Help with getting started with programming

[Zarxrax]

I am a relative newbie when it comes to programming. Basically all I can do currently is write simple command line applications which perform basic mathematical operations or "hello world" or the like (well ok, I'm a LITTLE better than that...).
However, I am interested in learning more, particularly for a video application that I have been wanting to create for a while. When I read developement threads, I always see people talking about software like Visual C++ and similar programs. Do I need to get this software? I don't really understand exactly what it is used for.

Also, I need to learn how to display video files using video for windows. Can someone point me to some documentation and source code examples (c++ or similar is preferred) please?

[mgt]

Visual Studio/C++ is a very good IDE for developing professional applications. Actually you won't ever think of starting a larger project without a good IDE. ;)

Articles about playing video files can be found on msdn.microsoft.com. Look for DirectShow there. Also, you can try codeproject.com, but many code snippets use that MFC crap which I personally don't like at all. :)

[Inc]

If you wanna display Video content using vfw you can use the MCISendstring() Commands out of winmm.dll or ..... the commands out of the avifil32.dll like AviFileOpen() etc.

[Zarxrax]

Thanks guys, I'll check into this stuff and hopefully learn something in the process :)

One more question:
On the msdn site they list a lot of different software... Visual C++, Visual C#, Visual Studio...

What are the main differences between these applications? I know C# is like an extension of C++ right? It's supposed to be easier to use or something?
Is Visual Studio more aimed towards internet applications? Maybe I should even start with something like Visual Basic?

I was studying computer science in college at one point but I had to drop out of it because I simply couldn't grasp many of the abstract ideas, like object oriented programming and much of the mathematics. I didn't have much trouble at all with more direct stuff like x86 ASM :p

[Inc]

Well if your idea is to look for an easy programming IDE which is easy to learn and verry fast, then have a look at Purebasic! at www.purebasic.com
- compilings are almost near fast as c++ coded ones
- NO external runtime libraries needed like in VB
- Size of executables are MINIMAL. "Hello World" results in a few KBs
- Dircect access to dlls (no std call etc needed)
- A big community
- Much sources on www.purearea.net , watching/learning these you will get into it immedeately
- The price is compared to the usability a joke ;) ALL forthcoming updates are FREE
- ObjectOrientated programming also possible
- Full support of all WinAPI
- A Full Visual Designer
- Nice Script Editiors

IMHO for beginning such an IDE is very useful as you get into the idea of how programming works. After that you can do your steps into c++ (if still needed).

On the other hand. If you are patient and you have time and mood. You directly can get into c++ using DevC++ and WxWidgets for example.

[Zyphon]

@incredible

What about Delphi? What is your opinion about that buddy and would you recommend it?

[Inc]

First ... a time ago I was in a position to decide as I had to learn from scratch.
So I had a look at the most common programming environments.

Delphi:
+ A Lot of users
+ A lot of Sources in the www
- Price
- Speed
- Size of the Executables
- complexitivity of syntax

But thats only my opinion. So an advanced Delphi user shurely sees his syntax as an easy one to learn and understand, but you have to see with the eyes of a person who has to learn from scratch.

So I came to my conclusion:
If I want an easy to learn and use fast and logical structured Environment: Purebasic
If I want access to the bigegst amount of sources, obtaining fastest executables and participate in an area where most video programmers do exist: c++

[CyberShaman]

First ... a time ago I was in a position to decide as I had to learn from scratch.
So I had a look at the most common programming environments.

Delphi:
+ A Lot of users
+ A lot of Sources in the www
- Price
- Speed
- Size of the Executables
- complexitivity of syntax
In my opinion Delphi is great tool to make programs. It's true that when you use VCL components to create a GUI then the program size is > 400kB. But if you use windows api then the size is > 40kB. Also speed of the programs is at least as good as C++. I guess it's some kind of a myth that delphi programs are slow, before i started to use delphi i used to think so to.

Also the compiler is very fast and the debugger is pretty strict. They have helped me to kill those nasty bugs right after i have wrote them.

It's wierd, becase the syntax is the reason i started to use Delphi. In my view it was way much simpler to understand than c++.
These are just my opinions. :D

[Inc]

Yep.
If someone has no skills in Programming a first step by learning Purebasic or Delphi makes things getting more understandable like Procedures, Pointers and Structures.
As that is a must when learning c++ (also here just IMHO ;) )

On the other side, a big advantage of c++ is that you can directly use headerfiles from c++ projects or WIN definitions/declarations. So in case of ressources .. thats a big point for c++. I often see that problem like in here where people do search for header translations to their Environment syntax. So for instance accessing avcodec.dll is a mess if not accessed via c++.

