Thread: Ask/Tell about --- Coding. Programming. General script writing.

I've played around a bit in Java before, not getting past a few lessons short of making a tetris game hehe. But I'm trying my hand at learning it again. I feel cheated though when I try to write programs, it feels like all the work has been done for me and all I'm doing is tracing other peoples steps. Anyways...C ++ here I come.

http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial.html

Taking free tutorials but I decided to make this a ask and tell thread (as in you can tell me what ever you like, and I am going to ask whatever I want =P.)

I will probably be dropping in little things that tickle me as I'm doing it as well as providing you guys with any original content that I create. I don't intend on flooding you guys with with HELLO WORLD! Or random number generators hehe.

Coding.... Best tip: Never try to reinvent the wheel. Seriously, if someone did something which works and does not like someone's nightmare in code form, then use it.

C++ is good, but hard. I know it, since I had to program in it (normal software AND graphics programming). Java is okay, used it for networking programs. Other languages include Turbo Pascal and Visual Basic.

I've done some visual basic as well. +=). But my skill level is still at that which is

Do this: ****
Ok...Cool that worked.
Do this: ****
Ok...wait it isn't working....maybe if I cut and paste...Hey that worked...but mine didn't, let me do it again...hey it still isn't working and it is exactly the same!


Lol.

It isn't so much that I want to invent the wheel it is just that it feels like...it feels more like I'm piecing together a puzzle than creating one when I code....even if it is "original" in some respects (since I have done a few original one using pieces of other programs.)

What do you do btw blue?

Originally Posted by Sandform

I've done some visual basic as well. +=). But my skill level is still at that which is

Do this: ****
Ok...Cool that worked.
Do this: ****
Ok...wait it isn't working....maybe if I cut and paste...Hey that worked...but mine didn't, let me do it again...hey it still isn't working and it is exactly the same!


Lol.

It isn't so much that I want to invent the wheel it is just that it feels like...it feels more like I'm piecing together a puzzle than creating one when I code....even if it is "original" in some respects (since I have done a few original one using pieces of other programs.)

To be honest, that is what programmers do. They piece together the program with code that works. What is original is then getting all the pieces to work together with as few bugs as possible. It is a weird way of doing things, but it is the reality,

Originally Posted by bluefinger

To be honest, that is what programmers do. They piece together the program with code that works. What is original is then getting all the pieces to work together with as few bugs as possible. It is a weird way of doing things, but it is the reality,

I've learned that since I started...I was put off of the idea originally but now I might as well get used to it. I have an old friend who is a coder from back when coding just started out. She was originally a librarian but then they got a new "toy" and no one knew how to use it so she started playing with it and that started her into coding and now there are lots of businesses that have old systems need her but I think she is retired now...anyway the point of the story is that when I first started thinking about it and I told her that I didn't like coding because it was a lot simpler than I thought it would be she said "people think we walk on water but we just know where the stones are hidden."

I guess what I'm saying is I would like to know why my code is doing what it is doing vs. why the program is doing what it is doing...

(the program does what it does because the code said so...but the code is doing it because the systems says so hehe.)

Coding is fun.

Especially low-level languages like C++ and D, ASM, etc. YOU CAN DO ANYHTING WITH THEM.

Blue hey, do you think I'll lose anything if I start out with microsoft visual basic?

I decided it would be easier since it gives you free tutorials with download.

Originally Posted by Sandform

do you think I'll lose anything if I start out with microsoft visual basic?

respect

I kid, I kid....

Originally Posted by Ynot

respect

I kid, I kid....

Is it that bad? lol.

Pyrofan1: Thanks! That's exactly the kind of thing I was looking for, and it looks like it's easy to understand.

ninja 9578: Yeah, I've noticed C++ is tough to learn. I've considered learning Python instead, but I've already finished a class at my high school teaching C++, as well as spending hours learning more on my own, so at this point it's probably more convenient for me to just continue with C++ rather than switch to another language, even one as similar to C++ as C.

You have those at your school? Lucky!

Originally Posted by Ynot

just a few things,
avoid using "using"
I know all the tutorials use it, but it can bite you in the arse
(it pulls all the functions and objects into the current namespace, and can lead to naming conflicts)
personally, I think it's really bad practise
but others may say different

You are correct.

Originally Posted by Seismosaur

'Using namespace std/ w/e' saves time writing out std:: and minimizes the chance you'll mistype std::cout or cin or whatever you are using.

You are also correct.

Go the middle road: instead of bringing the whole namespace into scope, bring individual directives.

So instead of typing using namespace std;, you type using std::cout;, etc. Then when you want to use a specific but not-so-oftenly-used item within a namespace other than the one that's been brought into scope, you clarify it in full.

That way you keep the scope resolution clean of unneccessary clutter and you save time by keeping frequently-used constructs in scope while fully qualifying the rare ones.