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General and Gameplay Programming Programming

Started by Scheermesje August 28, 2002 01:37 PM

13 comments, last by Scheermesje 21 years, 7 months ago

Scheermesje

169

Author

August 28, 2002 01:37 PM

I''m programming for some time now and I''ve learned C++ and Opengl and currently i''m learning Directx.. Only the way I learned C++ was by reading Nehe''s tutorials on opengl and learning C++ on the fly. I don''t think this is a great way and I''m still noticing that things like OO, inheritance and the more advanced stuff are a litle difficult for me. So I went to the bookstore here in town and they had a book on C++ but most of the topics in that were really easie and I understood them very well.. It was a quit expensive book and I don''t want to wast my money on a book where i''m only going to read a few chapters.. So how should I proceed? Just programming and programming and trying to learn everything from experience or do you have a suggestion for a good book that could help me? Thnx for the help

Waverider

169

August 28, 2002 01:43 PM

Maybe you could choose a game to work on and discover what else is necessary to actually complete it? Sometimes practical hands-on experience is one of the best teachers.

It's not what you're taught, it's what you learn.

nmurphy

122

August 28, 2002 01:44 PM

If you really wanna give your brain a good exercise, I''d suggest learning something altogether different (and even slightly useless!). If mastering object orientation is important to you, learning a language that does it all out might be a good idea--I would suggest Smalltalk, the granddaddy of all OO languages. By doing so, you''ll certainly understand these concepts well and be able to apply them quite readily to C++. http://www.smalltalk.org/, or, for something *really* cool, http://www.squeak.org/ - a desktop environment entirely written and based in Smalltalk!

Of course, you should be able to get by just fine without doing anything moderately massochistic like this. =) Just writing code is an excellent idea if learning complete new langauges ain''t yer bag.

NicolasX

108

August 28, 2002 01:46 PM

Even though i think that learning C++ on the fly is an exceptional way to learn (just my opinion) i still think that you need to get some kind of a book for reference, regardless on how many chapters you do or do not read. Because later on you may forget something and you will need a referece to help you remember; b/c its just not practical/possible to ''memorize'' everything in C++. I like The Complete C++ Reference by Shildt as a reference book.

Scheermesje

169

Author

August 28, 2002 01:51 PM

I''m currently working on a game(the penguin game, maybe some of you read about it in another part of the forum

) but I notice that I don''t now some things..

Nehe''s tutorials cover a lot of C++ and by reading other GL and DX tut''s I now my C++ basics quit well

The book C++ the complete reference, I saw some reviews of it but isn''t that book a little old today? It was written 4 years ago.. Is that book still up to date?

NicolasX

108

August 28, 2002 11:09 PM

Yes, I would imagine it is still up to date. Since the book is a book that is based on editions; i would imagine that if it was in fact out of date then Edition Four would be out (and it may be, i don''t know for sure). What i''m saying is, the times have changed but i do not believe the basics of C++ has undergone any drastic changes in the last four years (from the publication date of The Complete Reference: C++, by Shildt).

Those aren''t bugs...they''re added features :-|

Scheermesje

169

Author

August 29, 2002 12:41 AM

I think I will order C++ the complete reference then.. Any other tips?

DerekSaw

243

August 29, 2002 12:52 AM

Some really good books (for me):- The Effective series     Effective C++ 2nd Edition    More Effective C++    Effective STL- Design Pattern- C++ In Action

"after many years of singularity, i'm still searching on the event horizon"

Qw3r7yU10p!

819

August 29, 2002 03:49 AM

effective c++ also gets my vote

also if you look at some of the libraries available and learn how to use them from their documentation you will also learn a lot about c++

specifically boost (boost.org) and the standard template library included with your c++ distribution (whatever flavour it may be). it is well documented on the sgi website. google to it or follow the links in some of the other posters signatures (i really should sort out my own)

it''s hard work though! i''ve been programming for about 6 years and am still learning every day. which is brilliant!

also bjarne stroustrups c++ programming language is fantastic but maybe too in at the deep end (but i''ll encourage you to take the plunge). it''s written in 1997 and isn''t out of date. it''s standard, the base line, de riguer, the gospel, the horses mouth, you get the idea.

peace

SabreMan

504

August 29, 2002 04:28 AM

quote:Original post by NicolasX
I like The Complete C++ Reference by Shildt as a reference book.

Schildt has been largely discredited as an authority on either C or C++ by the respective communities. Google for "Bullschildt". The books that DerekSaw recommended, OTOH, are written by well-respected C++ authorities.

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