Learn C++, or not?
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Here is my situation: I've been in IT for 5 years, and it has been good to me. I taught myself VB and ASP (no IT degree) and convinced (ok, I totally fooled them) a fortune 500 company into hiring me as a web developer, and I've been pretty successful, considering I really didn't know what the heck I was doing at first. I went from developer, to technical lead, to team lead, to engineering manager for 3 different groups (including Cognos Reporting and Siebel teams), and finally to Enterprise Architect. While I am not coding much at the moment, I am not convinced that I will completely give up coding. I'll still help write code for POC's and what not. I've used .NET (C#) for the past few years. I've been pretty successful not knowing C++. But I really feel like I've missed something. I didn't go to college, and I haven't been exposed to it much. Am I missing something in not going back and learning it? Has it been relegated to low level systems programming only? It seems like everything is going to be based on managed code going forward (at least in the enterprise). I feel like someday it is going to come back and haunt me that I don't understand memory allocation, pointers, and the like. To be honest, I don't feel like a programmer because I don't know C++. Am I being paranoid, or should I go back and learn C++?
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Here is my situation: I've been in IT for 5 years, and it has been good to me. I taught myself VB and ASP (no IT degree) and convinced (ok, I totally fooled them) a fortune 500 company into hiring me as a web developer, and I've been pretty successful, considering I really didn't know what the heck I was doing at first. I went from developer, to technical lead, to team lead, to engineering manager for 3 different groups (including Cognos Reporting and Siebel teams), and finally to Enterprise Architect. While I am not coding much at the moment, I am not convinced that I will completely give up coding. I'll still help write code for POC's and what not. I've used .NET (C#) for the past few years. I've been pretty successful not knowing C++. But I really feel like I've missed something. I didn't go to college, and I haven't been exposed to it much. Am I missing something in not going back and learning it? Has it been relegated to low level systems programming only? It seems like everything is going to be based on managed code going forward (at least in the enterprise). I feel like someday it is going to come back and haunt me that I don't understand memory allocation, pointers, and the like. To be honest, I don't feel like a programmer because I don't know C++. Am I being paranoid, or should I go back and learn C++?
In your position, there is so mch else to learn.Of course it depends on where you want to go, but unless you want to become a code monkey again, learning C++has little to give you. Study design concepts, team and project management if you want to continue the way you started. Learn C# in depth if you want to be a programmer again.
Some of us walk the memory lane, others plummet into a rabbit hole
Tree in C# || Fold With Us! || sighist -
Here is my situation: I've been in IT for 5 years, and it has been good to me. I taught myself VB and ASP (no IT degree) and convinced (ok, I totally fooled them) a fortune 500 company into hiring me as a web developer, and I've been pretty successful, considering I really didn't know what the heck I was doing at first. I went from developer, to technical lead, to team lead, to engineering manager for 3 different groups (including Cognos Reporting and Siebel teams), and finally to Enterprise Architect. While I am not coding much at the moment, I am not convinced that I will completely give up coding. I'll still help write code for POC's and what not. I've used .NET (C#) for the past few years. I've been pretty successful not knowing C++. But I really feel like I've missed something. I didn't go to college, and I haven't been exposed to it much. Am I missing something in not going back and learning it? Has it been relegated to low level systems programming only? It seems like everything is going to be based on managed code going forward (at least in the enterprise). I feel like someday it is going to come back and haunt me that I don't understand memory allocation, pointers, and the like. To be honest, I don't feel like a programmer because I don't know C++. Am I being paranoid, or should I go back and learn C++?
