[cfoley]

Hey guys and gals. I love coding and learning to be a better programmer. I've spent the last few years learning about OO design, testing, usability, etc. All in Java. I still have a lot to learn about all these but my biggest shortcoming is that I've ignored other languages for the last 9 years.

So, I need a working knowledge of a few more. First up is C++. Because I want my fingers in so many programming pies, I can't take an exhaustive approach to learning, in particular I don't want to take the time to work my way through a book.

I've armed myself with the DIC C++ reference sheet. I've skimmed through an article pointing out the major differences between Java and C++ and now I want to work through my checklist (in no particular order):

1. Get a compiler and IDE.
2. Get comfortable with pointers, references and "string" manipulation.
4. memory management
3. Become familiar with standard libraries used in C++.
4. File handling.
5. GUIs.
6. Obscure pitfalls for a Java programmer.
7. Multiple inheritance.
8. Multithreading equivalents in C++.
9. Coding conventions, good and bad practices.

First up, have I missed anything important?

I'll be working through the DIC tutorials and snippets (and the sticky in this forum) but if you have any links to cool tutorials then please share. Even better, if you could share some perls of wisdom on the above in this thread then I'll be forever in your debt.

My first port of call is a compiler and IDE. There are lists of these everywhere but I'd love a recommendation. I need it to be free (free speech is cool but I mean "as in beer") and I also would like it to be in common use in industry. I'm not interested in an IDE well-suited to beginners. I'd rather be thrown in at the deep end. For Java, I usually use Eclipse and like using NetBeans occasionally.

Thanks for reading!

[Notorion]

IDE, hmm I like linux's g++,
Microsoft's visual studio is fairly common for a starter (Windows Machine, obviously). It does have a decent debugger in my opinion.
I do know of a free windows IDE which is Bloodshed C++.

All of these are fairly common, so take your pick.

This post has been edited by Notorion: 17 April 2009 - 01:31 PM

[cfoley]

Thanks. I'm on Windows at the moment so I'll check those out.

I just had a thought. Eclipse can be used for C/C++. Does anyone have any experience of that?

[janotte]

cfoley, on 17 Apr, 2009 - 05:07 PM, said:

I just had a thought. Eclipse can be used for C/C++. Does anyone have any experience of that?

Yes I've given it a try.

Far better than junk like TurboC++ and DevC++ IMO but not without it's flaws and quirks.

The main advantage is that if you master it you can take it to any platform you like.

[cfoley]

Thanks.

Since you mentioned them, how would you rate TurboC++ and DevC++? Are they used much in industry?

[janotte]

cfoley, on 17 Apr, 2009 - 11:54 PM, said:

Thanks.
Since you mentioned them, how would you rate TurboC++ and DevC++? Are they used much in industry?

Personally I would rate them as junk that I would never recommend anyone using.

But I don't develop C/C++ in the Windows world so I would bow to the superior opinion of anyone here who has.

The couple of pro C/C++ Windows based developers I have asked about their tools use Visual Studio.
Not cheap but worth the investment if it's the tool for making your income, so I am told.

This post has been edited by janotte: 18 April 2009 - 01:19 AM

[cfoley]

Quote

Personally I would rate them as junk that I would never recommend anyone using.

That's a very useful opinion. Thanks.

IIRC MS do free versions of old or light Visual Studios. I might dig up one of them later but for now I'll try Eclipse.