<snip>
Me and a couple of friends are interested in learning c or c++
we are all in yr 10 and have interest in linux and programing in it.
We are looking for a few day course that runs during the christmas
holidays some time. we want it to be resonably laid back and relaxed
using
plain compilers and not anything fancy ie vi :wq gcc foo, most of us
have
done some programing before including delphi, Visual B and a few of us
have dabbled around a lil bit in c/c++
</snip>
My best advice would be to JUST PROGRAM. A course will give you good
insight into the field (depending on the course), but at your stage you
guys would be FAR better off pooling your money and building up a
somewhat decent collection hardware and texts.
The only way to really learn is by DOING it. Suggestion (and entry for
geek of the year award): Create a contest between your friends that
involves programming. Make a decent prize for the winner, and then go
all out trying to learn programming so that you can win the prize. I
have a good contest type programming challenge if you are short of ideas
(anyone sit 3rd year algorithms at usyd this year?)... One other
benefit of this approach is that a good program is like an excellent
reference from an employer. Getting a part time job in computing is
much easier if you have some running complex programs that you can show
them.
A good (and reasonably priced, ~$45) book on programming style is: The
Practice of Programming. (1999) Kernigan B. and Pike R. Addison Wesley
Professional Computing Series, Reading, Massachusettes.
<snip>
none of us have much money so we arnt interested in any
superdooper-come-and-play-on-our-sun type courses.
</snip>
Sparcs are under-powered and overpriced anyway...
Stephen
--
Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember, it did not help
the
rabbit much
-- R.E. Shay
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