Visual C++ Vs. Flash MX | 2 questions!

[jayoe]

Question 1
I like Flash I've used it for making website stuff and little programs. However I want to go into real solid programming stuff so I've heard of Visual C++. Is making small programs in Visual C++ anything like making small programs in Flash?

Question 2
And for getting started and finding information about all stuff Flash I grade Actionscript.org A++ for those in the know what forum is as good as Actionscript.org for C++ programming?

Thanks!

[ASWC]

It's harder to code with C++ because it's a strong typed core language and it doesn't allow you the freedom to not declare the type of your variable or not specify the return type of your function and so on. All that is for efficiency of course, but it's syntax is similar to actionscript syntax. The amount of classes coming with visual is huge and this is where you'll need a lot of years of studies to be able to make something good out of all that. But with C++ you also got access to directX development and OpenGL development which is just fascinating and fun. Good luck anyway, learning C++ or any core languages it's a long road ahead...;)

[Cota]

Let me add to what ASWC stated, C++ is also more of console language, meaning, more for App development, although in the .NET world you can port if to the web. Just keep in mind that Flash and C++ really cant be compared, apples and oranges as they say.

With that said, I would encourage you to learn as many other languages as you can regardless of their purpose. You'll find that you get a deeper understanding of OOP when you can do it in more than one language.

[ASWC]

Yeah, C++ is not cross platform at all and it's one of the main reason it won't fit very well on the web, but on server side as cgi it's ok. But not being cross platform is also the reason why C++ is so poweful. Also, with C++ you still can write procedural code like in actionscript while with another powerful language like java (the one behind the flex scene) you can't escape to writing classes. Anyway, I came from C++ to actionscript and the transition was easy, but I can see that the opposite will not be as true especialy when it's so easy to take bad coding habbits with actionscript.

[jayoe]

Is C++ old fashioned ? I was looking at this C++ beginner tutorial on you tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nziy2_U5JQI&feature=related) with a program called Dev-C++ anyways this guy makes a program and when it’s done it looks like 1980s-1990s kind of program. It has a black blank screen with I think green text!

I want to do stuff with buttons and make it look like a modern traditional genuine software program. Why did this thing look so 1990s? I recently read something about GUI’s. Is the look of a program brought on by like GUI styling imported code classes?

I want to work with the best up-to-date modern software language possible, let me know!
Thanks!

[ASWC]

No worries, with C++ like with any core languages, you can do whatever you want. C++ is used to create a lot of modern desktop applications. As for tutorials for beginners, you might see applications running on the good old DOS console but all that is to teach you the basics. A LOT of 3D games are made with C++ since it's considered by many the most efficient language in terms of rapidity of execution. Also, with visual C++ which is an altered version of C++ coming with a powerful IDE, you actualy create your GUi without even writing a single line of code (the IDE does it for you), you can drag and drop text boxes (or any element you can think about) directly onnto the GUI and here again no code to write so far, the IDE does it for you. then of course you start to write the functionalities but for a start that's quite easy. You can of course extend the graphic classes and create you own GUI, so like I said, no worries, C++ is an extremly serious language with a tremendous amount of posibilities coming along. Just one note, with C++ or visual C++ any application that you write will only run in the OS that you will write for, if you write for windows, then it won't run on mac or linux unless you write another version for it.

[bowljoman]

Super easy to make simple form apps. Also fun to stuff unmanaged code into .net classes, albeit one hell of a challenge depending on the library.

Question 1.
Consider with flash it is easy to program a movie or GUI that makes the user dizzy while with c++ you can blow their hands off.

And there is no 'sand box' to save you.(exception for .net __gc classes)

Question 2.
As it was mentioned, the libraries for c++ cover everything from operating system level objects to embeded military applications, so you will have to narrow that one down to a subject.

[bowljoman]

...this guy makes a program and when it’s done it looks like 1980s-1990s kind of program. It has a black blank screen with I think green text!


Thats what flash communication server looks like when it runs :)

[jsebrech]

Apples and oranges.

If learning flash is like learning to drive a car, learning Visual C++ (with MFC) is like learning to fly a boeing 747. You need to understand that even if you might figure out a few things in C++, you will keep crashing hard unless you spend years and years educating yourself.

[BernzSed]

C++ is an important language, and I think it's a good idea to learn it eventually. However, if you find jumping from Flash to C++ too difficult, you could try learning another language first, such as Java or C#.

Whatever you end up doing, good luck. Learning new languages is fun.
I loves me some Hello World.