Hey guys, I am pretty much stuck and not sure about the keywords to use for searching in google. Also I find that I am constantly having this problem. When I go to create an application I get stuck on how to implement something. A good example is that I am trying to learn java again. I have picked my first big project as building an irc client. So since that is my first project how should I start. Where would I go for information? Also in this question I am looking for more than just the answer. I am looking for a this is how we normally do it with all applications that we have unknown parts. I hope that was clear. If not let me know and I will be happy to try and explain further.

I have asked around at other places and have not really gotten a straight answer. I tried looking at the RFC but that really made no sense as this is how you implement this part, Or this interacts with this like so. Course I know the problem is with me thus the reason I am asking for help.

This post has been edited by jstephens: 28 Apr, 2009 - 08:55 AM

If you are interested in Java you could check out this link. It has everything in the Java libraries.

http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/api/index.html

You can also check out the resources pages on the languages in the forums for a specific language.

My recommendation would be posting your specific questions here on </dream.in.code> in the specific programming forum - we have some members that probably worked ok similar tasks. Another great resource for information is the official Java web site (as already mentioned). Books can be great reference guides since many programming elements presented there can be reused in your applications.

Thanks guys. That helps. So I know I keep bringing up this word. But does anyone have any advice on how to decipher an RFC. Those things are not easy reads. I have downloaded one of them for implementation (RFC for IRC) and I am just glancing over that and thinkning to my self, this might as well be in a foreign language. . Again I really appreciate the response guys.

Just read usenet archives (>20 years, absolutely everything has been answered)

RFCs are notoriously... dense and exceedingly technical. When looking for examples of code I look on

www.codeproject.com
msdn.microsoft.com
sourceforge.net

just beware that codeproject and sourceforge contain GPL code and you have to follow the license guidelines.

As to how to start, make lists of features, lists of functions, draw diagrams of class interactions and data flow. review and revise until you have it all worked out, then start coding.

It is very difficult to just sit down and start coding a large project.

Java API
MSDN
cplusplus.com

so on and so forth

Perhaps a book if i have a copy of it.

Thanks guys. Both of your replies are a big help. I think that has been my major problem. Is that I just start trying to code it with out putting much thought into what I am truly wanting.

Yeah, I tend to do that as well. Which is why all of my projects are either small, one day things, or die instantly (I was planning on writing my own language at one point, I wrote a notecard with the name of it and quit there ).