Coder in need of advice

[zodiac976]

Hello everyone! I am 7 months into C++ programming and became highly interested
in it after attending C++ classes in college and I am continuing to program.

I am looking for some advice on, if I should keep programming in console applications or
switch to windows applications and also if i should start learning openGL, as my main
focus is game programming.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[thejahooli]

Definately switch out of console once you know enough c++, which it sounds like you do.
Also I would would start with 2D using SDL or Allegro before moving onto 3D rendering with OpenGL as 2D games can give you a lot of knowledge which can be used for 3D games without the extra, time consuming process of doing it in 3D.

And welcome to the forums.

[zodiac976]

Thanks, I will check out SDL and/or Allegro and eventually move onto windows applications.

I have another question about windows applications, if it's possible to make programs similiar
to console applications?

For example instead of waiting on a user to input an integer or character; wait on the user for
mouse clicks or certain keys pressed but still maintain a similar text menu look in a console
application.

[thejahooli]

Not sure, never tried it myself.
I'm sure there is a way though but it will probably be more complicated than using the console by itself.

[avansc]

im speaking under correction here. but the winapi has callbacks. so you can execute code depending on events.
just do yourself a favor and stick with something like widgets or some premade library. you do not want to mess with the winapi if you dont have to.

[zodiac976]

Thanks, I appreciate all the advice, but can you explain widgets? I have messed around
some with the win32 API and it is fairly difficult for me but not impossible to learn.

I am so used to console projects right now, making text menu programs and eventually
a text-based RPG. I am probably rushing it too fast but that is just me.

[eatcomics]

Thanks, I will check out SDL and/or Allegro and eventually move onto windows applications.

I have another question about windows applications, if it's possible to make programs similiar
to console applications?

For example instead of waiting on a user to input an integer or character; wait on the user for
mouse clicks or certain keys pressed but still maintain a similar text menu look in a console
application.

there is but I'm not sure how... I'm sure you can achieve a similar look in SDL, but your box at the top with the buttons for minimizing and closing wouldn't look like the command line one...

[zodiac976]

I guess I will stick with console applications a little longer.

I haven't messed with SDL yet but I have messed with darkGDK and openGL.

[Ginto8]

I guess I will stick with console applications a little longer.

I haven't messed with SDL yet but I have messed with darkGDK and openGL.

SDL is a very good library, as is OpenGL. Both can do 2D, though OpenGL can do it more flexibly, as well as do 3D. Personally, I use SDL for window management and OpenGL for graphics, though I have used SDL for graphics in the past. I would highly recommend SDL or just about anything else over winAPI, because, well, none of the code you write would work properly for me (I'm on Linux ), and because WinAPI is really difficult to use. However, it is your choice as to what API you use, so that's my $.02

[zodiac976]

I really should take a look at SDL.

[dandymcgee]

I really should take a look at SDL.

Try it out. If all else fails go back to the console until you can grasp a few more concepts.

[thejahooli]

I really should take a look at SDL.

Try it out. If all else fails go back to the console until you can grasp a few more concepts.

Thats what I did. I wasn't sure whether I should start SDL so I had a go at it and found it fine. There is no point in sticking with console if you know all the C++ that you could get out of it and even if you haven't it is still good and motivating to see something resembling a game.