DotNet Visual C: I very confused :)

  • aaa / 206 / Tues, 23 Feb 2010 00:19:00 GMT / Comments (3)
  • I want to start programming in MS Visual C++. I understand that .NET is
    required? Or do I have to get MSStudio to integrate my work into the NET
    frame work? And any idea when VS 2005 is going to come out. Should I buy
    MSC++ now and then up-grade? I need some real basic fatherly advice in
    very some simple English. I programmed a little (basic) and took a C
    course. Both were over 10 years ago and now I'm retired and want to
    program as a hobby. Real simple English :)

    Thank you in advance for your time.

  • Keywords:

    confused, dotnet, visual, .net

  • http://dotnet.itags.org/visual-c/71181/«« Last Thread - Next Thread »»
    1. "AAA" <artform...yahoo.com> wrote in message news:gNCMc.12$1o.0...fed1read06...
      > I want to start programming in MS Visual C++.

      Well, first you have to distinguish between a tool and a language.

      C++ is language with an ISO standard. MS' version complies with very nearly
      all (but not all to be sure) of the standard.

      Standard C++ makes no mention of lots of important topics - like threading,
      like modern user interfaces (Windows, X11, Aqua etc) etc. Those things are
      always platform specific. There is some work going with libraries and such
      which may have implementations on multiple platforms but that has its own
      set of issues.

      > I understand that .NET is required?

      Well, no! Just by the way .Net is an emerging standard with at least once
      nascent effort to run on something other than Windows
      (http://www.mono-project.com/about/index.html). And while the latest
      development tools from MS allow for .Net targeting, that is not a
      requirement. The tools are equally adpept at building "native" Windows
      applications.

      There is a language called Managed C++, which extends C++ to the .Net
      platform. An issue here is that the current syntax of the language is due
      for a major update. VS2005 will support the new syntax while VS2003 does
      not.

      > Or do I have to get MSStudio to integrate my work into the NET
      > frame work?

      > And any idea when VS 2005 is going to come out.

      Well, sometime next year. :-)

      > Should I buy MSC++ now and then up-grade?

      No, download the beta.

      > I need some real basic fatherly advice in
      > very some simple English. I programmed a little (basic) and took a C
      > course. Both were over 10 years ago and now I'm retired and want to
      > program as a hobby. Real simple English :)

      Here's the deal. For mere mortals picking up the language (standard though
      it may be) and a specific platform is often too much to chew in one bite. If
      you are retired and have lots of time and ambition you may be able to do it
      but you _will_ work up a sweat. If you are like me you will lose some hair
      in the process. :-)

      I suggest finding a good book on the standard C++ language. (I think Bruce
      Eckel's books do a good job of _introducing_ the language). Forget .Net and
      managed C++ for now. The book's examples will be the singly threaded type
      and their output will be the character-at-a-time style that dates from Grace
      Hopper (no modern UI) that are the staple of tutorials. For that you can use
      MS' free compiler:

      http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/vctoolkit2003/

      Work through the book. Learn the language. Do all the examples. Use free the
      compiler to develop, debug and test them. Come back in six months or a year
      (it really takes that long) after you know the language.

      Then you can ask for advice on getting up to speed on the .Net platform or
      Windows (ie "Win32")

      > Thank you in advance for your time.

      You are welcome.

      Regards,
      Will

      P.S. My post is my opinion. Others may have diffeing opinions.

      williamdepalomvpvc | Mon, 31 Dec 2007 15:01:00 GMT |

    2. William DePalo [MVP VC++] wrote:

      >>I need some real basic fatherly advice in
      >>very some simple English. I programmed a little (basic) and took a C
      >>course. Both were over 10 years ago and now I'm retired and want to
      >>program as a hobby. Real simple English :)
      >
      > Here's the deal. For mere mortals picking up the language (standard though
      > it may be) and a specific platform is often too much to chew in one bite. If
      > you are retired and have lots of time and ambition you may be able to do it
      > but you _will_ work up a sweat. If you are like me you will lose some hair
      > in the process. :-)

      > I suggest finding a good book on the standard C++ language. (I think Bruce
      > Eckel's books do a good job of _introducing_ the language). Forget .Net and
      > managed C++ for now. The book's examples will be the singly threaded type
      > and their output will be the character-at-a-time style that dates from Grace
      > Hopper (no modern UI) that are the staple of tutorials. For that you can use
      > MS' free compiler:
      > http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/vctoolkit2003/

      William, the toolkit is not meant as tool for beginners and he is not
      looking for "free" anyway.

      To make the learning more pleasurable I would go with your other
      suggestion, i.e. download the Beta Express 2005 or order Beta 1 2005 DVD
      from MS and use nice IDE with debugger.

      http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/
      http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/vs2005/get/default.aspx

      Roman

      romanziak | Mon, 31 Dec 2007 15:02:00 GMT |

    3. "roman ziak" <news1...MYLASTNAME.com> wrote in message
      news:O0zQPjxdEHA.724...TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
      > William, the toolkit is not meant as tool for beginners and he is not
      > looking for "free" anyway.

      I don't know about that. All a beginner has to do is type the sample code
      from a good book into Notepad, save the file and spend five minutes typing

      cl /?

      to learn how to build the samples and he is good to go.

      > To make the learning more pleasurable I would go with your other
      > suggestion, i.e. download the Beta Express 2005 or order Beta 1 2005 DVD
      > from MS and use nice IDE with debugger.

      Another good choice. :-)

      Regards,
      Will

      williamdepalomvpvc | Mon, 31 Dec 2007 15:03:00 GMT |