Is this a good idea or not?
Right now I have been programming in C++ for 2 weeks im getting the hand of classes and pointers havent done lists that much yet. Is it a good idea to jump to OpenGL or wait for a while?
Thx
Jeff
Since OpenGL doesn''t need especially the use of C++ you can go head ahead. This way, you will learn C++ and OpenGL which is easy is you begin slowly with the simple functions.
Good Luck
Good Luck
I dissagree, two weeks is not a long time to get a grip on C++, that stuff takes a while. It is very important to get a good grip on your base language before you start messing with other APIs. Take anouther few weeks/months to really have a good solid grip on C++ before you jump into OpenGL.
The people are right that you do not need to know C++ to use OpenGL, but at the same time it is very important to know how to properly design a game or any type of program correctly. OO programming has many tricks to it and takes a very long time to master. I have been programming professionally using C++ and OpenGL for over a year and I am still learning how to make my C++ and design better by using templates and other features that C++ can give you. Once you really have a good grasp on how to program well in C or C++ it makes picking up an API such as OpenGL or Direct X that much easier. So my advice is to hold off on OpenGL for a little while longer and then go for it.
Have fun what ever your decision :-P
Roach
The people are right that you do not need to know C++ to use OpenGL, but at the same time it is very important to know how to properly design a game or any type of program correctly. OO programming has many tricks to it and takes a very long time to master. I have been programming professionally using C++ and OpenGL for over a year and I am still learning how to make my C++ and design better by using templates and other features that C++ can give you. Once you really have a good grasp on how to program well in C or C++ it makes picking up an API such as OpenGL or Direct X that much easier. So my advice is to hold off on OpenGL for a little while longer and then go for it.
Have fun what ever your decision :-P
Roach
What Roach said.
Most of the bugs I make are because I messed up using C++. When I''m messing around with dynamically allocated pointers and the such, it''s handy to know what I''m doing...
Plus, when you do get into OpenGL, your life will be much easier, trust me. You''ll have a broader range of knowledge on how to handle different tasks.
In addition, doing some things in OpenGL requires quite a good knowledge of your programming language (Loading and storing a game world, for starters), and you''d be stuck if you weren''t at that level yet.
Enough of my rambling...
-Blackstream
Will you, won''t you, will you, won''t you, won''t you take my virus?
-The Mad Hacker
Blackstream''s Webpage
Most of the bugs I make are because I messed up using C++. When I''m messing around with dynamically allocated pointers and the such, it''s handy to know what I''m doing...
Plus, when you do get into OpenGL, your life will be much easier, trust me. You''ll have a broader range of knowledge on how to handle different tasks.
In addition, doing some things in OpenGL requires quite a good knowledge of your programming language (Loading and storing a game world, for starters), and you''d be stuck if you weren''t at that level yet.
Enough of my rambling...
-Blackstream
Will you, won''t you, will you, won''t you, won''t you take my virus?
-The Mad Hacker
Blackstream''s Webpage
What Sebastien and granat said.
No offense to the well intentioned Blackstream and Roach, but I have been programming for almost 20 years, and just about every day I learn something new. If I waited until I was finished learning before I started doing something, I''d be homeless and hungry instead of happy and well employed
Anyway, in my opinion, there is absolutely no harm whatsoever in playing around if you think you can bust out some OpenGL at this point. Perhaps Blackstream and Roach would agree that is ok with the understanding that you weren''t going to *stop* learning C++ so you could learn OpenGL...
No offense to the well intentioned Blackstream and Roach, but I have been programming for almost 20 years, and just about every day I learn something new. If I waited until I was finished learning before I started doing something, I''d be homeless and hungry instead of happy and well employed
Anyway, in my opinion, there is absolutely no harm whatsoever in playing around if you think you can bust out some OpenGL at this point. Perhaps Blackstream and Roach would agree that is ok with the understanding that you weren''t going to *stop* learning C++ so you could learn OpenGL...
I think: if you were using DirectX (any of its components), then first learn C++ and then go inside the dreaded and doomed world of COM.
But, since you want to learn OpenGL, why wait? On the other side, what could be cooler than learning a language for making graphics?
Go ahead, but make sure you finish your study of C++ (which, in the real world, never ends)
Good luck!
Cristián Ramírez (gameovercl)
ICQ #38991565
Viña del Mar
CHILE
But, since you want to learn OpenGL, why wait? On the other side, what could be cooler than learning a language for making graphics?
Go ahead, but make sure you finish your study of C++ (which, in the real world, never ends)
Good luck!
Cristián Ramírez (gameovercl)
ICQ #38991565
Viña del Mar
CHILE
Well yeah, I would agree he could head on to OpenGL right away as long as he kept on learning C++. And if a C++ concept was used in whatever tool he was using to learn, that he wouldn''t just copy and paste the code, but would learn that C++ concept first. Then I would say he could move on.
Personally, I would still get a better grip on C++ first, at least, before I continued. But that is just my personal preference....
One thing I would like to mention.
A while ago, when I had a worse knowledge of C++, I looked at Nehe''s tutorials. I was kinda frightened by parts of them, not understanding what was going on (I mean on Lesson 1 :eek. I look at it now and I''m like, "Man, that is easy crap, why did I think this was complicated?". So... that''s one of the reasons I suggest learning C++ better.
Personally, I would still get a better grip on C++ first, at least, before I continued. But that is just my personal preference....
One thing I would like to mention.
A while ago, when I had a worse knowledge of C++, I looked at Nehe''s tutorials. I was kinda frightened by parts of them, not understanding what was going on (I mean on Lesson 1 :eek. I look at it now and I''m like, "Man, that is easy crap, why did I think this was complicated?". So... that''s one of the reasons I suggest learning C++ better.
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