Hey Guys,

I'm wondering if anyone of you regulars here are interested in designing a C++ tutorial through Angelfire or through some free online web server. I was thinking of making a tutorial that covers the origins of the C++ language as well as throwing in some possible sample code that visitors can use to visualize what is actually being done in the process as we implement particular programming techniques.

I have thought of how we could do this. What we could do is set up an account through a server, and possibly share the account password/alias so we can upload/edit the site at our own time (of course with each of us being in different time zones). This information will only be distributed amongst those who want to help. Think of it as an open source project.

What will we get out of it? The satisfaction of helping people and familiarizing everyone with what programming is all about. Perhaps even learning more. I'm just curious to see who would like to be a part of this. In the Fall I will be a sophomore working towards a computer science degree. I also have a good deal of C++ programming and understanding under my belt to write a simple tutorial. Personally I feel that this would be a good experience working with other people even with the geographical barriers between team members.

My professor had always told me that there will be such barriers at times. However, my main interest is getting as much experience as I can and possibly pouring all of my knowledge into something worth while and something that I could work on in my spare time. However there is still a lot for me to learn, and I want to learn as much as possible before it's time I enter the industry.

If this sounds good to any of you out there, please leave a comment and I will get to work on early development right away. All I'm shooting for is a simple tutorial or a nice neat site that will teach the basics of C++ programming. If it exceeds the expectations then hey I'm all for that as well.

On the other hand if no one is interested or if Justin says that I shouldn't post something like this up here, then could someone point me in the right direction? I'm very interested in starting a project like this, especially if I'd have the priviledge of working with the extremely bright experts (such as Don Arnett, SN, Infinite Recursion, egkenny...amongst the many here) from this forum.

- Rolos

I did a quick search on C++ tutorial and found quite a number of them.

That doesn't mean that this is a bad idea, just that the main benefit will be the learning experience for the 'writers'. I taught C classes a number of years ago and that helped me to learn C very well. The process of figuring out how to teach others leads you to learn something very well.

And, since everyone learns differently, maybe this site or parts of it would help people who didn't understand other tutorials.

I'm basically a C programmer who has learned C++. I can use classes etc, but don't use C++ I/O (cout, cin, etc). But I'm pretty good at pointers and developed a way while teaching to explain pointers that I think helps people to understand them. I started a pointer tutorial but need to rework and finish it.

I'd have limited time to work on this but would be interested in doing a 'pointer' tutorial section.

Also, I can provide some webspace if desired. I have a web-hosting account that allows 10 domains and 3gb of disk space and I'm using only 3 domains and 150mb of space. I should be able to have a separate shell login setup for it. The advantage would be no popups and the availability of email accounts, JSPs, and a database if desired. If desired, I might be able to have it setup so that numerous people could have access to the control panel.

As Don pointed out.. there are several tutorials already out there. However, as he also mentioned, there may be a need for people to be able to reference other tutorials to get a better understanding of certain concepts. My time is fairly limited between work and personal projects... but I would enjoy working with you all on this, if you decide to undertake the project. Just let us know a rough outline, maybe a few standards so we can all be "on the same page"... For laughs, perhaps we can also consider a Visual Basic tutorial of similar magnitude to accomodate the recent flow of Visual Basic questions. Keep me posted Rolos...

Infinite Recursion

I don't know much about C++ (I haven't done it for a couple years and only learned enough to do a file parser with a quick gui) so count me out, but I DO think we should have a "top questions" page on here so people don't ask "which language should I learn" or "How do I make an image change when the mouse goes over it on my web page" questions every week. Actually I'm sure this would do nothing to stop the flow of these questions but at least it would give us another reason to make fun of them.
-SN

I don't know much about C++ as well, but as Don pointed out, the process of figuring out how to teach others leads us to learn something very well, and yeah, i really want to learn c++ well.

I am not an expert programmer in all the popular languages. But I do know C, Java, Pascal and Assembly language. I don't think I have much time, but I am willing to reorganize everything so I can take part developing the tutorial. :)

WTK

Well how about we collaborate a sort of multi-language programming tutorial page that includes tutorials of all sorts from HTML to PERL to C++ to anything. What Don mentioned was what I had in mind, we could all do this in our spare time. In such a manner we could reference very basic simple 'hello world' kind of questions to this tutorial page.

