onecrazeemom wrote:
> Hello all. I am just a beginning programmer. I have started taking a
> C++ home study course. I am able, mostly, to understand what I have
> done so far. But now I am working on pointers and references... and I
> am a little confused. What is the point of a reference if a pointer
> seems to do the same thing?
>
> I appreciate all of the help I can get, I am a stay at home mom and
> trying to do a little self betterment....(and stay sane, although I
> think I picked a bad field for sanity! - I mean please does one { or (
> really have to cause 76 errors?) Eventually I would like to be able to
> do some small programming from home.
>
> Thanks so much!
> CrazyMom
Stephanie,
I'd say you've hit the head on the nail with that sanity statement.
C++, and programming in general, requires a little teensy bit of
insanity. C/C++ more-so than other languages.
As to compiler error messages. The compiler doesn't really stop once it
encounters an error. However, you generally need the first 3-4 messages
to get the gist of a problem. The quality of error messages after the
first few messages goes downhill fairly fast.
You may be better off learning from a book. Pointers, IMO, are an
advanced topic that should not be taught early on.
When you joined c-prog, you should have received an e-mail containing
the group welcome message. In that message was a list of books that you
should read. Just in case you missed the message, here is that list of
books again and the order in which you should be reading them:
"Accelerated C++" by Koenig and Moo (ISBN #020170353X)
"Safe C++ Design Principles" by Thomas Hruska
"The C++ Standard Library" by Nicolai Josuttis (ISBN #0201379260)
"Effective C++" by Scott Meyers (ISBN #0201924889)
"More Effective C++" by Scott Meyers (ISBN #020163371X)
If you happen to be already reading something other than the books
above, seriously consider supplementing or replacing your book with the
above.
If you can't afford the books mentioned, Bruce Eckel offers "Thinking in
C++" for free from his website:
http://www.eckelobjects.com/
And the group owner, Thomas Hruska, has generously donated his book
"Safe C++ Design Principles" to c-prog group members for free:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/c-prog/files/Books/
Beware any C/C++ author who does not adhere closely to the ANSI C/C++
Standard. One very popular author is Yashavant Kanetkar who is the
author of "Let Us C". His writing may be simple to understand however
his code is non-ANSI Standard. Similar great writers have shown up over
the years who tell wonderful stories but don't adhere to the Standards
defined by the ANSI C/C++ committees.
You should also obtain at least copy of a draft copy of the ANSI C/C++
Standard. Draft copies are free and c-prog links to quite a few of them
here:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/c-prog/links/Standards_001012496381/
--
Thomas Hruska
CubicleSoft President
Ph: 517-803-4197
*NEW* MyTaskFocus 1.1
Get on task. Stay on task.
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