New programmer Thread

I've just started using scripts and codes. And i would like to get a hands-on-training, because simply is that some stuff i do and dont get I use C++, and one of the thing i wanna start doing is help making mods in star wars empire at war and after a few years of coding i want to recreate star wars battlegrounds just in a more better updated graphics. So if someone could show me or give me a link to how to start that would be most thankful for you.And i would most like a live show on a beginner guide, like over skype. thank you. If you do answer to me on here like on skype i am 14 years of age, and i just wanna get a head start i hope to be my future career.

(this is what i have gotten so far from a web site)
#include
#include

using namespace std;

float addition(float num1, float num2)
{
return num1 + num2;
}
float subtraction(float num1, float num2)
{
return num1 - num2;
}
float multiplication(float num1, float num2)
{
return num1 * num2;
}
float division(float num1, float num2)
{
return num1 / num2;
}

int main()
{
float number1;
float number2;
int choice;
cout << "Choose your opperation. 1 = Adding. 2 = Subtracting. 3 = Multiplying. 4 = Dividing" << endl;
cout << "Choice: ";
cin >> choice;
if(choice==1)
{
//Addition
cout << "You are adding. Enter the first number you would like to add. \n Number 1: ";
cin >> number1;
cout << " Enter the second number. \n Number 2: ";
cin >> number2;
cout << " The answer is: " << addition(number1, number2) << endl;
}
else
{
if(choice==2)
{
//Subtraction
cout << "You are subtracting. Enter the first number you would like to subtract. \n Number 1: ";
cin >> number1;
cout << " Enter the second number. \n Number 2: ";
cin >> number2;
cout << " The answer is: " << subtraction(number1, number2) << endl;
}
else
{
if(choice==3)
{
//Multiplication
cout << "You are multiplying. Enter the first number you would like to multiply. \n Number 1: ";
cin >> number1;
cout << " Enter the second number. \n Number 2: ";
cin >> number2;
cout << " The answer is: " << multiplication(number1, number2) << endl;
}
else
{
//Division
cout << "You are dividing. Enter the first number you would like to divide. \n Number 1: ";
cin >> number1;
cout << " Enter the second number. \n Number 2: ";
cin >> number2;
cout << " The answer is: " << division(number1, number2) << endl;
}
}
}

//End program
cout << endl << endl;
system("PAUSE");

}

I've just started using scripts and codes.

So you're new to coding.

And i would like to get a hands-on-training, because simply is that some stuff i do and dont get I use C++, and one of the thing i wanna start doing is help making mods in star wars empire at war and after a few years of coding i want to recreate star wars battlegrounds just in a more better updated graphics.

WAT?

I *guess* you want to learn to code for game development. I don't want to discourage you, but want you to know that game-development is one of the most complex choices for programming you could have made. I certainly hope you like maths (linear algebra).

As for the programming itself, I do NOT recommend you to start with C/C++. You'll need to learn Object Oriented Programming (OOP), which is an entirely different structure than what you've posted here.

All in all I'd start with Java or C# (I'd go with Java).

• Learn the basic stuff (different control structures, data types, etc.) and UNDERSTAND them.
• Get used to it by making more and more complex applications (don't dive into a complex one right away).
• Learn the basic ins and outs of your debugger.
• Understand the idea behind OOP.
• Apply it on small scale applications.

At this point you should be much more skilled than you're now. Then it would be time to learn "proper" programming.

• Learn how to do proper exception handling.
• Learn how to do a properly structured application that stays easy to maintain and upgrade even if it gets much bigger (Hint: MVC).
• Learn how to write a GUI Application (window, not console) by hand without the use of a GUI-Builder.
• Get experienced with that stuff.

There's much more to do, but this will keep you busy for quite some time.
As you can see, this is a lot of work. So do yourself a favor and take one step at a time.
If you have further questions, feel free to ask.

Edited by: TheSniperFan

Well, I'm no expert at coding, but I'll tell you how I learned making games. I had many attempts when I was about at your age, but always ended giving it up (didn't have enough motivation & was too complicated for me).

Finally I watched some video tutorials on youtube (made by thenewboston) on java programming and in about a month I was able to start developing my own game. So I'd suggest to search on youtube for thenewboston, and watch some of his tutorials.

It's really important to understand them, so even if it takes some time, don't just rush through them but watch the videos carefully and don't go to the next one until you can do alone what's in the video.

Good luck!

So what exactly is the point of you pasting that code here? Do you need help with it?

TheSniperFan wrote: As for the programming itself, I do NOT recommend you to start with C/C++. You'll need to learn Object Oriented Programming (OOP), which is an entirely different structure than what you've posted here.

C++ is an OO language. And I actually would recommend starting with C++. I started out with C++ and it helped me learn Java and C# a lot faster than most other programmers I know.

Of course you are right that the code he posted isn't OO, but he's got to start somewhere, right? Learning what functions are etc.

Metalspy wrote: So what exactly is the point of you pasting that code here? Do you need help with it?

TheSniperFan wrote: As for the programming itself, I do NOT recommend you to start with C/C++. You'll need to learn Object Oriented Programming (OOP), which is an entirely different structure than what you've posted here.

C++ is an OO language. And I actually would recommend starting with C++. I started out with C++ and it helped me learn Java and C# a lot faster than most other programmers I know.

Of course you are right that the code he posted isn't OO, but he's got to start somewhere, right? Learning what functions are etc.

C++ is not a pure OO language, but a hybrid which can be confusing at times.

With C++ it's easier to shoot yourself in the legs, which is why I recommended learning Java first. The thing is that the Java VM does some stuff for you already (garbage collection for example).
But he can start with C++ of course. It was just a recommendation from my side.

It's a tough one to decide. Learn a GC language first and you might get bad resource management habits. Learn C++ firs and you might get frustrated and quit.

I cannot mentor you (hands-on-training as you said) and I cannot link you to good resources for beginners, but because this turns to another "learn language [insert here] first" thread let me say:

Choose a programming language which you think is appropriate and start coding. Regardless of the language, you will make mistakes or get frustrated sooner or later, but as long as you don't give up, you get better and better. And if you don't like your choice, switch to another language (maybe a declarative language), the basic theory behind programming stays the same. The most important factor is, that you constantly learn to improve your skills and knowledge. There is no perfect programming language out there.

Also you will not program the best game/application in the world from the beginning, but it looks like you already know this, because you said "after a few years of coding". Thats very realistic and mature.

And if you want to go for graphics or game programming, don't forget to learn math (most important linear algebra), as TheSniperFan mentioned.

Hope this helps you.
Good luck!

Edited by: MausGames