I'm new to computer programming, learning C++ right now. I am generally pretty good with computers, I've managed to pick up a lot of web design (CSS, (X)HTML) pretty quickly (though I still consider myself somewhat a novice), I even somehow managed to hack a few video games way back when I was still a kid (late elementary school years). So I 'm pretty confident that I have the ability to learn these things, even if at certain points I may struggle a bit.
So I'm looking for general advice from more experienced programmers for a newbie such as myself.
For example, any good resources you can point me towards?
What other languages would you recommend I delve into (I'm thinking PHP, and deifnitely javascript, which I know small amount of, but what else?)
Any other pointers?
im in my third, and final programming course for my major (computer engineering) by no means am i an expert, but i think i could give you a few tips.
first, it depends on what you mean by learning? if you are trying to pick this up on by yourself, it may be a little bit harder.
if you are in a class, you might not learn anything in lecture, but they give a good frame of things you need to learn, and a good order to learn them in.
if you are learning on your own, i would recommend starting with java (this conclusion is completely biased, i started with java, and i think my end results were well)
the best way you can learn is to figure out what it is that you need to learn, then to play around with it, until you figure it out enough to satisfy your curiousity. if you are like me, you will strongly and quickly master loops, and be good at using them to do pretty much anything (in combination with if, and else statements).
take time to figure out recursion, i think it is good for the programming mind to figure it out.. but i never really use it unless im trying to make my code look pretty (which i dont do).. because loops are almost always more effecient than recursion.
make sure you pay much attention and memorize how to do input and output.. its much easier to do in C++, but i remember in my java class.. thinking "ill just figure this out on my own like everything else" but it was more of a memorizing the syntax, and what to import.. etc.. so i had very much trouble learning how to get input and output without joptionpane, until i finally had someone tell me what i had to do.
once you get into class programming (object oriented programming?) utilize your ability to add objects of certain classes to arrays and vectors/arraylists.
i will tell you, you will need to learn inside out how to use: if/else statements, loops, nested loops, and nested if/else statments, arrays (i dont find multidimentional arrays are needed that often, but i think they can be now and then), classes/custom objects, and methods. these are the most necessary tools with which you can build almost any house, or at least the great majority of it.
a few fun (i use fun loosely) and common puzzles that will help you improve to solve are:
take in the number of rows you want from the user.
then, with that number, print:
a square of asterisks with that many rows.
a hollow version of that square
a right triangle, having a corner in the upper and lower left, and bottom right.
i right triangle, but this time having corners in the upper right, bottom right, and lower left.
both of those triangles again, but only outlined with stars, being hollow in the middle.
then an isosceles triangle, and a hollow version of it.
--
once you learn how to do graphics..
figure out collision detection.
hint: a very useful way of doing things with graphics, is to have a class/object of something that would appear on screen (e.g. "ball") with variables such as center location, left boundary, right boundary, upperboundary, etc.
and.. wow.. its 5 a.m.
im going to bed. if you have any questions, i would be glad to answer.
).
, the only class that teach C++ is the programming class (just programming, no adjective attached): focus purely on the programming skills, without much algorithm or application.
