coldDeath

This article will show you the very basics of C++ programming.

I'll assume that you have never programmed in or even looked at C++.

C++ (pronounced See Plus Plus) is a compiled programming language, useful for making desktop
applications, algorithms, games etc. You can write you C++ program in any text editor and use
a program called a compiler to create an executable of your program.

The best free compiler/IDE (Intergrated Development Environment) is Dev-C++, you can download it for
free at http://www.bloodshed.com. Install it using the install wizard, and then your are ready for your
first program.

Open Dev-C++, click File>New>Source File or press CTRL + N. From here you can type in your C++ program
and it will higlight your syntax and auto indent your code.

Now type the code from Program-1 into Dev-C++. I suggets you type it rather than copy and paste it, that
way you will remember it and learn it more than if you just copy and paste it.

Program-1:

Now, click File>Save and save it as: HelloWorld.cpp (the cpp extension stands for c++). Then click
Execute>Compile, it should compile without any errors, so you can just press Execute>Run and it will
run the program you just made. Also look inside the directory where you saved HelloWorld.cpp and you
will see a file called HelloWorld.exe you can run this by double clicking it. Congratulations! You have
compiled and ran your first C++ program.


Hopefully, by now you will be wondering how it works, I'm going to go through the code line-by-line
so that you will understand what each line does.

Code: //Hello World Program
Description: This is called a comment, if a line begins with // it will be a comment. A comment is ignored
by the compiler so you can type anything after the //. It is designed so that you can write human
readable comments in your code.


Code: #include <iostream>
Description: This includes the iostream header, iostream stands for input/output stream. If you include
this into your files it will allow you to take in input and send out output.

Code: using namespace std;
Description: This makes the std namespace global. It is hard to explain it when you have only just started,
but you should include this in your code. If you dont you will have put std:: in front of standard
functions, such as cout. cout<<"Hi"; would become std::cout<<"Hi";

Code: int main()
Description: This is the main function. Every C++ program must have a main function. And code between the
{ and } will be executed when the program is run.

Code: cout<<"Hello World";
Description: This code writes the text Hello World onto the screen, as you saw when you ran the program.

Code: cin.get();
Description: This code makes it so that you have to press a key before the program continues, without it the program
would just flash on the screen and then off again.

Code: return 0;
Description: This makes the program end successfully, if you use return 1; it means that there has been an error and
it has to exit unsuccessfully.



Ok I hope you have learnt something from this tutorial, it should help you when you go onto a complete tutorial about
the C++ language.

Recommended Links:
http://cprogramming.com
http://cplusplus.com
http://cplus.about.com

__________________

tempest

Nice tutorial, looks really thorough. Good job.

You even told us how to pronounce C++...

__________________

DaWei

LOL @ tempest. I always just say "See", then spit twice.

__________________
Abstraction doesn't make it impossible to write bad code; it makes it possible to write superior code.
Contributor's Corner: Grumpy on C++ Exceptions DaWei on Pointers

coldDeath

@tempest
thanks

I've heard people say "See add add" and "See Positive" so i thought i'd say how to pronounce it so that people dont make that mistake

__________________

tempest

When i was a n00b i called C# C-pound... i still do if there's a programmer around me who needs a good laugh.

__________________

coldDeath

Lol i thought it was C-Hash before i read any tutorials.

__________________

crazykid48x

I just found out that "cout" is pronounced "see out" a while ago from my for dummies book.

tempest

i still pronouce it "cowt", it just sounds better to me..

__________________

bl00dninja

i thought C++ was pronounced kuh-plus-plus.

__________________
i put on my robe and wizard hat...

Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?...Morons.

DaWei

So who pronounces "char" as in charred steak, rather than as in the first syllable of "character"? Blows my mind every time I hear it.

__________________
Abstraction doesn't make it impossible to write bad code; it makes it possible to write superior code.
Contributor's Corner: Grumpy on C++ Exceptions DaWei on Pointers