Started college in a c++ class need help

[johnadams123412]

So basically I wanted to get into computer programming, but there was no space for basic programming, so I was put in c++ class, anyone that knows c++ that can help this teacher literally sits on his ass all day and barely does anything. I can barely understand any tutorials they expect you to know coding prior. Any help is appreciated

[Swndlr]

WHY WOULD YOU TAKE A CLASS WITHOUT KNOWING THE BASICS....

[79wjd]

I can try to help, I'm a junior in CS, although I'm not nearly as good as I really should be... 

[johnadams123412]

WHY WOULD YOU TAKE A CLASS WITHOUT KNOWING THE BASICS....

READ THE DESCRIPTION FAM, I WAS PUT IN BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SPACE

 

I can try to help, I'm a junior in CS, although I'm not nearly as good as I really should be... 

You got skype?

[Swndlr]

READ THE DESCRIPTION FAM, I WAS PUT IN BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SPACE

I highly doubt youd just be shoved into an advanced class because there was no room in the basic class, they would have simply not let you in.

[madknight3]

You're probably going to want to do extra work on your own time to learn C++. Read this, it'll give you advice and a place to start. Here are some more resources. We'll be here to answer any questions you have as well.

[Litargirio]

These tutorials are as good as it gets: http://www.3dbuzz.com/training/topic/c-plus-plus

 

There's also a bunch lynda.com which are pretty good , you can get a free 10-day trial here: http://lynda.com/wanshow. I'd recommend starting with those.

[johnadams123412]

I highly doubt youd just be shoved into an advanced class because there was no room in the basic class, they would have simply not let you in.

I wanted a computer class, this was the only one, so I was put in, theres no pre requisite class regardless. 

 

I can help out too. I'm semi-fluent in the language. 

You got skype?

[79wjd]

READ THE DESCRIPTION FAM, I WAS PUT IN BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SPACE

 

You got skype?

Alas I do not. I'm afraid I'd be stuck with text-based help. 

You can add me on steam for times when someone with skype isn't available or you're not in the mood to talk/whatever: https://steamcommunity.com/id/AwesomeMcCoolName_MCT

[shypin]

lynda.com

[johnadams123412]

You're probably going to want to do extra work on your own time to learn C++. Read this, it'll give you advice and a place to start. Here are some more resources. We'll be here to answer any questions you have as well.

will do thanks brah

 

These tutorials are as good as it gets: http://www.3dbuzz.com/training/topic/c-plus-plus

 

There's also a bunch lynda.com which are pretty good , you can get a free 10-day trial here: http://lynda.com/wanshow. I'd recommend starting with those.

will check it out after a few more responses thanks 

[johnadams123412]

Alas I do not. I'm afraid I'd be stuck with text-based help. 

You can add me on steam for times when someone with skype isn't available or whatever: https://steamcommunity.com/id/AwesomeMcCoolName_MCT

will add you when im done with class

[Hunter259]

Hopefully they will go somewhat from the beginning. Its not to bad to work with.

[Nineshadow]

If you have any questions you can ask me.

[Bigst4v4]

I would recommend you get some online tutorials and work through them, then start doing you're own smaller projects and work up, but also you could read a C++ book and work through tutorials in them as well, but you shouldnt of been put in that class without knowing the basics but if you need help message me, as I can help  

[SteveGrabowski0]

C++ is a really difficult language to start on, I know, because it's the one I first learned. There are so few good C++ books at anything below an advanced level, the only lower level C++ book I ever liked was C++ Primer.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Primer-5th-Edition-Stanley-Lippman/dp/0321714113

 

That was one of the side references for my courses. The required book by Deitel for my class was the single worst college textbook I have ever seen.

[79wjd]

C++ is a really difficult language to start on, I know, because it's the one I first learned. There are so few good C++ books at anything below an advanced level, the only lower level C++ book I ever liked was C++ Primer.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Primer-5th-Edition-Stanley-Lippman/dp/0321714113

 

That was one of the side references for my courses. The required book by Deitel for my class was the single worst college textbook I have ever seen.

I miss Java

[Nuluvius]

C++ is a really difficult language to start on, I know, because it's the one I first learned. There are so few good C++ books at anything below an advanced level, the only lower level C++ book I ever liked was C++ Primer.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Primer-5th-Edition-Stanley-Lippman/dp/0321714113.

 

I disagree it can be one of the very best languages to start with. That said, I do agree that the primer is probably the best beginner level book out there right now. Just make sure that if you do go for it that it is the updated edition with C++ 11.

 

Feel free to ask me anything any time, I'm usually quite busy but I should always get around to putting together an answer for you.

[MiracleMan]

I don't think C++ is a good language to start with programming either.

Its incredibly 'bloated' which makes it hard to learn the syntax if you don't already know a similar language. Also, I divide people learning to code in 2 groups: people who just want to learn how to code and/or want to grasp the logic and workflow behind it and people who want to understand how software works.