[CyberShaman]

On the other side, a big advantage of c++ is that you can directly use headerfiles from c++ projects or WIN definitions/declarations. So in case of ressources .. thats a big point for c++. I often see that problem like in here where people do search for header translations to their Environment syntax. So for instance accessing avcodec.dll is a mess if not accessed via c++.
heh. I see what you mean.
It is true that there are so much more resources for c++ (:mad: *jealous*)

[Zyphon]

@Incredible

Thanks Andrej for your opinion it is much appreciated.

@CyberShaman

I like to thank you also for the info on Delphi, I bought version 7 ages ago and I never got round to learning it, I guess nows the time to start.

Sorry to Zarxrax, im not trying to hi-jack your thread I was just interested in opinons of the other programming tools that are out there. :)

[Zarxrax]

Sorry to Zarxrax, im not trying to hi-jack your thread I was just interested in opinons of the other programming tools that are out there. :)

Not at all, this has been very helpful :)

[Zyphon]

Not at all, this has been very helpful :)

Yes it has indeed. :)

[vhelp]

I agree too. Delphi is just as fast as C/C++
I was testing a AVIsynth filter (via plugin for Delphi, by Myrsloik)
and it was fast, ..no slower than c/c++ :) it was fast.

I think it was a myth.

Some History follows ...

In the begining, I started out with BASIC I/II and a little
Coble and RGP I/II (only tasted Fortran back, way back when)
and then, ho.., sometime in 1986 'ish or something, I decided
to look for something higher. I had my mind set on learning
C. At the time, there was only Ansi C, and by chance
and because of low price, I was tempted at Turbo Pascal,
( at the time, it was ver 3.0 ) But, my mind was dead set at
learning C, not pascal. Both cost $39 dollars at the time.
So, I figured on getting both, case I didn't like one of them,
I could always return it, having no regret for not pickup up
the other (for I had got both) and while I was learning C, I
found I could not grasp the concepts enough, plus, it was slow
as heck during compiling.

I put C down, (the same day) and picked up Turbo Pascal, (was
wrapped in tight plastic, inside a 200 plus page book) and
the moment I installed it, I was immediatedly drawn to the
ease and concepts of programming, and I was a born Pascal
programmer that day forward.

It was shear luck back then. If I had'nt pickup the Pascal
one as well, I probably wouldn't be hear typing this forum
note to you all.. think about it. Anyways.

IMO, delphi (Pascal) is probably the best starting language
around. And, don't let others fool you into believing that
it's slower than C/C++ (with proper technique and other factors)
its just as fast, or faster.

The only gripe I have with delphi, is the size.. and sometimes,
you have to include external files, depending on your design
and gameplan. But most OS already come equiped with such files.
My system at work had them. Windows 2000 ..that I am aware of.
So far, everything that I have deveped, and brought over to
my windows 2000 machine, has worked w/out requring missing files.

-vhelp

[dragongodz]

some free compilers for all sorts of programming languages
http://www.bloodshed.net/compilers/index.html

if wanting to give basic a try without having to payout anything first you may want to try
http://xbasic.sourceforge.net/

for c++ you could try
http://www.bloodshed.net/devcpp.html

[johnman]

some free compilers for all sorts of programming languages
http://www.bloodshed.net/compilers/index.html

if wanting to give basic a try without having to payout anything first you may want to try
http://xbasic.sourceforge.net/

for c++ you could try
http://www.bloodshed.net/devcpp.html

Devcpp is a good start, (i started with it), but imo there now is a better alternative here (http://www.codeblocks.org/). And just like devcpp, its free.

Debuging in devcpp is really buggy, 3 out of 5 times it hangs devcpp, and i have to terminate the program from outside devcpp. So i decided to switch to codeblocks and i never regretted it :).

[esby]

I think there is a free version of delphi, for personnal use.
It is based on delphi 6, but it will work fairly for a video encoding context.

esby

[CyberShaman]

There is also a free Delphi 2005 Personal shipped with some computer magazines. PC Pro, issue.128 (dvd edition), is one of those if i remember right.
Also there is a delphi clone called Lazarus which is free. It runs on Win32, Linux, Mac...
lazarus.freepascal.org (http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org/)

[dragongodz]

johnman - thanks for that link. i see it can even import Devcpp projects etc.

good to see so many free alternatives for those just getting in to programming so they can find what they are most comfortable with and not having to lay out money for something they may abandon after a short period. :)

[stax76]

SharpDevelop, Delphi 2005 and Visual Studio 2005 Express are free. VS is free until Mai 2006, then it will be at modest 50 $, that's pretty cheap for a product thousand people work on, imho it's the most impressive application ever. The standard version incl. all languages and libraries will be at 300 $.

I recommend VB .NET 2005, it's a extremely productive tool targeted and perfectly suited for beginners.

Always remember the more languages and programming techniques in general you know, the easier it will be to solve a specific problem.