Learning C++ Book/resource recommendations

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frizianz

105 posts

Master Geek

#94643 15-Dec-2011 21:22

Hey guys,

Basically i personally am wanting to learn C++, also my GF has expressed multiple times she wants to learn it which is super awesome i might add!

So im thinking to have a super nerdy xmas present to her of getting her a book on C++ or something.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a book i could acquire?

Cheers guys

Fraser

NokiaRocks

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#558494 15-Dec-2011 22:36

Our uni textbook for C++ was:

http://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-Programming-John-Hubbard/dp/0071353461

Its not the greatest, but its pretty cheap and has quite a few code examples in it. Might be enough to get you started.

Why are you choosing to start with C++ by the way?

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frizianz

105 posts

Master Geek

#558506 15-Dec-2011 23:36

NokiaRocks: Our uni textbook for C++ was:

http://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-Programming-John-Hubbard/dp/0071353461

Its not the greatest, but its pretty cheap and has quite a few code examples in it. Might be enough to get you started.

Why are you choosing to start with C++ by the way?

Its not my first programming language. I've done some stuff with Bash and PHP but just wanting to expand my roots a bit as i've got a summer break from polytech to fill my time with ahah.

timmmay

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#558628 16-Dec-2011 10:45

Bash and PHP are way easier than C++. Who uses C++ any more, other than really high performance work, and even that is moving away? You might as well learn COBOL, might get a good high paying contracting job as everyone else who knows it is retiring and it still runs a lot of critical systems.

If you want to learn something more commercially useful go for .Net or Java.

jbard

1377 posts

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#558632 16-Dec-2011 10:52

timmmay: Bash and PHP are way easier than C++. Who uses C++ any more, other than really high performance work, and even that is moving away? You might as well learn COBOL, might get a good high paying contracting job as everyone else who knows it is retiring and it still runs a lot of critical systems.

If you want to learn something more commercially useful go for .Net or Java.

I wouldn't say C++ is completely out of date but you are right it isn't used anywhere near as much as a few years ago.

I agree java is very popular right now but i think more and more are moving away from it and if you were to learn something now i would suggest C# - very much like C++ but easier to learn.

.Net is good but you are limiting yourself to Microsoft only systems then.

frizianz

105 posts

Master Geek

#558676 16-Dec-2011 12:52

jbard:
timmmay: Bash and PHP are way easier than C++. Who uses C++ any more, other than really high performance work, and even that is moving away? You might as well learn COBOL, might get a good high paying contracting job as everyone else who knows it is retiring and it still runs a lot of critical systems.

If you want to learn something more commercially useful go for .Net or Java.

I wouldn't say C++ is completely out of date but you are right it isn't used anywhere near as much as a few years ago.

I agree java is very popular right now but i think more and more are moving away from it and if you were to learn something now i would suggest C# - very much like C++ but easier to learn.

.Net is good but you are limiting yourself to Microsoft only systems then.

Cheers for the thoughts. Wanting to learn something that isn't OS dependant as I use both Linux and Windows.

Really just getting bored over this holidays and need something to learn / do to keep my brain going and i figure its useful for the future anyways :)

timmmay

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#558684 16-Dec-2011 13:08

Java isn't OS dependant, that's one of its big advantages. I'm developing on windows today, it will be run on windows, HP-UX, or Linux, we haven't decided yet.

Java's it's a heck of a lot easier to learn and do something useful in than C++. Plus there's a good contract market, the money's good.

Even though .Net is platform depending it's the dominant platform, and there's heaps of .Net contracts around.

You need at the very least a couple of years commercial experience before you go contracting though.

frizianz

105 posts

Master Geek

#558688 16-Dec-2011 13:14

Fair call.

Right now I'm doing some work for a Game Server Hosting Company based in AUS as a Systems Administrator, and was thinking about maybe writing a command line based program which we can use for various administration purposes (undecided on what yet).
But one of the key things is that it needs to be written for Linux and Windows as we have both in the Company.

Problem imo with Java is that you need the java executables installed on the machine to run it. Which isnt the best for servers if its the only thing that needs it.

timmmay

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#558690 16-Dec-2011 13:20

Installing Java isn't usually a problem. Does Linux come with java preinstalled these days? If not it's a simple command to install it, with few downsides, if any.

frizianz

105 posts

Master Geek

#558691 16-Dec-2011 13:26

timmmay: Installing Java isn't usually a problem. Does Linux come with java preinstalled these days? If not it's a simple command to install it, with few downsides, if any.

Generally speaking not. I've just found a few times that Java has just sat there eating at the CPU on machine for no reason when no Java based program was being executed. But might be worth looking into again haha.

timmmay

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#558695 16-Dec-2011 13:35

When there's no Java program executing Java isn't in memory, so by definition a Java program was running. The VM exits and the process finishes if it's not doing anything. It could be an app server or service written in Java messing up though.

frizianz

105 posts

Master Geek

#558759 16-Dec-2011 17:16

timmmay: When there's no Java program executing Java isn't in memory, so by definition a Java program was running. The VM exits and the process finishes if it's not doing anything. It could be an app server or service written in Java messing up though.

Sounds like it. ^

Cheers for the input though

billgates

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#558774 16-Dec-2011 17:49

Start with C#. Easier to learn and used very widely across the industry. Can recommend the below book. I have a spare copy of this brand new. If you are interested to buy it then flick me a PM.

http://www.amazon.com/Head-First-2E-Real-World-Programming/dp/1449380344/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1324010989&sr=8-3

Do whatever you want to do man.

scottr

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#560458 21-Dec-2011 21:58

It doesn't really matter if you learn java or c#, the fundamentals are the same and they're very similar. It's like picking between a ford falcon and a holden commodore, they're pretty much the same thing underneath, with a whole lot in common and some differences here and there. Pick one, or both, and try it out and see what one you like.

I would also highly recommend the headfirst range of books, they're great. I've got about 5 of them sitting in a box somewhere (we moved and I haven't unpacked them yet). Well worth the investment even though I've only read two or them more than once.

timmmay

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#560587 22-Dec-2011 09:49

The language is usually the easy part. Environment and integration are what takes up most of the time on a project. Red tape and administration usually dwarf them all, especially in government departments.