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What would people recommend for someone wishing to learn C++ ?

I've used a variety of different languages over the past 45 years, but
haven't successfully tackled a new language in over 25 years (fading
brain syndrome).

My needs are probably quite simple. At the moment, I'm looking at
creating an exe that exits with a return code of 1/0 based on whether or
not ::GetForegroundWindow() returns null.

Once I have some C++ skills, I'll start using something like Visual C++

I'm not fishing for an actual program — helpful people have always come
to my rescue over the years, but I'll never learn this way!

--
Steve Swift
http://www.swiftys.org.uk/

On 11/11/2012 2:28 AM, Swifty wrote:
> What would people recommend for someone wishing to learn C++ ?
>
> I've used a variety of different languages over the past 45 years, but
> haven't successfully tackled a new language in over 25 years (fading
> brain syndrome).
>
> My needs are probably quite simple. At the moment, I'm looking at
> creating an exe that exits with a return code of 1/0 based on whether or
> not ::GetForegroundWindow() returns null.
>
> Once I have some C++ skills, I'll start using something like Visual C++
>
> I'm not fishing for an actual program — helpful people have always come
> to my rescue over the years, but I'll never learn this way!
>

Try a decent book, it might prove useful. I recommend "Accelerated C++"
by Koenig and Moo, and the success might depend on what languages you
already know. Twenty-five years ago the popular ones were C, Basic,
Fortran (IV and 77), PL/I (on mainframes, probably), Cobol, Pascal
(colleges?), Algol-68, Simula, Lisp... (what am I forgetting?) Which
environment are you coming from?

<nonCPPspecific>
At the same time you might want to get a book by Petzold to lean Windows
programming (if that's what you want).

You don't have to wait to "have some C++ skill" to start using Visual
C++ environment. In fact, you might want to start with Visual Studio
just to get your feet wet. Get a book for learning it. The VC++ book
does not have to be the newest, in fact getting an older book will save
you some money and will force you to explore the current tool to find
out the differences between the book and the tool.
</nonCPPspecific>

Ask specific questions if you have any.

V
--
I do not respond to top-posted replies, please don't ask

On 11/11/2012 07:28, Swifty wrote:
> What would people recommend for someone wishing to learn C++

Thanks for the suggestions. It will probably be weeks before I get
started, so don't think that I'm ignoring you, or that I've lost interest.

I retired about 8 weeks ago, and seem to have replaced the daily grind
with a plethora of varied tasks, leaving me with little spare time.

--
Steve Swift
http://www.swiftys.org.uk/

On 11/18/2012 4:53 AM, Swifty wrote:
> On 11/11/2012 07:28, Swifty wrote:
>> What would people recommend for someone wishing to learn C++
>
> Thanks for the suggestions. It will probably be weeks before I get
> started, so don't think that I'm ignoring you, or that I've lost interest.
>
> I retired about 8 weeks ago, and seem to have replaced the daily grind
> with a plethora of varied tasks, leaving me with little spare time.

Interesting (although not C++ specific or even related) how projects
that have been put on hold get new meaning and relevance once other
priorities go away. Good luck in your studies, whenever you get to them!

V
--
I do not respond to top-posted replies, please don't ask