Hello, I have learnt C and C++ at my college and have worked out by basics for quite some time now.. But everything I did in college was quite basic, I want to create programs that actually interact with the environment,like small utilities for linux or windows. How do I start in that direction.. I have no idea about starting programming practically.. Any starting direction?

Learn java too.

Ya its on my list.. I am currently starting python, then I'll move to java

I don't know how far you got in C++ in college, and I don't know how fast you can advance on your own, so I don't know exactly what advice to give.

I disagree with the advice you got already to switch language again. C++ is the best language for most purposes, and learning one programming language well enough for useful projects is better than learning several languages superficially.

For some people in your situation, I would suggest selecting some existing open source utility and studying its source code and then adding a feature or fixing one of the bugs on its bug list. That is a bit of a jump from where I expect you are now, so it depends on whether you a OK with jumping to something much harder.

At the other end of possible suggestions would be finding some online C++ tutorials and skim through them up to the point that you see things you aren't sure you learned in college. Then follow the rest of the tutorial carefully to learn what college C++ should have taught you but didn't. I only know about a few college classes in C++, but those I know about don't teach much. They fall short of online tutorials.

If you can think of a small utility you would want, then it may be best to just jump in and try to program it.

This question has been asked more than seventy times seven times seven.

If you want to create a project, find the need for some piece of software. If you can't define the need for something, apparently there is nothing to program.

Another approach is to scan sourceforge.net and find a project you want to contribute to, or an orphaned project you want to patronize.

jlinkels

Thanks a lot everyone for your advice...

You've learned C and C++? .. I second Java.. Also try to learn some assembly.. they're also important.

then learn some php, you will found php is damn easy language then others.