I have to admit that I do not know very much about web site management. I'm your basic HTML and JavaScript guy, which is why I am taking a web site management course this upcoming semester (CS300 here at my Univeristy). But I know enough to get a simple one up and adding effects with the DOM, CSS, XML, XHTML and what have you.

I was thinking of something very basic, each page would have a black baackground with white font. Nothing super fancy, yet subtle and cunning at the same time. As for the homepage, I have an idea of how I would create a decent looking one. I'll post up a sample link as soon as I can get it done.

- Rolos

lol. Wow IR, I only noticed your portion concerning VB now. Haha. Yeah sure why not, then we could include a section that totally bashes VB and how inferior it is to C and C++ j/k. Well anyhow, so far I have plans of creating a C++, HTML, and JavaScript portion for the tutorial page.

- Rolos

Rolos,

Sounds good... I especially like the idea of comparing VB to C/C++ and indirectly
"bashing VB" :)

But, in all fairness... VB is a good language and there is a substantial amount of VB threads posted in here thay may be slightly reduced if a FAQ or some derivative were available. I would be willing to undergo a few VB sections.

As far as the outline, it really depends on how far you all want to go with it... from "The History of C++" up to and beyhond AI Algorithms, etc. After we define where we want to go with the tutorial (concepts to be covered), we can all start figuring out where each of us could take part.

As with most written works, you may want to have someone to review the overall
tutorial(s) to check for consistency and coherence, etc. One guy could have the concept down in "English", where the very next section the reader could be blown away by technical jargon by the next guy trying to present a concept. However, with programming, we could at least expect the readers to have a general understanding of computers for sure, but how much knowledge of programming should we assume they have? I guess what I am trying to figure out is "Who is the target audience?" ... Entry level programmers, students, researchers... I assume from comments above, that we are going to try and streamline basic concepts of a few languages.

Overall, its a good idea Rolos... We may want to get a generic outline of each tutorial going to see which sections we can help in, as well as using it online as a "table of contents" or menu to navigate the tutorial(s) when it is complete.

I am in CST (Central Standard Time).

Infinite Recursion

I was just looking around computing.net, out of curiousity (i normally don't wonder out of the programming forum)... but, I noticed there is no Programming FAQ at

http://www.computing.net/faq/

Perhaps, if there was a FAQ there, that would solve -some- of the questions about "Which Language Is Best" or "Free Compiler Locations" etc... Just a thought.

Infinite Recursion

seems like a good idea, rolos. although, as you can probly see from most of my posts, i dont know that much about c++...mostly just about your enemy, VB!!! but, IR,(or anyone else) if you want any help for the VB part if you do it, then i can help with that. oh, im in EST (eastern standerd time). keep us updated, rolos.

eaw8806

Looks like I got a lot of feedback/input pertaining to the tutorial idea so I will go ahead with it. I will post up an update topic sometime later in the week with a link of a probable sample formatting tutorial page along with the probable design of the homepage. If anyone wants to take a crack at the homepage design, please feel free to go ahead and whip something up in your spare time. Anything goes, what really matters is the contribution of everyone's bright ideas.

Don, I would like to take you up on your server space offer, however I would not feel right adding another burden to your busy schedule. Thank you very much for the proposition, I will keep it in mind. For now it looks as if I'll be creating an account with angelfire or something, then perhaps look into something else if it begins to exceed the 20 Mb limit (perhaps then Don I'll take you up on the offer).

I'm in dire need of some r&r, I've been overdoing it lately during the summer. So expect the update topic to be posted sometime either during the weekend or early into next week. I live in Hawai'i, so obviously I'm in the Pacific Time Zone. Once again, thank you to everyone for all the input & support.

- Rolos

Hi all.
I dont think that any of you know me, which I actually dont expect since i am not nearly as proficient at programming as most of you. I do however have a very good understanding of VC++...well...the basic and intermediates of it at least (ie loops, functions, arrays etc). Again as Don pointed out, you learn something really well while teaching it to others, and thats what i would like to do.

The fact that i am not an expert programmer might even come in handy as I have read many tutorials and know what people completly new to programming will and will not understand.

Also, if you ever planned in a Javascripting and HTML FAQ or something like that let me know (Got quite alot of xp with that).

Ok. Hope you consider me :) and that i can be of help.

Mail me if you like at KarstenPruehss@lycos.de
(PS: i speak German too if you want a multi-language faq :p)