I'm in my second year of college and majoring in computer science. I'm going to load up and finish all my math requirements in th coming year before I start to tackle some real programming. I've done a considerable amount of VB and HTML but thats about it. I really want to pick up and book and try to learn a language on my own while filling my math requirements throughout the year! Do you guys have any suggestions as to what Language I should learn and book to go along with it? I don't what it is...it can be assembler,C, C++, or anything you can think of. I just think I can learn stuff on my own better than what school offers sometimes. Thanks guys I need your help I'm kinda lost right now... Edited by - akcor on March 7, 2001 12:45:32 PM

Since you obviously have a understanding of programming, go to your school''s library and pickup a book on C++

"I''m a decorated astronaut, I don''t make those kind of mistakes."
"Oh now wait a minute. Look I''ll show ya. I''ll enter the same calculations using what we like to call ''The Right Way''."

-Rem
"

Ok cool thank you! So C++ won''t be too advanced for me to pick up if the book has beginners in mind?

It depends. It could be hard for you or it could be easy. It all depends on how much you want to learn it, and the book plays a good part too. You just need to stick with it.

Like you said, you should get a book with "Beginner" or something equivelant to that in the title. Don't get something that says "Advanced C++ Programming" or something for your first book. Your asking for trouble


"I'm a decorated astronaut, I don't make those kind of mistakes."
"Oh now wait a minute. Look I'll show ya. I'll enter the same calculations using what we like to call 'The Right Way'."

-Rem

Edited by - Remnex on March 7, 2001 2:33:40 PM

Another suggestion...since your learning it on your own, try Java. Java has removed alot of the difficulties/advancedness in C++ that give beginners problems, but is still a good language to learn OO programming techniques. I am guessing you are here because you want to do game programming, so Java isn''t going to be your best choice for that venture. After learning Java and OO, move to C, and from here learn C++. I would definitely get a book on good OO programming techniques and good programming style, too, in addition to any book you pick up for whatever language you decide to go with.

IMHO

OctDev

I disagree with learning Java. I have programmed in C/C++ for many years and find Java a pain in the rear. OOP is a good thing, but Java takes it to an unhealthy and sometimes ludicrous extreme. Yes, objects are everywhere, but you still need procedures to use them.

Take a lamp for example. The lamp is an object. However, to turn it on, you must use an unassociated procedure of turning the switch or pulling the cord. This action is NOT part of the lamp object, but to implement it in Java - it has to be. Just dont make sense to me.

I recommend learning good ol'' C then tacking on the C++ stuff later.

The Learn in 21 days books are OK to start, but I recommend the Waite Group''s books -
C Primer Plus
Object Oriented Programming in C++

My 2 cents...
Landsknecht

I think beginners should use OOP-oriented languages like Java and C++ first. Actually, Java is probably an even better learning platform than C++. You''d get to learn all of the fundamentals, but you wouldn''t have to learn the lower-level stuff like memory management. Of course, that doesn''t mean that low-level is bad. When writing general-purpose, modular code, OOP is your best friend. But if you''re writing a piece of code that''s very specific and needs to be fast, C and assembly are always the best choice (especially assembly--although in limited amounts--since it will allow you to use features of brand-new processors without having to wait for a new compiler to use them for you). Ideally, most projects shouldn''t limit themselves to a single language.

Er, I''m rambling. IMHO, Java is the absolute best learning platform. You can use it to write console applications, GUI applications, and even OpenGL-accelerated 3D games, via the use of a plug-in. Beautiful.