Any C++ programmers??? Please I need some help!

[HappyScrappy]

I'm trying to switch from consulting on the side over to all freelance stuff, but it isn't proving all that easy.
I'd definitely love to work form home and be able to take naps and stuff.
I'd say it'd be great to program in my underwear too - but I do that here at work anyway

 

[Puc]

How to Program C++ by: Deitel & Deitel

Dr. E has risen to the top of my lunatics list. Dietel & Dietel is a good C++ book IF you have some prior programming experience OR are simply looking for a reference. Trying to read that thing hurt my damn eyes so much because of the annoying font and tendency to bold so much text.


I am a developer and I love my job. I am almost entirely self-taught, also, because my schooling was principally in mathematics.

Being a consultant keeps things fluctuating constantly -- Always interesting and always learning.

 

[Nutzz]

HappyScrappy, are you in the Boston area?

 

[HappyScrappy]

yes - why?

 

[Womb Raider]

Stretch-

I like what I'm doing and I'm quite an introvert so I enjoy not having to deal with people all day, especially stupid annoying people, who I could give a rat's ass about thieir family/social life etc. Plus there's no hot chicks here so what's the point. I could definitly spend time shooting the shit w/ other employees if I wanted to. Maybe I would if I worked in another company.

I wasn't a CS major in school so I can't tell you if they get harder or not. I guess the typical program will teach you programming, then OO design, computer architecture, databases, compiler theory, OS, discrete math, digital logic, etc...I wouldn't think it gets much harder, it will just branch out. I would hope that your program will let you specialize in whatever area interests you and you can follow that path.

It's a good field to be in and for me, it seems the more you learn, the more you realize how little you know.
It keeps me challenged and when I'm working on an interesting project, and am making progress, you get a sense of self-satisfaction and the day seems to fly by.

I'm pretty new to the field. I try to read as much as I can. I do an hour of cardio every morning so I bring a CS book with me - that also helps the cardio time go by.
I haven't experienced the burnout effect but I haven't been put into any stressfull situations yet.

 

[freshr1]

Re: Safe, Efficient Garbage Collection for C++

http://citeseer.nj.nec.com/ellis93safe.html

Dude, that's just a proposal, not an actual ISO C++ feature. C++ does not have garbage collection. Period.

 

[stretch]

Womb Raider, Happy Scrappy, Puc, and Sassy69,
thanks for the feedback.

I'm in the early stages of my computer science education, but as of now, I'm planning on getting a doctorate in it. My only drawback is the fact that I'm working with machines and not people. I really like to work with people, but I figure with a degree in CS I can get a job doing just about anything.

If you have anymore feedback, please let me know.

Thanks again,
stretch

 

[Dr. E]

C++ have garbage collection?? Certainly not pure C++ based on the STL. As far as my COM knowledge goes, isn't the memory allocated for smart pointers garbage collected when they are released?

Writing a garbage collector is not that hard but it is a fair amount of overhead.

As for the people asking about the computer industy:

When you first get out, try to stay away from the big computer companies until you get some experience and can be catapaulted into a cool job. I work for a young startup and have a tremendous responsibility. sometimes I am architecting, sometimes I am coding, and sometimes I am just messing around.

I have friends writing code for IBM, Microsoft, Cisco, just about every big name computer company, and as much as they like there job, they don't have enough influence in the direction of the company to feel that they are making a significant impact.

As for the Deitel & Deitel book reference, the font does suck, but for the price and content it's worth it. Also, the C++ Programming Language by Stroustrup is a great reference for C++, and the C programming Language by Dennis Ritchie is an amazing reference.

 

[Womb Raider]

I'm planning on getting a doctorate in it.

Those extra degrees won't help you much in the IT world but if you're really interested in research/teaching then go for it. 3 years experience vs 3 yrs in grad school, employers will pick the former.

 

[Dr. E]

PhD in cmputer science means less nothing at all in the industry.

However, if your background is like mine (computer engineering), and you have chosen to study hardware in greater depth, then a PhD is awesome in that industry.

MBA is the number one thing in the field when it comes to getting sweet ass jobs!

The Doc