Learning to program.

#1 Indeed,
c, c++
are the languages I prefer. Very comfortable.

www.compilers.com

step 1 : get a compiler installed
step 2 : use www.google.com or like method
to search about starting out with these languages
step 3 : continue step 2 untill understanding is maintained

search for tutorials they are there in plenty.

they are fairly vast in capability these languages
c and c++ tho very much the same they have subtle differences at times

most importantly :
learn about program structure, design and flow
learn the basic datatype's provided
learn the basic keywords

there is much more after this :)
have fun

#2 Knowing the structure of things like classes, structures, variable declaration, constructors, destructors, inheritance and virtual functions will at least let you understand a good deal of the torque engine's code. You won't have enough knowledge to add more, but I'm assuming that wouldn't be your job in a project.

Having an artist or project lead who at least knows simple aspects of coding is much easier when they actually want to come to the table and discuss programming-related stuff. It might actually lessen the amount of "let's add this... it's easy to add!" which I know I've heard from the people on my exteam say who never seem to think of the coding required for something.


Hmmm... ExTeam. Wasn't there a comic book called that? :p

#3 *points to the resource section of garagegames* heh some c++ resources are there also gamedev.net has some i'm sure of it.

#4 Walk before you run.

Get the hand of a simple language like VB first, then move up the ladder.

#5 Oh you misunderstand, I know VB is a good place to start.

I'm just saying that knowing how to program in VB will NOT help when I'm trying to work with the torque engine, I'll need to know C/C++ for that.

But your right I'm not actually planning on doing the coding, I just want to know some C/C++ so that I might be able to it someday.

#6 Well, the way I've learned to program is by starting with simple web development languages and moving up. I started with HTML, went to JavaScript, then Python, then C++ and now I'm finishing the basics of Java (mostly just for web development, though). C++ is powerful and my favorite, but you might want to start with a basic language first. It's up to you though. If you can find a good book or tutorial on C++ that you understand, go for it. :)

#7 "Thinking in C++" is my favorite "learn C++ (and the C fundamentals)" book.

As it happens, you can get it digitally for free.. I prefer the paper version though - I can read it on the crapper. I know, I shared too much.

http://www.mindview.net/Books/TICPP/ThinkingInCPP2e.html

#8 C++ is a tough language to start with if you're new to programming. Instead, I'd suggest python. Its an easy language to learn and it is very powerful (equivalent to Java), and its free, and there is a lot of web documentation on it (www.python.org), and it comes with its own ide.

#9 I wouldnt want to discourage ..
I learned c and c++ as my first programming languages

and found it simple to learn with few confusing concepts at first..
they were not as important as getting to know the programming .. c and c++ are so popular it is a good place to go as thier is multitudes of data about them.


once I had a foundation for that programming ..
I found it carries into just about Every popular language

#10 I started like this
Borland Pascal (lol)--> Visual Basic/VBA/ASP --> C++/JAVA Script/...

... but that was in school, so its probably not the best way of doing things lol... just start with C++, there are lots of beginners tutorials out there. Defenetly spend some time on structures and the actual designing and analysis of the programs you make. That really sets apart a good programmer rest.

hmm... somewhere in this thread I think someone said something about HTML... euh... that really isn't a programming language.

Oh, and when you say VB knowledge wont help you when working on a Torque project, you're right, but it will help you get to learn C++ quicker. This becuase all programming languages are pretty similar... only the syntax differs.

...and btw, I'm actually an artist... i just got programming at school, but I don't like doing it (well now i'm forced to becuase dedicated programmers seem rare these days ;)

#11 Sam's Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days - 4th Edition is also a good book for complete C++ newbies. Jesse Liberty wrote it in understandable English, and also gives you some pointers about how to implement C++ in the real world. It'll take you longer than 21 days to finish it (try 40), but it's a good book nonetheless.

#12 I would suggest Java as a starting language. It requires the objected oriented mindset, which will carry over to C++. They only thing you won't have to deal with is memory management, due to the garbage collection. As a beginning programmer, you can avoid that part but learn scope, encapsulation, classes, objects, inheritance, exceptions, and call backs (all really important things to know). Once you get these basics down, you can pick up the memory management and syntax differences. Scripting is useful, but doesn't really expose you to the nuts and bolts of true programming.

Bruce Eckel (www.bruceeckel.com) offers Thinking in Java as well as Thinking in C++, both free for download. Java in Practice is another useful book, by Warren and Bishop. Although most computer science professors deter students from studying other people's code, I recommend it as a learning tool. If you are too much of a newbie, you may learn poor practice (and that is why profs don't suggest it :-). However, if you find good source, much can be learned in a short period of time.

I also suggest learning UML (Unified Modeling Language). This is a visualization/communication tool for representing how the code is broken down. There are constructs for explaining how classes relate to one another (i.e. parent/child, interfaces, one class having an object of another). I find this tool invaluable for keeping a team of programmers in sync or for architecting your code before you write it. If you are a visual learner, finding UML for the source code could really help you pick up the concepts quickly. Rational Rose is the expensive and full-functional app for UML, but there are cheaper and less-functional versions out there.

Good luck!