Hi jim, Yeah, learning C++ from scratch is pretty daunting. No argument from me on that point. It definitely isn't for the lay programmer, and takes years of experience to get really good at it. For example, when I took C++ at Wright State around 1998 I went through the standard 12 week course. I learned all the basic stuff functions, variables, pointers, classes, objects, etc. In a word all the basics of the language, but when I walked out of that class 12 weeks later I still had no real idea how to put all that together and create a program I could use. For one thing I hadn't learned is the more advanced aspects such as the Windows Win32 API or the Microsoft Foundation Classes which are essentual for indepth Windows programming. When I eventually got Microsoft's official book on Windows programming I nearly fainted because it was 1,200 pages of Windows specific programming that I hadn't even covered in class. Not something I'd wish on my worst enemy. With Visual Basic 6, for example, all of that 1,200 pages of stuff is nicely wrapped by the Visual Basic runtime or you can load additional components through the com interface. Now days the Microsoft .NET Framework does the same thing but is available to C++, C#, and Visual Basic .equally making it hundreds of times easier to write something without a great deal of the libraries and headers that make up the Windows operating system. If you want to draw a window just create a new instance of the Form class and run with it. You don't have to pump Windows events and messages, create a Windows process handler, write your own garbage collecter, and a bunch of other stuff as the .NET Framework does all that behind the scenes. Some in the I.T. field feel we are dumbing down the next generation of programmers, but I will agree it is way easier to write something for Windows than it use to be with all of these rapid development languages like C# .NET and Visual Basic .NET.
Cheers! --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gam...@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.