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Learning C++

  • Ok im new to C++, kind of. I know all the basic stuff, pointers, arrays, new() delete() function etc.

    But now i want to get more serious with C++.

    I havent done much Win32 application stuff, only little things like change the name of the buttons at the top like 'File' which is basic, but ive done some Win32 console stuff.
    So can anyone point me in the right direction for tutorials and just helping me in general.
    Should i set out a task to complete?

    (just for example)
    Make a program that has a small box on the side of desktop, and when mouse hovers over it an alphed box slides out that says 'Hello' ??

    just to let Everyone know ive done alot of Flash Actionscripting, but i wanted to do something that can branch out into more things, so can any of thoughs skills be transfered to C++? o_0

    So anyone that can give me some advise or help me out, thx.


  • ^SDL is not really that confusing at all. And he will have to learn it at one time or another, and why limit a program to one OS.

    Plus he said he wanted to make slide out menu's and after a week will be able to do that and probably more.


  • DirectX/OpenGL can be used in a windowed environment, so even if you just want to do Win32 stuff DirectX can enhance it.


  • ^Don't lie to him. Spyrl your going to need to remove your current DX9 card or DX10 card and put in a DX7 when your testing.

    for real though, all DX10 cards are backwards compatible with DX9L. SDL is pretty much compatible with everything your heart will ever want.


  • what does this mean? does that mean my computer needs to be down-graded to DirectX 7?All versions of DirectX (except 10) are supposed to be fully backwards compatible with previous versions, so you should never have to revert.


  • Yes i have Microsft Visual Studios C++ 2005 (i think its called that)
    but i dont have any of the help files :( lol

    but ill give looking at the coding of a precoded Win32 app a go.
    otherwise more hard work to find things out. :(

    peace out.


  • ^MSDN is the help files.


  • SDL is rarely used by itself. Just use it for windowing and let OpenGL render (it's much faster). Also you'll notice that SDL can't rotate an image (or it couldn't 2 years ago). There are free OpenGL GUI's like CEGUI if you need one. I'd learn how to get the basic stuff.

    Make sure you know the STL completely. This means, std::vector, std::list, and std::map kind of stuff. I'd recommend learning the OOP paradigm since it helps a lot.

    http://gpwiki.org/index.php/C_plus_plus:Modern_C_plus_plus:Vectors

    Learn how to set up object class with an x and y pos and then create a manager class that allows you to insert them into a list or vector container. Then add maybe a velocity into the object class and see if you can iterate the group of points and move them with their velocities. (by the way I'm describing a particle engine.

    Other things to make sure is to use std::string and not char so much.

    Templates are good to learn later once you find what they are used for.


  • ok i just read most of that and this caught my eye,
    "Older versions used DirectX 5, but SDL 1.2 (the current stable release) requires DirectX 7 by default"
    what does this mean? does that mean my computer needs to be down-graded to DirectX 7?
    Or of what i was thinking, that SDL can only "wrap" its self around DirectX 7, and if you wanted to use a higher DirectX you dont have SDL to help?


  • I never said it was. What I am saying is that it's off topic considering what he wants to achieve.


    He will? Why?


    Again, that's got nothing to do with the desire to learn Win32.


    And so can using the WPF in .NET, but how does that help with learning Win32?

    Sorry for going a little off topic... I just was showing him some things related to Win32, like if I showed him MFC or COM.

    Anywho, Win32 is a pretty cool API. One thing I'd recommend is Visual Studio's help files, or just creating a project in visual studio where the Win32 code is written in automatically, and then studying that code.

    If you're not using Visual Studio, a highly recommend you use it as a compiler. There is a scaled down free version.


  • Search SDL its a nice way to learn graphics and moving imges and such.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_DirectMedia_Layer


  • ^I didn't even know if it was relevant when i remembered the "SDL", i just remember my bro talking about it once. But that was a very long time ago.

    Maybe as your learning you could write up some very simple step by step tutorials for beginning the use of SDL.


  • AHHHHHH! brain malfunction!! ..... kidding!

    Whats with all the gay tutorials???
    all of them basically say "copy and paste this, ill tell you what it is later" and then not go indepth on all of the code.

    i think ill look at that IMHO stuff :S

    ^Don't lie to him. Spyrl your going to need to remove your current DX9 card or DX10 card and put in a DX7 when your testing. lol i wasnt thinking at the time and only reliesed what i said later. (lol silly me)

    and btw i was using that slide out menu as an example.


  • Search SDL its a nice way to learn graphics and moving imges and such.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_DirectMedia_Layer

    Whoa! The guy says he wants to learn Win32 and you point him at SDL? Interesting! :)

    Everything that you want to do can be achieved without touching DirectX or OpenGL (and hence SDL), and using them will only confuse you if you're looking to learn to write Windows code.

    I'd recommend attempting your problem using nothing but Win32 and the core C++ functionality - IMHO, you should avoid muddying the waters with other APIs.

    Just my $0.02.
    OJ


  • Wow top marks on the help there Templarian.
    i got the SDL library etc now, and im on my way to getting started :P
    w00t!!!
    this pixel drawing is a bit crazy though lol.


  • SDL is not really that confusing at all.
    I never said it was. What I am saying is that it's off topic considering what he wants to achieve.

    And he will have to learn it at one time or another, and why limit a program to one OS.
    He will? Why?

    DirectX/OpenGL can be used in a windowed environment
    Again, that's got nothing to do with the desire to learn Win32.

    so even if you just want to do Win32 stuff DirectX can enhance it.
    And so can using the WPF in .NET, but how does that help with learning Win32?







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    March 12th, 2010 at March 12, 2010 |  | Permalink