I do agree, it's perfectly normal since you are just starting out. Having worked with the Java language and some C++ for 2 years I like to think about programming as methologically thinking about the programming concepts and how these ideas and concepts connect and relate to things you seen before(ie: video games, word processors like microsoft word). I also think if you make a connection with what you learning now in programming with how the programmers make the video game(like world map, collision detection, game logic) it will make much more sense.

The other most obvious thing is practice coding and think and be aware. It is okay to rest your brain of course. But what I am going to say is programming is cumulative. What you do not know might prevent you from solving a problem. Ask people for help but also show what you have done already so people can actually see what you know and do not. The sky is the limit. Always seen patterns in code and how these programming structure varies. Stay active on forums and persevere with the problem that is troubling. Struggle with the problem and eventually you will be friends with the problem. As soon as you solve it, I guarantee you will say " that was not so bad after all." =]



Good luck and happy coding.

Well my question in general is, is it normal for me not to understand how to like make a program with it even though I know how to make one, and understand what it is, just not how to use it.

Sometimes it depends on what you are learning from, several popular C++ books are flooded with useful information but are described in such a ermm 'mathematical text book' way where you are often left wondering "so I know how to do this but where would I use it?", I would probably say "[Wrox] Beginning C++ by Ivan Horton" and "Programming principles C++ by Bjarne Stroustrup" are the only book I have came across that arent like this for C++, typically Apress / Wrox try to give ideas on where to use things.

Ofc then theres pointers which only made sense to me at least from delegates / ref / out in C#.

But to answer your question, yes it is normal but sometimes its not you its the book you are reading from