hey, we all have to start somewhere, dont we? You usually start learning every single language with a hello world program. Well other then turing. I started that off as an animation program where I could draw boxes in different places... I wonder if my teacher still has my animation stored somewhere
I'd have to ask, but after march break 
anyway, here's how Hello World works in C++
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#include <iostream> using namespace std; void main() { cout << "Hello World!\n"; } |
This works in MS Visual C++ 6... so if you copy paste the code and it doesnt work... its your compiler
Now for some explanation.
#include <iostream> its a header file... works much like include in turing and allows you to add parts of code to your program. Most of the commands in C++ are functions stored in those header files and must be added to work properly. It might be a bit confusing at first, but unlike turing that adds EVERY SINGLE FILE IT CAN FIND, your program size is much much less. This particular headerfile allows you to use intput/output.
Note: You might have to use #include <iostream.h> depending on the compiler
using namespace std; a standart... basically tells the compiler you're using the namespace standart for programming. More on that later.
void main() a must have function. Its the first one to be executed and the program will not run unless you have it somewhere. void means it doesnt return a value. More on that in functions tutorial.
{ .. } those brakets engulf the content of the function and shows compiler where it begins and ends.
cout << "Hello World\n"; cout stands for Counsel Out. And acts much like put in turing or print in VB. cout is followed by "<<" and then text to be outputed. << acts like a comma (turing) or & (VB) that adds text parts together. Same as cout << "Hello " << "World\n";
"\n" is a new line character, makes courcor move onto the next line. In comparison to turing where you have to add ".." to keep output on same line, in C++ you use "\n" character to force output onto the next line.
A turing equivalent of same program is
| code: |
put "Hello World" |
Right now the difference between programming languages is balance between simplicity and power of the language. Such as you get unlimited power while programming in binary, yet understanding of it is close to 0.
C++'s advantage over turing is speed and power, and with all that, its not that much more complex. Just have to get used to putting all those {}s and ;s
For such a little program this is a hell lot of explanation, but when learning any language, its not about momorizing the syntax, its about understanding it. And I hope to see you guys in C++ area more often 8)
. C++ comes with a Hello World wizard. Create a new workspace, make it a Win32 Console Application, on the next screen select "Hello World" Program, click finish and ta-daa! Your very own Hello World program without having to type a damn thing! (yes I know you have to type the name of the workspace but you'd have to do that either way.) Who ever said C++ was hard? 
thats as far as it gous. But hey, if you dont understand how that works I've got a full explanation of the program above /\ 8)
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..it was quite entertaining....but then i entered the world of programmig 
in gr.9 and have never looked back since.....(prolly coz toronto and waterloo are quite the distance 