ANyone interested in tutorials?

carrja99 · 02-19-2003, 09:56 AM

Recently, as I was tutoring students in intro to C++ courses, I realized it was good for keeping my skills sharp. I am considering perhaps doing a weekly thread in C/C++ forum that explains in detail certain parts of C++ programming (yeah yeah yeah, scream all you want you want C, not C++ ya dumb****s).

The first thread would be determined by whatever concept is confusing someone, something simple, and then we could go from there. For example, someone doesn't comprehend the difference between pass-by-value and pass-by-refrence, so I'd explain it and include illustrative code. Then another set of threads could explain elementary data structures like linked lists and binary trees and, in addition to providing example and exercises, I could answer any questions anyone has regarding it.

This is only an idea, perhaps something to get that area more active. I am likewise thinking of getting some people on other C/C++ boards to switch over and provide expertise as well, but keeping in mind the forum is for learning C++, not "will you do my homework for me?"

Well, thoughts? Comments?

sde · 02-19-2003, 10:13 AM

i for one would greatly appreciate your contribution. i've been learning c++ for the last 6 months or so, and i really am determined to get good at it.

how do you think this would work best? we do have a tutorials section that we are still currently porting over from our old system into the forums here .. but it seems like your idea is more of a class / interactive tutorial / lesson.

maybe we can setup a dedicated forum like saline's 'brain teaser' forum. perhaps the initial tutorial posts can be copied over to the 'tutorials' section, .. while your forum will be left for replies and sort of a workshop environment ..

is this what you have in mind? or something else? i love the idea, but let me know how you want to impliment it.

thanks!

carrja99 · 02-19-2003, 10:48 AM

yeah... perhaps something where once a week (or sometimes even twice a week) a certain concept is posted. It would be aimed towards intermediate users (so we can skip the "Hello World" crap), something like starting off with basic file i/o, then looking at sorting algorithms, searching, elementary data structures, etc.

I'll probably get around to setting up a thread starting with a lesson on linked lists because I've noticed alot of people (including myself the first time) having trouble with them when they're pretty easy when you understand them.

basically, it'd be kind of an interactive tutorial, where someone could read it, practrice the exercises, and then post something like "yeah, but when I tried <something> I keep getting the error <error>. Why? Here's my code." or "Interesting, but I was wondering if you could implement this by..." which, the second response mentioned brings the interesting insight together. Some people see different ways of solving a problem, which can either be more efficient or the same results but different implementation.

Well, I'll post one tonight after classes. laters!

sde · 02-19-2003, 10:54 AM

alright, .. i'll make a new forum named "C++ Workshop" and make you a moderator.

Whenever you make a new workshop, then you can make it "sticky" so people know where the current focus is .. however old threads can still be replied too.

carrja99 · 02-19-2003, 04:59 PM

Well, I started off with a fairly easy file i/o lesson. Got too much homework tonight, so I pretty much touched the basics and left it open for practice and experimentation. I'll probably wrap it up tomarrow (that's the good thing about having one lesson per week!).

Jawn · 03-18-2003, 02:36 AM

I've just finished my second intro to C++ course... and I'd really like to learn more. I'm not sure where this falls in the grand sceme of things, but I was particualrly confused by a couple of topics that I'd like to see example code for.

First was passing a function by refrence for use in a class (specifically a priority queue). I never really understood how I got it to work, my TA basicallly wrote it for me.

Also, they brought up the "this" pointer without explaining... well... anything about it. *shrugs* That's my $.02.

I could try to contribute a little to some of the more basic tutorials, like sorting algs. or recursion.

Thanks,

carrja99 · 03-18-2003, 04:37 AM

Yep pointers had me confused too at first. They are relatively easy to use and make way for data structures such as binary trees and linked lists. I'll probably whip up a tutorial sometime soon.

Jawn · 03-18-2003, 01:22 PM

Not pointers in general, just specifically the "this" pointer. Like in a graph class, when comparing if two nodes are both the in the graph you called them with.

template <typename NodeInfo, typename ArcInfo>
bool Graph<NodeInfo, ArcInfo>::AreConnected(Node *n1, Node *n2)
{
Iterator<Arc *> *iterator;
bool found;

if (n1->graph != this || n2->graph != this) {
Error("AreConnected: Nodes are in different graphs");
}
iterator = arcs->CreateIterator();
found = false;
while (!found && iterator->HasNext()) {
Arc *arc = iterator->Next();
if (arc->start == n1 && arc->end == n2) found = true;
}
delete iterator;
return (found);
}

MuddBuddha · 05-31-2003, 05:14 PM

Well, I think a REAL C++ tutorial woudl be great. One that teaches on a down to earth level - and opens the subject for discussion. I am a automation programmer (GPL) and am switching (or trying) to real world programming. But often experienced programmers are critical of questions in forums and do not help motivate you to keep studying and learning. Their demeanor is rather self-righteous. I really want to get into C++ and sometimes I just need to ask a stupid question! so what! If they were trying to get into GPL - they would have stupid questions too. My programming language may be old - but that dosn't mean it doesn't have it's complexities.....man, did I ramble on!