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[C++] Learning the language


Question

Hi there.

I have been wondering for a while now, just exactly when do you "know a programming language"?

I've been working on C++ for about 7 months or so now, and I think I've gotten really good at the basics.

The thing is, I've heard a lot of people saying they learned a language in like four months (or however) long, and I have really begun to feel that I need a couple questions answered.

Before I ask those questions, I would like to point out a few things.

One, I am not in a computer science course (yet), I am in highschool. (avoiding too much personal info.)

Second, I am self-taught. Aside from all the great, and much appreciated, help I get from a lot of you great guys here at neowin, I am teaching myself everything straight out of the books I've gotten.

I currently have C++ Without Fear by Brian Overland, and am now reading C++ Primer Plus (5th edition).

I am going to be buying: Foundations of C++/CLI: The Visual C++ Language for .NET 3.5 by Gordon Hogenson; and

Pro Visual C++/CLI and the .NET 3.5 Platform by Stephen R. G. Fraser. They should come in the mail relatively soon.

So onto my questions.

1. When can you really say you "know" a programming language, and what exactly defines familiarity and proficiency with that language?

2. How or where can one learn more about the language they are learning? C++, for example, has many libraries containing defined values, functions, classes, etc... that help to make the language as powerful as it is. Surely, knowing these libraries must be an important step in mastering the language, so I want to know more.

I am also very interested in learning systems programming for my windows (xp pro with SP3) machine. I think it would be a lot of fun to be able to solve my own systems problems and or manipulate the system to do what I want to.

With regards to that, another question I have is: What do you all think of the .NET platform in Windows 7?

I've heard a lot of both good and bad things about the OS, and I am thinking of switching to W7 when .NET 4.0 is finalized. Does anyone have an opinion on that?

Sorry if this post was too long.

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GEdit didn't have a debugger last time I checked... Do yourself a favor and stick with VS. C++ is hard enough without willingly making it worse. :rolleyes:

Oh, yes. I have to use C sometimes at work. All we have is vim, kdb, and gdb. No fancy smancy gui stuff. Having a graphical debugger would be a godsend. :p

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