Computer Science Advice?

Question

I'm in high school and I take computer science mainly because it is a honors class, the only elective honor activity class in my school and because before the class started I thought I would learn a bunch but instead the stuff is hard as hell. It is almost like everyone except me is adept at the stuff by the second week and we are all new at. We use a program called Borland C++ to edit and compile the code and I find it extreeeeemly confusing when I am allowed to what. I am continually trying to read stuff but I do not thing anything is helping. I don't understand alot and everyone is may projects ahead of me. I need help but my teacher is always helpings other during the class and never stays after because of her kids. My question is how can Iearn how to do everything and catch up, we have a test on tuesday on a code she is going to give us and one we have to write in a time element, I am sure to fail. Where can I find help also the 7 other people in the class are very much deuchbags and refuse to help so they can beat each other to completing all the projects. I am reading C++ for dummies. What else can help me? I have much trouble imagining but I need to write so that code will appear when i run the program. PLEASE HELP.

Answer 1

That's a hard one to answer... C++ can be confusing, even for people who have been programming for a while. I think "C++ for dummies" is a good start, but you really have to practice what you're reading, or it won't sink in. Do you have a C++ compiler at home?



If your classmates are giving you a hard time, and the teacher won't help, and if learning from books isn't doing it for you, try asking around in your neighborhood. These days, you can't throw a stone without hitting a geek (like me :-). Many of the people who love programming are actually very gentle, and they like to share what they know. Maybe there's a pinboard in your school (or supermarket or whatever) where you could ask for help. Nothing beats a good teacher, in my opinion.



If that doesn't work, there's always Usenet. There are 100s of newsgroup dedicated to programming and C++, and some of them are specifically for beginners.



Other than that... programming is very much learning by doing. Set yourself a small task, and if you're stuck, ask here again (with the specific problem).



Good luck!

Answer 2

I used Borland years ago, before they released their C++ compiler. I'm not sure how good their debugger is, but presumably it's useful enough to help you step through your program and examine variable values.



The only advice I can offer is to practice - you'd be surprised how easy it is to write in C++ once you understand the basics.



Also, when you first start writing code, test your code in small chunks. Use the debugger to step through the code and if something doesn't work right, don't go any further until you either fix it, or understand why it doesn't look right (maybe it is right, and your expectations are wrong). If something doesn't work right, simplify the code until you can post a snippet here on YA, and maybe something will jump off the page at someone who can offer specific advice for that bit of code.



Don't give up - it's hard to say if this is your fault or your teacher's fault, or maybe just flaky examples or programming exercises. Either way, you _can_ get through it, but it might take more effort than you were expecting. Good luck!

Answer 3

C++ is hard, no doubt about it. Without any prior programming experience, it's likely to be the most intimidating thing out there.



My advice would be to break down the code you need to know. I imagine you have something to work with..?



What I mean by break it down, is to try to replicate what each part does, and understand how it works. Re-write code that works, but research each part. The internet is a HUGE help in the C++ area, since that is such a widely used language.



Try not to get too frustrated. Every programmer has been down this road. I have stared at a line and wondered "How the HECK does that work??" for days. After studying each part, eventually I always had an "aHAA!" moment, where everything just makes perfect sense.



Keep looking for that moment, and try to narrow down what you are studying. When you master each small part one at a time, you will find that it eventually becomes second nature.

Answer 4

Your school needs someone who actually knows how to teach computer programming - your teacher doesn't. (I say this as someone who's been teaching programming for a couple of decades.)



Read http://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-Structures-Prentice-Hall-Automatic-Computation/dp/0130224189/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220580484&sr=8-1



It teaches programming, not a programming language. (If you wanted to be a doctor in France, learning French wouldn't quite do it.)

Answer 5

You can start learning C++ with these video tutorials:

http://xoax.net/comp/cpp/index.php



They are perfect for beginners. This one can get you started by showing you how to install a free compiler:

http://xoax.net/comp/cpp/console/Lesson0...



Here are some simple games with code downloads that you can use to get some ideas:

http://xoax.net/comp/cpp/console/Lesson9...

http://xoax.net/comp/cpp/console/Lesson2...

http://xoax.net/comp/cpp/console/Lesson2...



These tutorials can get you started with graphics programming in OpenGL:

http://xoax.net/comp/cpp/opengl/index.ph...



You can go through the tutorials and if you have questions on them or anything else in C++, please post to me here:

http://xoax.net/forum/



Good Luck!