New programmer needs advice

[Vince S]

Hello. I'm currently trying to learn programming in C++. My goal is to
write Windows applications, mostly for personal use. For example, I'd like
to create my own multi-threaded newsreader.

My plan was to learn standard C++ and then VisualC++/MFC. I've been through
most of one C++ book (Deitel) and I've started on another (Accelerated C++ /
Koenig & Moo). After that I was going to read Programming Windows with MFC
(Prosise). I figured I would then be ready to start writing Windows apps.

However, since then I've discovered C# and from what I've been reading it
sounds like the best way for me to program in Windows. I love the whole
concept of a simpler language with automatic memory management. I love the
fact that there's no pointers (learning to use pointers in C++ is tough).

So I've decided that I want to program in C#. Now my dilemna is, should I
continue to read my C++ book and learn all the details of C++ before
learning C#? I feel like I already have a good basic understanding of C++
and OOP, so is it really necessary for me to learn C++ in detail if my plan
is to program in C#? Should I just shelve the C++ books for now and start
on a C# book? If anyone has advice for me on this, I'd appreciate it.

 

[Miha Markic]

Hi Vince,

I would say go with C#.
You won't need additional C++ knowledge for 99% of stuff you'll get into

Miha

 

[Simon Storr]

Agreed - I would wholeheartedly recommend C# to anyone - beginner or guru
) It is similar to C++ but I would recommend learning it from scratch as
there are a few differences. For a book 'C# Complete' is an excellent
choice.

 

[Jon Skeet]

So I've decided that I want to program in C#. Now my dilemna is, should I
continue to read my C++ book and learn all the details of C++ before
learning C#? I feel like I already have a good basic understanding of C++
and OOP, so is it really necessary for me to learn C++ in detail if my plan
is to program in C#? Should I just shelve the C++ books for now and start
on a C# book? If anyone has advice for me on this, I'd appreciate it.

You certainly don't need to know the details of C++ in order to learn
C#. I suspect a lot of C# programmers *don't* know the details of C++
(including me!).

 

[Miha Markic]

You certainly don't need to know the details of C++ in order to learn
C#. I suspect a lot of C# programmers *don't* know the details of C++
(including me!).

I do know some, but I really don't miss them

Miha