Do i need C to learn C++?

Question

WoBinator 0 Newbie Poster

17 Years Ago

Hi, im new to programming. I have read alot of posts on this site and am wondering if i need to learn C before i learn C++. Is learning a language before C essential? or will i just get the hang of it.
This is my second post, asking about what to learn, i am just getting confused with what and which to learn first.
I have been told to start with VB, or just start with C, and have even read that i can just learn C++ straight away. ?!

Thanks

PS. you got any good sites for free books or tutorials?

c++

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jan1024188 7 Posting Whiz in Training

17 Years Ago

also you can get free c++ videotutorials here
http://seangreasley.com/

~s.o.s~ 2,560 Failure as a human

17 Years Ago

Lol, ive quit learning C++ because i heard it as too hard to learn as a first language. Instead i am learning Python :D jan1024188 gave me a great book on it :D thnx

Just as a side note, to let you know, Python, Perl etc. and all such interpreted lanaguages are developed in C / C++.

So you can very much guess the power which goes along with the name...;)

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iamthwee · Answer 1 · 2006-12-30T20:24:28+00:00

You do not need to learn c before c++.

I found c++ so easy to learn, it should be like a walk in the park.

jan1024188 7 Posting Whiz in Training · Answer 2 · 2006-12-30T20:25:45+00:00

it is much easyer to understand c++ if you know c....

C++ isnt difficult...some people think (like me) that c++ is easyer to learn than c

WoBinator 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 3 · 2006-12-30T20:27:16+00:00

K, cool. Was it the first language you learnt?

iamthwee · Answer 4 · 2006-12-30T20:31:47+00:00

>it is much easyer to understand c++ if you know c....

Perhaps, but some people still think c++ is just c with classes.

My advice would be to learn c++ on its own away from the distractions of c.

WoBinator 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 5 · 2006-12-30T20:31:57+00:00

Sweet, thnx. You guys reply sooo fast :D:D:D

jan1024188 7 Posting Whiz in Training · Answer 6 · 2006-12-30T21:14:21+00:00

K, cool. Was it the first language you learnt?

my first language was pascal..

WoBinator 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 7 · 2006-12-30T21:17:58+00:00

Thnx for replies guys :D very helpful
i found a different thread that was also very helpful :D http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread52366.html
I am currently reading http://cplusplus.com/doc/language/tutorial/
I am just starting out, i hope i will pick up quite ^^

TY again
Love from The WoBinator

WoBinator 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 8 · 2006-12-30T21:24:16+00:00

omg...last question ^^

ive written and comiled the "hello world" thing using Dev-C++

when i run the exe, a dos-like window pops up for half sec and dissapears...wtf? ive read and reread over what i am meant to do...?!?!?! is that whats meant to hpn?

jan1024188 7 Posting Whiz in Training · Answer 9 · 2006-12-30T21:34:21+00:00

omg...last question ^^
ive written and comiled the "hello world" thing using Dev-C++
when i run the exe, a dos-like window pops up for half sec and dissapears...wtf? ive read and reread over what i am meant to do...?!?!?! is that whats meant to hpn?

Thats because when "Hello word" is printed on a screen program ends and cmd clooses...

WoBinator 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 10 · 2006-12-30T21:38:45+00:00

also you can get free c++ videotutorials here
http://seangreasley.com/

awwww sweet as! thnx man!

Boldgamer 1 Light Poster · Answer 11 · 2006-12-30T22:37:55+00:00

omg...last question ^^
ive written and comiled the "hello world" thing using Dev-C++
when i run the exe, a dos-like window pops up for half sec and dissapears...wtf? ive read and reread over what i am meant to do...?!?!?! is that whats meant to hpn?

Add

system("PAUSE");

in front of return 0;

~s.o.s~ 2,560 Failure as a human Team Colleague Featured Poster · Answer 12 · 2006-12-30T22:48:30+00:00

ive written and comiled the "hello world" thing using Dev-C++
when i run the exe, a dos-like window pops up for half sec and dissapears...wtf? ive read and reread over what i am meant to do...?!?!?! is that whats meant to hpn?

The program is doing exactly what it is supposed to do, the only thing being the command window closes after displaying the output.

To make the command window stay, make the program wait for some event (like accepting a key from the user) to see the expected output.

In C do getchar( ) at the end of the program.
In C++ do cin.get( ) at the end of the program.

Any other method used, is totally platform / compiler dependent and should be best avoided.

BTW even system( "pause" ) is a non-standard method which is best avoided.

Bench 212 Posting Pro · Answer 13 · 2006-12-30T23:31:40+00:00

For a standard, safe way of getting the program to pause, you could use a function like this

#include <iostream>
#include <limits>

void stop()
{ 
    std::cin.ignore( std::numeric_limits<std::streamsize>::max() , '\n');
    std::cin.get();
}

int main()
{
    stop();
}

jan1024188 7 Posting Whiz in Training · Answer 14 · 2006-12-30T23:42:26+00:00

For a standard, safe way of getting the program to pause, you could use a function like this
#include <iostream>
#include <limits>

void stop()
{ 
    std::cin.ignore( std::numeric_limits<std::streamsize>::max() , '\n');
    std::cin.get();
}

int main()
{
    stop();
}

wow but this doesnt make sense

why dont you just type

#include <iostrem.h>

using namespace std;


void main()
 {
cout << "\n" ;
cin.get();
return(0);
}

~s.o.s~ 2,560 Failure as a human Team Colleague Featured Poster · Answer 15 · 2006-12-31T00:15:49+00:00