Personally I think the easiest way to mock around would be C# Desktop App => Managed C++ desktop app => Managed C++ Desktop app with a bit of Win32 in it. I think that would give you a smooth and slowly increasing level of difficulty ( for the same results, but more knowledge :laugh: ) Also you could try this way: Assembly => Assembly + Win32 The problem is, when protected mode, win95, x486 get more widespread, I dropped assembly and I wasn't able to compile any single, protected mode, x486 ASM programs.. :-( and, usefull, protected mode books were very hard to find :-( Anyway the C compiler was already doing a job as good as me, I figured out.. :laugh:
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Here is my situation: I've been in IT for 5 years, and it has been good to me. I taught myself VB and ASP (no IT degree) and convinced (ok, I totally fooled them) a fortune 500 company into hiring me as a web developer, and I've been pretty successful, considering I really didn't know what the heck I was doing at first. I went from developer, to technical lead, to team lead, to engineering manager for 3 different groups (including Cognos Reporting and Siebel teams), and finally to Enterprise Architect. While I am not coding much at the moment, I am not convinced that I will completely give up coding. I'll still help write code for POC's and what not. I've used .NET (C#) for the past few years. I've been pretty successful not knowing C++. But I really feel like I've missed something. I didn't go to college, and I haven't been exposed to it much. Am I missing something in not going back and learning it? Has it been relegated to low level systems programming only? It seems like everything is going to be based on managed code going forward (at least in the enterprise). I feel like someday it is going to come back and haunt me that I don't understand memory allocation, pointers, and the like. To be honest, I don't feel like a programmer because I don't know C++. Am I being paranoid, or should I go back and learn C++?
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Here is my situation: I've been in IT for 5 years, and it has been good to me. I taught myself VB and ASP (no IT degree) and convinced (ok, I totally fooled them) a fortune 500 company into hiring me as a web developer, and I've been pretty successful, considering I really didn't know what the heck I was doing at first. I went from developer, to technical lead, to team lead, to engineering manager for 3 different groups (including Cognos Reporting and Siebel teams), and finally to Enterprise Architect. While I am not coding much at the moment, I am not convinced that I will completely give up coding. I'll still help write code for POC's and what not. I've used .NET (C#) for the past few years. I've been pretty successful not knowing C++. But I really feel like I've missed something. I didn't go to college, and I haven't been exposed to it much. Am I missing something in not going back and learning it? Has it been relegated to low level systems programming only? It seems like everything is going to be based on managed code going forward (at least in the enterprise). I feel like someday it is going to come back and haunt me that I don't understand memory allocation, pointers, and the like. To be honest, I don't feel like a programmer because I don't know C++. Am I being paranoid, or should I go back and learn C++?
If you're an EA, I don't see why you would want to learn C++ now, given that you work with C#. Of course, if learning C++ is one of those things that You've Always Wanted To Do, like climb a Himalayan mountain, or cycle across the US, and so on; go ahead, it won't hurt. :) Otherwise, learn C# and do what Peter says above. :) Cheers, Vikram.
I don't know and you don't either. Militant Agnostic
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There are good books available on C++, buy one, read it and try some simple programs. If you do think you're missing out, you can continue in depth, else it can't hurt to know the basics ;-). Good luck... :-D No hurries, no worries.
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If you're an EA, I don't see why you would want to learn C++ now, given that you work with C#. Of course, if learning C++ is one of those things that You've Always Wanted To Do, like climb a Himalayan mountain, or cycle across the US, and so on; go ahead, it won't hurt. :) Otherwise, learn C# and do what Peter says above. :) Cheers, Vikram.
I don't know and you don't either. Militant Agnostic
Vikram A Punathambekar wrote:
like climb a Himalayan mountain, or cycle across the US, and so on; go ahead, it won't hurt.
Bad analogy.. bad analogy! :-D
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Vikram A Punathambekar wrote:
like climb a Himalayan mountain, or cycle across the US, and so on; go ahead, it won't hurt.
Bad analogy.. bad analogy! :-D
:laugh: Gotta hand it to you! Leave it to Jorgen to find meanings that never existed. I was simply saying that learning C++ can't hurt. Unless you shoot yourself in the foot with it. :~ Cheers, Vikram.
I don't know and you don't either. Militant Agnostic
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:laugh: Gotta hand it to you! Leave it to Jorgen to find meanings that never existed. I was simply saying that learning C++ can't hurt. Unless you shoot yourself in the foot with it. :~ Cheers, Vikram.
I don't know and you don't either. Militant Agnostic
Vikram A Punathambekar wrote:
I was simply saying that learning C++ can't hurt. Unless you shoot yourself in the foot with it.
