I'm really not into that area (yet), but I did start out with C++. The compiler I'm using which is supposedly very popular, is DevC++. There's also the Visual C++ compiler by Microsoft.

I really have no idea how to incorporate graphics at the moment, but I'm sure Aaron knows.

Also, if you have ever played Ultima Online (the first mmorpg ever - almost a decade old and still popular), a GREAT way to learn C# is starting your own shard. A group called RunUo actually recreated the game with C#, and they give you all the source because you can make your own shard on your computer. That's how a lot of poeple are learning because you have a not-too-advanced-game (still took a big team to make it) that you yourself can edit and completely customize. Check it out at Runuo.com. What I love about it is they left notes on what everything does in the C# scripts, even on the AI.

Thank you for the help. I'll check out that Microsoft C++ program, and then maybe later try DevC++ as well.

I might try that game idea as well. But later, when I learn some about coding.

I know C++ and Java, as well as a few others, and as to which you should learn would depend on what you want to do. Personally, I feel that Java is going to explode in the next 3-5 years. Java was originally intended to work on any system, whereas C++ requires code modifications to work on each system. The reason Java will explode is because of the growing numbers of hand-held devices, which is what the first Java applications were creating for.

However, since Java runs though a translator, it is slower, which is why C++ is still used for games. However, C++ lacks the graphics capabilities required for anything more complex than using # signs to write out "HI" across 30 lines. So, if you learn C++, you'll also want to consider learning OpenGL, which isn't so much of a language, as it is an extension. The best thing I can compare it to is how MySQL runs through PHP. You call the PHP functions, but pass the MySQL "code" through as parameters.

I'm not as advanced with C++ as I am with Java, but from what I see, Java seems to be updated more than C++. For example, it has 13 times as many built in classes now as it did when it was release in 1996. So, if you are like me and view learning languages as an investment, then if you want to go into developing applications, learn Java; if you want to develop games, learn C++, and then, OpenGL.

I started both Java and C++ at oopweb.com. I used "Introduction to Programming Using Java" by David J. Eck for Java, and "Thinking in C++ 2nd Edition - Volume 1" by Bruce Eckel for C++ (though I never finished it, but I plan to go back to it eventually).

Edit: Oh ya, almost forgot, compilers. For Java I use (and love) BlueJ (bluej.org). For C++ I use(d) DevC++, but I also have the Microsoft Visual C++ Express Edition, but I haven't been able to get it working. I've seen it in action, and it seems to work pretty well.


Last Edit: Jul 22, 2007 13:26:52 GMT by Mithras

Wow, that's some good information. I'm gonna start looking into Java, especially since I'm taking an AP class this year.

By the way, your oopweb link is broken.


Last Edit: Jul 22, 2007 5:49:22 GMT by Jordan