C++: Getting Started

[Ryan Shrott]

I am new to computer programming and would like to complete the course offered here. I would like recommendations for further material to learn from. I have almost no background in computer science. Are the video lectures completely self contained? Could someone recommend some books I could purchase to complement my studies.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

The course is self-contained but with no computer experience you will need to read as well. I would start and then see how you get on.

Important:

variables and their scope/lifetime
functions (input and output)
main() function

Once you get the hang of these you are on your way! Good luck.
Don't hesitate to ask questions as you progress

 

[Polter]

All the books listed here are worth working through: https://isocpp.org/get-started

 

[Daniel Duffy]

All the books listed here are worth working through: https://isocpp.org/get-started

Yes, but:

I think these are too advanced at the moment,. C++ 11/14 is not in the current QN C++ course. Down the road is a different story.. What needs to be learned is more fundamental as in my previous post.

I do recommend Josuttis' book on STL.


Any 'how-to'/success stories of C++11 for computational finance are always welcome.
Bridging the cognitive distance between generic/vanilla code examples to relevant examples is the real challenge.

Quite a few students have no programming experience. Subjecting them to undiluted C++ books can be risky.

That's just my opinion and experience. You have to walk before you can run.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

All the books listed here are worth working through: https://isocpp.org/get-started

update:
VS2013 Express -> VS2013 Community full C++ is free.

https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs.aspx

 

[Polter]

@Daniel Duffy: I think PPP2 is pretty great for the "no programming experience" crowd: http://www.stroustrup.com/Programming/
It introduces C++ (pretty well; including the fundamentals you've mentioned) as a tool for introducing programming itself which exactly what's needed at this point

One can see that Bjarne has put a lot of thought and effort into making this introduction work well for those completely new to programming -- his thinking is outlined in "Programming in an undergraduate CS curriculum", which I think is worth a read, too: http://www.stroustrup.com/software.pdf

 

[ExSan]

All the books listed here are worth working through: https://isocpp.org/get-started

1. Get a Compiler
... I was expecting eclipse on the list for ubuntu ????

 

[Polter]

@ExSan: Why? Eclipse is an IDE, not a compiler.

 

[ExSan]

@ExSan: Why? Eclipse is an IDE, not a compiler.

I am sorry, you are right.
any way I was expecting Eclipse some how in the list. do you agree is probably the best IDE for Linux ?

 

[Polter]

@ExSan: No worries

I think I prefer Qt Creator, it has a pretty good debugging story (plus, it's written in C++, so lower on resources):

CLion also seems promising (although unfortunately written in a managed language) -- https://www.jetbrains.com/clion/ -- although at the moment it's still a work-in-progress, IMO.

 

[Ryan Shrott]

Ok. I shall start the course and also order the book @Polter recommended: http://www.stroustrup.com/Programming/.

Should this be enough to get me started?

Could someone recommend other resources they used to get started? Maybe some books or websites? I don't mind purchasing some books.

I am totally new to the subject.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

http://www.datasimfinancial.com/forum/

BTW have you started QN C++ or do you intend starting it?

 

[Ryan Shrott]

I intend on starting it very soon

 

[Ryan Shrott]

I also have a mac currently. I was looking at purchasing a Lenovo thinkpad.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

I also have a mac currently. I was looking at purchasing a Lenovo thinkpad.

Nothing wrong with Mac, but Wintel PC is more common with the QN students.

 

[bigbadwolf]

Could someone recommend other resources they used to get started? Maybe some books or websites? I don't mind purchasing some books.

I don't really agree with starting with the Stroustrup book (though it's a fine treatment). I like the recommendation for newbies at Harvard's CS50 course: C Programming Absolute Beginner's Guide, by Perry and Miller.

 

[Polter]

@bigbadwolf: Interesting! I'm wondering, what's the rationale?

 

[bigbadwolf]

@bigbadwolf: Interesting! I'm wondering, what's the rationale?

With regard to learning something new, one can't start at too basic a level. I've got the book myself and I think it's a sound choice for newbies. Learn to walk before you run and all that.

 

[Polter]

@bigbadwolf: Sure, but PPP2 starts at a pretty basic level, too (no prior programming experience). Note that I'm not talking about TC++PL, a very different book (which definitely requires at least some level of maturity).

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Learn to walk before you run and all that.

Just like learning a natural language or martial arts.

The first few modules of QN C++ course are C. Jumping straight into C++ is like learning a shoulder-throw without knowing how to fall.