I understood the meaning of it, and furthermore, I agree with it. On the other hand, failure to learn C++ will at worst generate an inferiority complex, while failure to climb Mt. Everest (a Himalayan mountain), often result in death... :) Maybe I overanalyze statements said about things I hold dear. :) (I'm no mountain worshipper... ;))
Vikram A Punathambekar wrote:
I don't know and you don't either. Militant Agnostic
How would such a person know that is the case? :~ Does anybody really know anything? :)
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Vikram A Punathambekar wrote:
I was simply saying that learning C++ can't hurt. Unless you shoot yourself in the foot with it.
I understood the meaning of it, and furthermore, I agree with it. On the other hand, failure to learn C++ will at worst generate an inferiority complex, while failure to climb Mt. Everest (a Himalayan mountain), often result in death... :) Maybe I overanalyze statements said about things I hold dear. :) (I'm no mountain worshipper... ;))
Vikram A Punathambekar wrote:
I don't know and you don't either. Militant Agnostic
How would such a person know that is the case? :~ Does anybody really know anything? :)
Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote:
On the other hand, failure to learn C++ will at worst generate an inferiority complex, while failure to climb Mt. Everest (a Himalayan mountain), often result in death
Failure to climb Kanchenjunga doesn't mean the person will die. Since we're arguing for the sake of arguing, failure to learn C++ could drive somebody to despair and make him commit suicide. :rolleyes:
Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote:
Maybe I overanalyze statements said about things I hold dear.
Me too. :-O
Jörgen Sigvardsson wrote:
How would such a person know that is the case?
How can *anybody* be sure that there is/are God/Gods, or that there is no God? I don't see any evidence of a supreme being who created the Universe. At the same time, there are many things that we cannot explain, plus I'm not 100% sure there is no God. So I will humbly admit the truth - that I don't know and be content to remain agnostic. Also, I don't think the existence (or not) of a deity will change the way I live. I'm not a merciless murderer who will 'become good' if I realize God exists and will punish me for my sins. In fact, I adhere to a lot of principles that major world religions teach, except for the 'belief in God' part. I abhor speaking lies, stealing, violence and pretty much that religions tell you is bad. I'm a pure vegetarian, as I believe another animal should not be killed for my pleasure. I'm a teetotaller. I'm a 'real nice guy' as Nish calls himself, and very friendly with almost everybody. Take the part about believing in JC/the Christian God out, and I would probably qualify as a Christian. Take the part about believing in Allah out, and I would probably quialify as a Moslem. Take the part about believing in the 33 million Hindu gods, and I would probably qualify as a Hindu. I firmly believe that an atheist who stops his car to help an old woman cross the street is better than a religious person who ignores her because he's late for church. My thoughts on God can be summed up like this
I don't know if God exists, and I don't care.Cheers, Vikram.
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Here is my situation: I've been in IT for 5 years, and it has been good to me. I taught myself VB and ASP (no IT degree) and convinced (ok, I totally fooled them) a fortune 500 company into hiring me as a web developer, and I've been pretty successful, considering I really didn't know what the heck I was doing at first. I went from developer, to technical lead, to team lead, to engineering manager for 3 different groups (including Cognos Reporting and Siebel teams), and finally to Enterprise Architect. While I am not coding much at the moment, I am not convinced that I will completely give up coding. I'll still help write code for POC's and what not. I've used .NET (C#) for the past few years. I've been pretty successful not knowing C++. But I really feel like I've missed something. I didn't go to college, and I haven't been exposed to it much. Am I missing something in not going back and learning it? Has it been relegated to low level systems programming only? It seems like everything is going to be based on managed code going forward (at least in the enterprise). I feel like someday it is going to come back and haunt me that I don't understand memory allocation, pointers, and the like. To be honest, I don't feel like a programmer because I don't know C++. Am I being paranoid, or should I go back and learn C++?
Skip the C++. If you're in the architect phase, then your coding days are over. I've gone through the same situation myself. Here was my path with languages: Motorola assembly - 68000 series chips Motorola C - 68000 series chips Visual Basic Borland C++ with Owl Visual C++ with MFC C# Throw in a little Flash, Shockwave, and InstallShield too. I barely code anymore. Now I manage others who code. It's a fact of life - most people don't do the same job their whole lives. If you've reached this level, be happy you've come as far as you have. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation