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Geek Culture / Got any C++ advice?

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Sph!nx
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Joined: 3rd Dec 2008
Location: The Netherlands
Posted: 2nd Mar 2013 21:57
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Hey everyone,

I'm thinking about learning C++ but I'm a little lost... and scared perhaps. There is just so much information out there!

My first (and only) code language is DB-Pro and I believe I have a fair understanding of it. DBP uses all kinds of libraries I could use in DarkGDK but I get the impression that it is no longer updated (I can be wrong though).

Long story short, I'd like to learn C++ and I'd like some advice on where to start!

Thanks!

Regards Sph!nx
www.mental-image.net
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Indicium
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Posted: 2nd Mar 2013 22:07
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I'd recommend you start here : http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/

Download Visual Studio Express C++, I think that's the easiest option as it comes with it's own compiler, simple. ( Or you can use any of the IDEs and compilers available )

Ps. Hi again, we had an email discussion quite a while back.


They see me coding, they hating. http://indi-indicium.blogspot.co.uk/
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Sph!nx
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Posted: 2nd Mar 2013 22:31 Edited at: 2nd Mar 2013 22:32
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Yeah I remember. Good to see you. I'm still working on the same stuff! Thanks for the advice. I'll check that site out.

Got any experience with DarkGDK? Would that be a good tool to use?

Regards Sph!nx
www.mental-image.net
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Zotoaster
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Posted: 2nd Mar 2013 22:43
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If you are good with DBP, you should use DarkGDK. Aside from the slightly different syntax, the commands are the same, so getting results to play with shouldn't be difficult. The workings of C++ are different to DBP, and at first they may seem quite complicated and arbitrary, however, once you get past the first few levels of the learning curve, you discover everything is actually pretty simple and sensible. My advice would be to look at the tutorials posted above, and keep in mind that it's not intended to be complicated. It's actually supposed to make things easy. You just have to adjust the way you think.

"everyone forgets a semi-colon sometimes." - Phaelax
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Indicium
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Posted: 2nd Mar 2013 22:45 Edited at: 2nd Mar 2013 22:45
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Quote: "I'm still working on the same stuff!"


I hope it's going well.

Quote: "Got any experience with DarkGDK? Would that be a good tool to use?"


I used it for a while, but as you become more familiar with C++ you'll realise it's not all that great. ( It isn't object oriented, which is a little limiting ) If you feel comfortable using it then by all means do of course.

A lot of us who hang out in the Posting Competition use Ogre3D, which is very powerful and fast, search it. ( Dar13 and TheComet off the top of my head ) It has a bit of a learning curve though. You'd have to have a good understanding of C++ before attempting to use it. The advantage/disadvantage (this is subjective, it depends which way you look at it) GDK has over Ogre is that it is a complete library, if you go down the route of Ogre you have to have a separate library for sound, networking, physics etc.

Feel free to email me any time you have any specific questions, or you can add me on Skype.


They see me coding, they hating. http://indi-indicium.blogspot.co.uk/
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Sph!nx
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Posted: 2nd Mar 2013 23:02 Edited at: 2nd Mar 2013 23:20
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Wow, thanks for the quick responses, guys. I think I'll install DarkGDK, since it's familiar to me. I'll check out the links and found a few more. I guess I should just dive in!

Indicium: That's a very nice offer and I won't forget. Thanks a lot. If you need help with anything just give me a shout!

Edit: One last question. I do not wish to use DarkGDK 2.0 but the older (official) one. Does that support all DBPro Libraries? Ty

Regards Sph!nx
www.mental-image.net
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Indicium
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Posted: 3rd Mar 2013 00:06
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Quote: "Does that support all DBPro Libraries?"


It supports a lot, but not all. You should check the page of each plug in you wish to use and see if GDK is listed.


They see me coding, they hating. http://indi-indicium.blogspot.co.uk/
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Sph!nx
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Posted: 3rd Mar 2013 13:15
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Thanks!

Regards Sph!nx
www.mental-image.net
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Dar13
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Posted: 4th Mar 2013 03:02
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Quote: "A lot of us who hang out in the Posting Competition use Ogre3D, which is very powerful and fast, search it. ( Dar13 and TheComet off the top of my head ) It has a bit of a learning curve though."

I'd actually hold off on Ogre3D until they finish up 2.0 at the least, which is going to be a major rewrite of the API that should increase performance by a ton(the scene manager was getting a bit out-of-date). While I'm waiting for 2.0, I'm using SFML for a side project(2D bullet hell game).

Follow WTLD's progress on Twitter
Git repository for WasTeLanD
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Indicium
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Posted: 4th Mar 2013 03:19
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Me and Serial Velocity are mid project using 1.8 so that's not good news. :-p


They see me coding, they hating. http://indi-indicium.blogspot.co.uk/
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Dar13
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Posted: 4th Mar 2013 03:26
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Quote: "Me and Serial Velocity are mid project using 1.8 so that's not good news. :-p"

Just freeze the version of SDK you're using. I was using 1.7.3 with WTLD. If you really want to, you can integrate some of the upstream patches into your SDK, but you'll have to recompile Ogre.

Follow WTLD's progress on Twitter
Git repository for WasTeLanD
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Sph!nx
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Posted: 4th Mar 2013 11:20 Edited at: 4th Mar 2013 11:23
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Thanks, Dar13. Good to know. Found that library on my searches. Ogre and SFML are not real engines but more tools to create your own. Exactly what I'm looking for!

I'm still browsing around, gathering info and resources, like libraries and documentation to give myself as much of an experience I have with DBP (We are spoiled by TGC! ).

A Dutch saying: "A good beginning is half the work". The more I find and learn, the less it scares me so all information, sites or other resources are most welcome here!

Regards Sph!nx
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