that). What do I do here?

wombatvvv:

I added a post to your previous thread which should clear up the problem. I agree with you that the web version of MSDN is hard to use, but stick with it, you can find everying you need to when you figure out the system.

As for books, I would recommend a couple:

General - Herbert Schildt''s C++: The Complete Reference (This is where I found the solution to your problem. It''s very handy.)

For Windows programming - Charles Petzold''s Programming Windows, 5th edition (more Windows programming info than the next 5 books put together.)

You should also pick up a good intro book. There are quite a few, so you probably can''t go wrong.

Also, if you have access to a linux/unix/bsd box, I would recommend using gcc/g++. I use it for quick prototyping, as the command line interface makes it much easier to do testing than the VC++ IDE.

John.

Kinda like me, I downloaded MSVC++ 6.0 and the MSDN collection doesn''t exist either...

Yeah rite Furion, yu didn't DL M$VC++ 6! That thing costs like 800 $$$. Wake up and smell the dog shit. Geez. Why don't yu actually du the world sum good and stop tryin tu act like a god-dam lier! geez.

[edited by - Fucho on August 20, 2002 4:22:16 PM]

Just ask around for MSDN, Most programmers have plenty at home as they get them on a subscription.

As for books, be careful: the Petzold rules for Win32 programming

for MFC type stuff get Programming Windows with MFC by Jeff Prosise

MSDN is too big to download

For 2d games save yourself the heart ache and get the cdxlib''s from www.cdxlib.com

Just ask around for MSDN, Most programmers have plenty at home as they get them on a subscription.

As for books, be careful: the Petzold rules for Win32 programming

for MFC type stuff get Programming Windows with MFC by Jeff Prosise

MSDN is too big to download

For 2d games save yourself the heart ache and get the cdxlib''s from www.cdxlib.com

for some excellent free books go to www.bruceeckel.com and download the books "thinking in c++" vol1 and 2

Wow, thanks for the link to those books, they''re great!

Wow, thanks for the link to those books, they''re great!

Fucho,

There are versions of VS6.0 on the internet for downloading. Ever hear of warez? Yes, 800 dollar program, which means what? I''m sure there is a Maya warez version out there as well.




and Furion, heh, what do you expect? :~ Not sure why you don''t buy an educational version of MSVC++ 6.0 ( standard/pro ) they are very cheap now that .NET is out.

quote: Original post by David_K
There are versions of VS6.0 on the internet for downloading. Ever hear of warez?

Yes, but we don't talk about warez around here. Let's see how you like it when you eventually get a job, and someone else starts stealing the results of your hard work. There is no excuse for stealing something which can be legitimately obtained for free. What's really incredible is that someone should steal a product and then complain that the documentation isn't present!

[edited by - SabreMan on August 21, 2002 5:25:01 AM]