How to Learn C++ with Microsoft Visual Studio

C++ is one of the most widely used programming languages in the world and it's one of the more difficult languages to learn. Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) that provides capabilities for writing, compiling, and debugging C++ programs. This article is a basic overview of the approach to take to learn C++ with Microsoft Visual Studio. The details of writing C++ code are beyond the scope of this article - this article outlines the order in which you should introduce yourself to C++ concepts.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Microsoft Visual Studio

1. Get a copy of Microsoft Visual Studio. Microsoft offers free Express versions of Visual Studio that are available for download from their site. Check the resources section for a link.

2. Find a good introductory book that covers programming C++ with Microsoft Visual Studio. Books are good to start with because they are specifically structured to teach you one concept at a time and build on things from chapter to chapter. The best way to find a good book is to walk into a bookstore and take the time to read a chapter or two from a few different books. Choose a book that is in a writing style you enjoy and is at a level and pace that you're comfortable with. If you can't find a good book in a store then browse Amazon and read plenty of user comments on the books there. In the resources section below you'll find links to several good C++ books that range from beginner to advanced.

3. Start slow and learn the basic syntax of the language. Learn how to print output to the screen and accept input from a user, which are the things that every program ultimately needs to do. Make sure that you fully understand the code that you write. You won't be able to understand more advanced C++ concepts if you don't have the basic building blocks down cold.

4. 
    
   Debugging a C++ program

   Learn how to use the debugger to set breakpoints and step through your code. Stepping through the code in the debugger is a great way to really see how things work and is the most important tool in figuring out why your programs aren't working correctly.

5. Learn about pointers, references, and memory management. These are some of the hardest concepts for many programmers to understand. Again, make sure you fully understand these concepts before continuing.

6. Move on to learning about C++ classes and the higher level concepts that they offer: encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. This area is where the power of C++ really starts to shine.

7. Try writing some small applications that combine all of the concepts you learned in the previous steps. Play around with different things and push yourself to continue learning more about the language. If you find that you are enjoying your experience with C++ consider taking a class for a more formal education.

Resources

• Download Microsoft Visual Studio
• Beginning Visual C++ 2008
• Effective C++
• More Effective C++

[survivoryea]

on 10/18/2009 Trying to learn the basic - thanks for the pointers!

[karileighk]

on 7/9/2009 I want this program like bad!

[klnygaard]

on 5/17/2009 5 stars