@ Bench
Just to let you know that the functions cin.ignore( ) and cin.get( ) won't function as expected if the standard input stream is corrupted and its status bit not cleared. Your code is good and robust but to make it to adapt to stream corruptions, do something like:

#include <iostream>
#include <limits>

void stop( )
{
    using namespace std ;

    cin.clear( ) ;
    cin.ignore( numeric_limits<streamsize>::max(), '\n' ) ;
    cin.get( ) ;
}

@ jan1024188
There are some cases in which the simple statement getchar( ) or cin.get( ) won't work. Those being corrupted stream, or more than a single newline character hanging in the stream.

For simple cases the primitive statements work well, but if your program is a highly CUI (console user interface) dependent, you might want to have a robust function like mentioned above by me and Mr. Bench to handle fatalitites ;).

iamthwee · Answer 16 · 2006-12-31T01:47:44+00:00

I wouldn't put 'using namespace std' within the scope of a function.

It is better to state it at the top - just under the headers.

iamthwee · Answer 17 · 2006-12-31T01:49:05+00:00

#include <iostrem.h>

using namespace std;


void main()
 {
cout << "\n" ;
cin.get();
return(0);
}

We've told you time and time again, don't use void main and don't use iostream.h.

But what do you do? Dearie me.

~s.o.s~ 2,560 Failure as a human Team Colleague Featured Poster · Answer 18 · 2006-12-31T01:58:26+00:00

I wouldn't put 'using namespace std' within the scope of a function.
It is better to state it at the top - just under the headers.

Declarations are best made in the proximity where they are required to be used. Limiting the scope of the namespace declaration namespace collisions can be avoided.

Programs should be made avail of only that much functionality which concerns them hence declaring the namespace in the function was for the best.

iamthwee · Answer 19 · 2006-12-31T02:03:10+00:00

Nope. In that case you should have just done:

std::cin.clear( ) ;
    std::cin.ignore( numeric_limits<streamsize>::max(), '\n' ) ;
    std::cin.get( ) ;

The using namespace declaration is normally when people want to avoid using std:: prefixes altogether.

Oh and even your example has its shortcomings just like Bench's. See if you can guess why.

~s.o.s~ 2,560 Failure as a human Team Colleague Featured Poster · Answer 20 · 2006-12-31T02:10:40+00:00

Nope. In that case you should have just done:

std::cin.clear( ) ;
    std::cin.ignore( numeric_limits<streamsize>::max(), '\n' ) ;
    std::cin.get( ) ;

Usage of namespace declarations or prefixing them is a matter of personal style. BTW the way I have done, has been reflected in many good boooks (C++ programming language) so its actually not a bad thing as such, just difference of style.

The using namespace declaration is normally when people want to avoid using std:: prefixes altogether.

Incorrect. Not "altogether", for a specific block of code would be more like it. And when you delare it at the top, it applies to the whole source file.

Oh and even your example has its shortcomings just like Bench's. See if you can guess why.

[sarcastic]Oh, wow, I would love to hear them and if possible a good solution too please...;)[/sarcatic]
:D

iamthwee · Answer 21 · 2006-12-31T02:17:48+00:00

>BTW the way I have done, has been reflected in many good boooks (C++ programming language)

I doubt it, it might be just a style issue, but I ain't never seen it like that.

>Oh, wow, I would love to hear them and if possible a good solution too please...

Where's the fun in that. Guess

~s.o.s~ 2,560 Failure as a human Team Colleague Featured Poster · Answer 22 · 2006-12-31T02:25:41+00:00

I doubt it, it might be just a style issue, but I ain't never seen it like that.

How can you doubt it when you haven't seen the book while I have ? ;)

Where's the fun in that. Guess

Good luck with your fictious shortcomings. Maybe we would joke at another time...

Bench 212 Posting Pro · Answer 23 · 2006-12-31T05:22:25+00:00

Yup, i forgot to clear the state earlier..

The only other alternative to cin.ignore etc.. would be

std::cin.clear();
std::cin.sync();
std::cin.get();

WoBinator 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 24 · 2006-12-31T10:28:53+00:00

Lol, ive quit learning C++ because i heard it as too hard to learn as a first language. Instead i am learning Python :D jan1024188 gave me a great book on it :D thnx

vegaseat 1,735 DaniWeb's Hypocrite Team Colleague · Answer 25 · 2006-12-31T12:08:35+00:00

Yup, i forgot to clear the state earlier..
The only other alternative to cin.ignore etc.. would be
std::cin.clear();
std::cin.sync();
std::cin.get();

Just a note, cin.sync() is not considered to be very reliable for removing vagabond '\n' characters.

No wonder the poor chap through in the C++ towel.

WoBinator 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 26 · 2006-12-31T14:09:19+00:00

In these languages, what does intergers mean? Just basicly, im so confused...
Also, Float?!

Ravalon 62 Posting Whiz in Training · Answer 27 · 2006-12-31T19:28:21+00:00

An integer is a negative or positive whole number. Float is short for floating point. It's a real number.