C++ imo fits neither of those.

[SteveGrabowski0]

I disagree it can be one of the very best languages to start with. That said, I do agree that the primer is probably the best beginner level book out there right now. Just make sure that if you do go for it that it is the updated edition with C++ 11.

 

Feel free to ask me anything any time, I'm usually quite busy but I should always get around to putting together an answer for you.

 

I think it would be much better to start with functional programming myself. Mutation is so confusing when you're first learning to program. Since functional programming is time independent, like mathematical statements, I think it's the best way to get people to focus on breaking problems into smaller subproblems and then combining them back into solutions. Debugging C++ is such a nightmare when you're just getting your feet wet with programming. And references vs pointers vs pass by value is a really ugly thing to teach to someone who doesn't have much experience programming. I like C++ or Java for a second course because OOP is so powerful, I think that's the time when it makes sense to jumping to considering state.

[79wjd]

I think it would be much better to start with functional programming myself. Mutation is so confusing when you're first learning to program. Since functional programming is time independent, like mathematical statements, I think it's the best way to get people to focus on breaking problems into smaller subproblems and then combining them back into solutions. Debugging C++ is such a nightmare when you're just getting your feet wet with programming. And references vs pointers vs pass by value is a really ugly thing to teach to someone who doesn't have much experience programming. I like C++ or Java for a second course because OOP is so powerful, I think that's the time when it makes sense to jumping to considering state.

I took Java as my first language, and it wasn't too bad.

[Nuluvius]

I think it would be much better to start with functional programming myself. Mutation is so confusing when you're first learning to program. Since functional programming is time independent, like mathematical statements, I think it's the best way to get people to focus on breaking problems into smaller subproblems and then combining them back into solutions. Debugging C++ is such a nightmare when you're just getting your feet wet with programming. And references vs pointers vs pass by value is a really ugly thing to teach to someone who doesn't have much experience programming. I like C++ or Java for a second course because OOP is so powerful, I think that's the time when it makes sense to jumping to considering state.

 

That's a valid opinion, each individual will inevitably find that method that best suites themselves in the end.

 

I do strongly agree though, I think that there needs to be more exposure offered to all of the different paradigms at or near to the beginning and not just OO.

[madknight3]

C++ is a really difficult language to start on, I know, because it's the one I first learned.

 

I disagree it can be one of the very best languages to start with.

 

I don't think C++ is a good language to start with programming either.

 

C++ certainly isn't the easiest language to start with but a classroom setting is usually a great way to dive into such a language because of the extra help that's available. There's the teacher, other students, and sometimes additional school options (help centers, extra tutorials, etc).

 

I don't think I'd consider C/C++ for high school students but in terms of college/university I can see the appeal of starting people off with C or C++. They are there to learn at a higher level already and pushing them through C or C++ gives them some extra knowledge that a language like Python wouldn't.

 

I think it would be much better to start with functional programming myself. Mutation is so confusing when you're first learning to program. Since functional programming is time independent, like mathematical statements, I think it's the best way to get people to focus on breaking problems into smaller subproblems and then combining them back into solutions. Debugging C++ is such a nightmare when you're just getting your feet wet with programming. And references vs pointers vs pass by value is a really ugly thing to teach to someone who doesn't have much experience programming. I like C++ or Java for a second course because OOP is so powerful, I think that's the time when it makes sense to jumping to considering state.

 

I've never been taught a functional language and only just recently started to look into them on my own time so it's hard to know how I would have reacted to being taught a functional language before anything else. What functional language would you pick to teach as a first language?

 

I took Java as my first language, and it wasn't too bad.

 

I also took Java as my first language as well. I don't remember having a hard time with it though I know some people in the class did. I think a big part of the difficulty is how easy/hard it is for you to grasp the basics of OOP. Some people pick it up quick while others don't.

[SteveGrabowski0]

I've never been taught a functional language and only just recently started to look into them on my own time so it's hard to know how I would have reacted to being taught a functional language before anything else. What functional language would you pick to teach as a first language?

 

I'd pick Scheme, but mostly because the best intro CS book I have ever seen uses it: The Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. C++ and every other language made so much more sense to me after reading this book. 

 

However, I like ucbscheme much better than MIT-Scheme for doing the exercises in the book, especially the exercises where you write a library for doing MC Escher Square Limit style art.

 

MC Escher work this set of problems in Chapter 2 are based on:

 

An example of using this library you write in Chapter 2:

 

Here is a lecture by one of the authors:

 

There is actually a complete video course taught by the authors, I think it was given to HP employees in 1986.

[madknight3]

I'd pick Scheme, but mostly because the best intro CS book I have ever seen uses it: The Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. C++ and every other language made so much more sense to me after reading this book.     ...

 

I've seen that book recommended a bunch of times but haven't gotten around to taking a look at it. I'll have to make some time to read it.