The course is part of this learning path
This course will help you prepare for the Complete C++ Developer learning path and get you set up with the right development environments.
Learning Objectives
- Set up Visual Studio, VS Code, or Code::Blocks depending on whether you'll be working on Windows, Mac, or Linux as you follow along with the exercises in this course
Intended Audience
- Beginner coders, new to C++
- Developers looking to upskill by adding C++ to their CV
- College students and anyone studying C++
Prerequisites
This is a beginner-level course and so no prior knowledge of C++ is necessary.
In this lecture, I'm going to briefly go over how to find answers to your questions. It is inevitable for both beginning and advanced developers that we all have questions from time to time about code that doesn't seem to be compiling or running correctly or the environment you're coding in isn't cooperating or any number of related topics. So, here are my recommendations for finding answers to your questions. Try debugging your code first using whatever you know up to the point. Even though we discuss basic debugging techniques throughout the course and even have a lecture dedicated to it, you can still use whatever you know to try and figure out what is causing your bugs. Trying printing out the values of variables and constants to make sure everything makes sense is one way. When you learn how to use the debugger, use it and put breakpoints. Searching for your issue online. Use your search engine of choice such as Google or Dogpile and type out specific errors or questions you might have. If you post questions on a site like stack overflow, for example, make sure to try and ask good questions. Be positive and ask nicely even when you're frustrated. People are more likely to try and help if they see a more positive question. Be specific, give the code segment that you suspect is causing the problem or the specific error message that you are getting and when. Does it happen when you try to compile your code? Does it happen only when you're trying to run the code? Screenshots can also be helpful. Thank someone if they've helped you, and whenever you begin to feel more confident in your own abilities and knowledge of course material, for example, and the language in general, try to help others. I found some of my greatest learning experiences have been the result of teaching and helping others. I hope you enjoy the course.
John has a Ph.D. in Computer Science and is a professional software engineer and consultant, as well as a computer science university professor and department chair.