Yeah, C++ for dummies is a bad book... I got it and didn't learn a thing from it...

I'd reccommend Sam's Learn C++ in 21 Days. It's really good, in depth, and tells you a lot about the inner workings of the computer.

I'm in Junior High, too, and I only started C++ a couple months ago, but I've programmed a little in Visual Basic for a long time...

Edited by - gone_postal on November 24, 2001 4:07:34 AM

you can download the book "teach yourself c++ in 21 days" from a web site called www.MAXCODE.com they also have the book "teach yourself visual C++ 6.0 compiler in 21 days" too.

you are never to young to learn and you are never to old to learn it all depends what you are learning for. if you want to make money out of it the younger the better if you are doing it for a hobbie and enjoy programming age doesnt matter.

this is only my opinion dont take this as red. any good luck and keep learning.

I am "BORG" resistance is futile

Don''t use "Teach yourself visual c++" as a guide to learning c++ !
It''s only useful if you already know c++, but than it''s good.

(It''s next to my screen )

As far as C++ goes... learn it, because it''s something to put on your CV and people like to know you know how to use C and C++.

However, you''re currently using Delphi - and that''s the best thing you could possibly be doing. Delphi is an excellent language. There''s nothing you can do in C++ you can''t do in Delphi, and it''s a more elegant and better constructed language.

People who haven''t used it tend to fob it off as being Pascal or VB-like, but everyone I''ve ever heard of who has started using it after using C has never wanted to move back.

Most of this is my opinion, of course, but feel free to ask some Delphi-users about it. There are plenty of forums. I know there are several who use gamedev.net as well.

So, as far as advice goes: sure, learn C and C++. Don''t try to make them your main language. Continue with Delphi. Have a look at some of the more advanced techniques - learn about pointers, RTTI etc (which I don''t think C++ has, actually.). It''s fully object-oriented and is probably a much better learning language than C.

After all, it''s easier to translate from Delphi to C++ than it is the other way round

That''s about it. Hope it''s not too incoherent, it''s 1:00 am here

Languages are tools. Language fanaticism is idiocy.

As a professional programmer, should you decide to become one, you may be asked to develop using a variety of languages (which you may not consider the most appropriate for the task). The point is that the underlying basic concepts - variables, loops/iterations, branches/conditionals, etc - are all the same regardless of language. It may be more difficult to represent higher level contructs (data structures and classes/methods in assembly, anyone?) but your objective should be to learn the principles in as language-independent a manner as possible.

I realize you''re just starting out and I shouldn''t confuse you, but don''t get bound to any one language (as many lesser idiots do, going as far as starting flamewars over whether C++ is superior to C/Java/C#/VB/[insert preferred language here]).

Good luck.

Oluseyi is right! Languages are tools, and there is no such thing as the perfect language.

But still there are some advantages and disadvantages. For example see Delphi. It''s a very popular language, and it may even be a good language (I don''t know, never used it so far.), but there is one problem. It''s only being developed by Inprise/Borland, and only for Win32 and I think Linux under the name of Kylix (not sure about that). So what if Borland decides to stop development? No more updates, no more api''s for new technologies. Kind of a problem.

More likely, what if you want to port your code to, lets say, a Mac. No Delphi for Macs!

If you use C++, there is *always* a compiler for C++ for any platform. So no problem here. And C++ is an international specification, so no problem, when your favorite company quits, there is always another one.

These are arguments for using C++.

Now for the question wether you should learn C++ or not: Learn it! It is something like the semi-official standard for professional projects, so if you can say you have x+ years of C++ experience, you sound very professional .

Thanks Anonymous Poster for that info about C++ in 21 days. I''ve been struggling with C++ for dummies. I just downloaded the book from maxsource.com. Maybe this is just what I need to make sense out the parts in C++ for dummies that confused me.

Anyway, thanks again. Thanks to all the other posters too for their input on the original posters questions. This has been some help to me as well.