Must Learn C++!!!
 

Hello everyone, im posting this cause im havign some doubts of what i should do next.
I started to learn c++ in the hope of programming my own video game someday. (something like doom)
So yeah, i decided to take baby steps. My first book was c++ for dummies, then i read sams teach yourself c++ in 21 days. Those 2 books made me a console programming expert i guess. But now im not sure what to do next.

What book or website will teach me how to make a windows program?.
What book or website will teach me how to program in direct x?
quick questions
Is direct x a programming language, or an extension to c++?
Do all compilers support direct x?
i use the visual c++ 2005 express edition compiler, and dev c++
I would be very gratefull if u guys could suggest a book or link that will teach me direct x(how to make my own halo) or that will teach me ro program a windows program(like my own microsoft word)
Thx in advance fellow programmers

It's not a language or an extension. It's a library. You import the library and use it to create whatever. The library is just code that's already been written so you don't have to do it yourself.

If your looking for tutorials, I can't tell you much as I don't use C++, but I've touched on it before, and the only website I can think of is www.gametutorials.com . They have some ok stuff.

But honestly, since you are asking these questions, I feel quite sure that you are not ready for DX. A lot of people make this mistake. Consider doing some simple windows programming first. Then try a simple 2D game. Then look at DirectX. It's going to scare you no doubt.

I'm thinking, NOT!!! Nice to see a huge ego in someone other than my girlfriend, though.

Agreed. but I didn't say that :p Like I said, If he's asking these kinds of questions, then he is no expert.

I have been told that you will always learn something new about C++, regardless of how long you've been programming in it. I can definitely vouch for that.

An excellent reference site for all things C++: http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/ .
I go there when I want a quick syntactic reference or best practices when it comes topics such as pointers or references.

also check out http://www.gamedev.net for some game oriented things

Look into purchasing books on C++ programming with DirectX and Visual C++ programming. Also http://www.objectcentral.com/ has some a free library for a GUI for C++. C++ is a great language. Just learning to console program in C++ and reading 2 books are going to make you a C++ king! I suggest "The C++ Programming Language". That book will get you in the right direction. You want to be strong in C++ before using GUI librabies and Frameworks in your C++ programs. It wont take no 21 days/one week or w/e *Sam* like to try to push onto people.

Making a "Halo" or "Microsoft Word" like take years of experience and program solving in C++ or in another other language. Take your time though and don't except to wake up today and know how to develop these things!

Thx everyone, i checked out all this links that u guys gave me. And anyways, why didnt anyone tell me that win32 is windows programming?
Its funny cause i basically searched the whole library, and the book store hoping to find a book called *windows programming*, but there was like so many of em with the keyword win32 in their title name, but i never knew that was windows programming. lol.
That proves my french teacher was right when she said ignoring the meaning of one word can change the meaning of the whole sentence

I can prove she was right quite easily. Ignore the word surrounded by asteriks in the following sentence:

You are *not* an idiot.

Because it's obvious, what else could win32 be?