Beginner questions
Author
Hails to all,
Hello. I am a beginner to game development and a (what I like to call) "halfling". Halfling meaning that I know enough programming to code a little bit but not enough to really get going.
I have lots of questions but I am only going to ask a few here in this post. I can code in BASIC, HTML, a small bit of Perl and PHP, and a small bit of C++. I have already decided that I want to learn C or C++ for game programing but I keep getting conflicting opinions on the matter of something. I bought the book "Jamsa''s C/C++/C# Programmer''s Bible" (large book!) and I have only begun to read it.
It is good so far except for one thing, the author begins by using C and then builds up to C++ and then to C# but he never stops using C to code. So I am confused, is C better than C++ to code in overall or is there even a difference in performance?
My other question is about compilers. I am using Dev-C++ as a compiler and I was wondering what the difference of its libraries are compared to other compilers.
Thanks in advance to any replies. Cheers!
☼ Landulf ☼
"We have such sights to show you..." -Pinhead
There are some conflicting views on C/C++ but I think most agree that it is better to learn C and then C++. Thats why it probably starts with C. C is pretty good for over all functional use. C++ however allows you to take advantage of OOP and it has some other perks as well. Im not very familiar with C++ so I cant tell you too much about it.
The Dev-C++ compiler is probly the nicest free compiler. The free borland one is perhaps better but I dont think you can get it for free in a GUI.
The Dev-C++ compiler is probly the nicest free compiler. The free borland one is perhaps better but I dont think you can get it for free in a GUI.
I would guess that around 90% of people would advise you to learn C++ if you are serious about getting into the industry, learning C first will make learning C++ easier, theres loads of tutorials for the beginner C/C++ programmer to get started with floating around the web.
[edited by - Spudder on March 1, 2003 4:22:16 PM]
[edited by - Spudder on March 1, 2003 4:22:16 PM]
Author
Hmmm... interesting. I don''t think that I need a tutorial though because I am satisfied with the book that I bought.
I still don''t know what the differences in libraries are.
Landulf
"We have such sights to show you..." -Pinhead
I still don''t know what the differences in libraries are.
Landulf
"We have such sights to show you..." -Pinhead
Definately learn C and C++ since most coders use a combination of both in most of their coding. It will make reading examples much easier to figure out.
GRELLIN
~CGP~
GRELLIN
~CGP~
As far as I can tell, dev c++ and other compilers give pretty much the same end result, however dev c++ seems to cause problems with ini files for me. Dev c++ is actually just an IDE for g++ (GNU C++), so technically it doesn''t have libraries.
-~-The Cow of Darkness-~-
-~-The Cow of Darkness-~-
The C programming language is a good language. In fact, that is what windows is created in. But we all think in terms of objects. When we see a chair, we know we sit in it and it will hold us up. C++ is the same way. Everything coded in c++ revolves around objects; that is why it is called OOP (Object Oriented Programming). The closest thing C has to compare with C++ is its structures which basically organizes your code.
As for your compiler, I would advise you get the student edition of visual c++. The main reason I say this is its ability to link to other libraries. I used to use those free compilers and they would work for the most part, but when it came down to using direct X or OpenGL, it is much easier to use visual c++. The way I did this, I bought "The complete C++ training course" by Deitel & Deitel. It comes with the compiler and a cyber classroom. The book is very difinitive as well. It''s your decision though and i''m sure the book you have is fine. Good luck man.
Koolboarder 007
As for your compiler, I would advise you get the student edition of visual c++. The main reason I say this is its ability to link to other libraries. I used to use those free compilers and they would work for the most part, but when it came down to using direct X or OpenGL, it is much easier to use visual c++. The way I did this, I bought "The complete C++ training course" by Deitel & Deitel. It comes with the compiler and a cyber classroom. The book is very difinitive as well. It''s your decision though and i''m sure the book you have is fine. Good luck man.
Koolboarder 007
C++ includes all the C libraries, plus the "C++ Standard Library". It has lots of extra useful stuff like storage class templates and streams and string classes and stuff.
I really don''t see why so many people treat knowledge of C as a prerequisite to learning C++. It is true that C++ contains some more advanced constructs that beginners would likely struggle with, but this is a non-issue as these would not be a topic for a beginner learning pure C++. I think that C++ contains some valuable facilities that would likely help a beginner, and superior abstractions that are likely to make your life easier - C++ STL strings vs. null-terminated char array C strings, for instance. I agree that a C++ programmer should learn about these topics, but I don''t agree that it''s necessary (or even preferable) to do so first.
Well in his case he has a book on both so it doesnt matter. I know not all programs are like this, but many programs that i''ve seen that use C++ are mostly C. A lot of coders will do most of there work in C and then when they need the perks from C++ they just put it in as needed. So for most of the works ive seen C is used more, but I dont guess ive seen very many of them so I could be wrong. I know some C++, but I do mostly C so I find it easier to do most of my work in C and then use C++ as I need to. I wonder how people who learn C++ first and then C see it though.
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