NetNews Offline 2/NetNews Offline Volume 2.iso/news/comp/lang/c++-part1/4325

Internet Message Format | 1996-08-06 | 3.8 KB

Path: ornews.intel.com!news
From: [e-mail] (Thurman Miller)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++
Subject: Newbie perspective on learning C++
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 1996 19:15:50 GMT
Organization: Intel Corporation
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I've read many posts of people who want to learn/are learning C++ and
I thought I'd add my thoughts as I'm in this category.

1. C++ must be approached with an open mind with few preconcieved
notions. To this end, if you try to keep within the bounds of other
languages such as Pascal or Fortran or Visual Basic, you'll become
hopelessly lost. Knowing C helps out on the syntax end (I'm assuming
on this one), but judging by how many people I've interviewed in the
past 2 months who claim to know C++ just because they program in a C++
environment such as Visual C++ or Borland C++, and they have no idea
what a constructor is or what operator overloading is, I'd have to say
that you're at no advantage if you know C. In fact, I'd go so far as
to say that it may become a hindrence because you're too entrenched
into how C works to expand yourself into how C++ can work.

2. C++ is not for the faint of heart. While I had no C experience
prior to picking up C, I've done Basic, Visual Basic, Pascal, Fortran,
Dbase IV (hear the crowd swoon with envy ;-), Stored procedures in
just about every DBMS, Mapper (mainframe "4GL"). I pick up things
fairly quickly and rarely need more than a book and a few weeks of
hacking. Saying that, I'm to the point where I can code in C++, but am
only scratching the surface and it's overwhelming seeing what you can
accomplish in C++.

Therefore, for someone who has little or no background in programming,
I'm not sure if I'd recommend C++ as the first language to pick up.

On the other hand, having no prior experience to clutter your mind, it
may be the best time to learn C++.

3. C++ by itself is not well suted for GUI type programming in terms
of speed of development. You can use the Windows API, and if you do
become adept at this, you'll be in very high demand amongst shops who
do off-shelf products where speed and size is of utmost important.
However, if you're amongst the majority of programmers who work in a
corporate environment coding for internal applications, I'd recommend
using an established  class library.

4. For those coming into C++ with no prior C experience, there is an
awefully large gap in the area of syntax and types. There are so many
ways of declaring/referencing variables that it is simply overwhelming
to someone who might otherwise understand the symantics of C++. I
challenge someone to either recommend a good book that covers the
basics or to write this book. It would be a very good seller!

The last thing I'd like to leave you all with who have followed me
this far is some words of wisdom on this newsgroup:

The amound of time and effort you give in response to newbie questions
is by and far very superior. It is your efforts and not those of the
technical support staff of the various companies who sell C++
programming envionments, that is responsible for the growth and
knowledge of C++.

If someone posts a question that is specific to a particular product,
take the time to point them to the right newsgroup. By not answering,
you risk the chance of that person thinking that this newsgroup cannot
help them. Give them a one-liner telling them a more appropriate area
to post the question.

For every question you post, try to answer 3 other threads. Us newbies
who have just experienced something may have a fresh tilt on an answer
to a problem that we just recently overcame. The best part is that if
we post an incorrect answer, or an answer that can be done in a better
fashion, you're likely to hear about it.

Thanks again for such a great newsgroup!

Thurman Miller