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I am getting back into C++ world after nearly a decade. Apparently, there has been a world of development. Would like to get the developer community's advice as to what would be a good approach to have a smooth take-off.

To start with, I have done the following:

  1. Read up (very briefly) on C++ 11 standards
  2. Installed GCC 4.7
  3. Wrote a Hello World program

I am sure getting a decent book and reading through it would do. But I am looking for any strategic advise experts might have to share. Trying to leverage on past experience to have a short but effective initial learning span. What would be top few things I would have to look into?

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My best advice is: Don't. Learn Objective-C or Python or something instead. – Minthos Dec 11 '12 at 13:49
How about FORTRAN? – Blrfl Dec 11 '12 at 14:28
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@Minthos, Blrfl: your comments aren't exactly insightful. C++ developers are in extremely high demand these days. Not everybody is writing websites. – honk Dec 11 '12 at 14:33
@honk So are Objective-C and Python developers. And as someone who has recently gotten paid to write code in both Objective-C and C++, I find Objective-C much more enjoyable than C++. – Minthos Dec 11 '12 at 14:47
@honk: I'm a C++ developer. My comment was directed at Minthos, who's been on an "anything-but-C++" binge lately. I neglected to throw an @ in it. – Blrfl Dec 11 '12 at 20:48

closed as not constructive by gnat, Ryathal, Walter, Blrfl, GlenH7 Dec 11 '12 at 14:35

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1 Answer

up vote 1 down vote

C++11 is brand new, and I think there still isn't any compiler that supports it 100%. This means that it will take years for it to enter the corporate world. Existing projects are unlikely to upgrade their compiler version unless there is a significant gain (in business value) for doing so. It doesn't mean you should ignore it, but you don't have to worry about it as much as you do.

My advice would be to read the "classic" books such as Effective C++ (and pretty much all Scott Meyers). In the meantime, go on and code something complex. You didn't mention how much experience you have already. Write many small but functional programs, possibly relevant ones to the field you are targeting (if you want to go with DSP, then make such programs). This is also usable as a github-portfolio, which is a great thing. It doesn't matter if there is a program already that does the same thing, you just need to practice. Finishing small, but useful projects is rewarding, too.

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Actually compiler support is pretty good already as this standard didn't exactly rush into existance. There are many cool features already supported by gcc, clang, msvc and intel, eg atomics, initializer lists, lambdas and r-value references(!!) – Archy Dec 11 '12 at 16:23
@Archy I'm aware of that, but none of them supports the standard fully yet, I was trying to emphasize that. Did you downvote because of this? – fish Dec 11 '12 at 17:06
No, of course not, your answer is still good. Upgraded you to 0, all I can do :) C99 is 12 years old and still not fully supported by most compilers, I doubt C++11 ever will be. – Archy Dec 11 '12 at 17:08
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Well, they are different. C++03 is also almost 10 years old (or even more, considering it is a slightly fixed version of '98) and compilers had pretty a good support for it. There isn't such huge demand for C99 as there is for C++11. And times are changing: ever since clang entered the playground, compilers are racing with feature completeness. Even Microsoft is picking up the pace. – fish Dec 11 '12 at 17:15

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