Starting C++

[grimmcoder]

Hello, My team and I decided we were going to switch from LabView to C++ this year. I am the lead programmer and I do not know C++. I really don't know what to install to be able to. I also need to know where to start, is there a tutorial or article anywhere for "Learning to program robots in C++"? Please Help

[Techhexium]

Well if you don't know C++ then you should take this time now to learn about the programming language. Once you know about the programming language then you can learn about programming robots in C++.

For learning, the best IDE in my opinion would be Microsoft Visual C++ Express 2010.

For learning resources you can find some eBooks that teach C++ or use Google. PM me if you want an eBook to read about starting in C++.

Reference of the C++ Language Library

Documentation for WPILib

I'm not knowledgeable about C++ but I know Java.

[davidthefat]

http://books.google.com/books?id=2so...&lr=#PPP1 ,M1
http://newdata.box.sk/bx/c/

[grimmcoder]

Okay! I'll do that when I get home, haha. If I was reading someones code, I could figure out what it does. But I don't know how to write in C++ or any commands, haha.

[codedr]

Our team uses learncpp.com and cplusplus.com for their tutorials.

[plnyyanks]

I second the use of http://www.learncpp.com/. I used it to learn C++ myself.

[jalburty]

If you already know Java you're well on your way. Even if you've only written a 'hello world' Java program you're well on your way. And, since you appear to have knowledge of LabView and already have a working robot you're just steps away from getting your robot to run on C++.
I suggest the following:
1. Locate your Wind River Workbench for FIRST Robotics Competition 2011 DVD and install the Wind River IDE.
2. Make sure you have the latest C++ updates installed. Here is the link to find them at:
http://firstforge.wpi.edu/sf/go/proj...1_0_for_2011_f
3. Once you get Wind River installed I especially recommend watching these two videos:
http://thinktank.wpi.edu/article/137
4. Write your first program using these documents as your guide:
http://firstforge.wpi.edu/sf/docman/..._documentation
5. Keep asking questions.

[Bongle]

Project Euler is a great source of short, self-contained challenges to give you something to code up. I find when starting out programming it can be hard to find goals that are easy enough that they're within your capabilities but challenging enough that you learn something. You can't set out to code Call Of Duty in your first month of learning. PE problems gradually get more difficult as you go.
http://projecteuler.net/index.php?section=problems


Another good thing, if you're into competition, is TopCoder. Sign up for the algorithm competitions and go wild. The high school competitions should be do-able by a beginner (after you learn the basics of C++ somehwere else).http://www.topcoder.com/tc

LearnCPP and CPlusPlus.com are excellent too.

[duane]

I am working with our programmers to learn programming with C++. I am using Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ as a guide.

I quite like using this book. It teaches good programming techniques with C++ as the programming language. The level is quite good for the students to work alone or in small groups from the book with some guidance from me if they have questions or get stuck.

[JesseK]

If you already know Java you're well on your way

Caveat this with "sorta", as in the concepts of loops, logic, etc all work very similarly between Java and C++.

Yet in Java you can't pass by reference, do void pointers, reference a method as a memory location, do shared memory across processes, etc. Some of this makes for nifty-efficient robot code, some of it doesn't. None of it matters for getting started in FRC, however. So long as the code runs the robot, 5-10% efficiency doesn't really matter.

More stuff here for those who think they know Java. I sure learned several new things on that page, and I program both Java & C++ for a living.

[krudeboy51]

I have these two great books as .pdf "C++ Without Fear Beginner's Guide" and "c++ programming for dummies" if you want i can send them to you via e-mail, i learnt a lot from them!