I have been wanting to learn for sometime how to program c/c++ and I figured Linux would be the best environemt to attempt. However their seems to be a higher learning curve, not only for the programming language, but for how it operates in the OS as well.

For example when you do ./configure, make, make instal;, etc. how to you know and learn what all that mumbo jumbo is scrolling across the screen?

I think that you can use (correct me if I'm wrong) any book (but recommendations are always welcome) to learn the c/c++ programming language, but how to go about learning it in a Linux world seems to be lacking. Which is unfortuante because so many projects are always looking for more people to help out.

I would like to be one of those people someday, but I have to learn all this first.

Any suggestions anyone?

tia...

0be1

Have you programmed before or do you just want to learn C/C++?
If you want to lean programming in general i would recommend starting with C++, you should rather choose a easier language like python.
If you already know programming theory and want to learn C++ i recommend you read some tutorials, just google for it. And when you feel proficient with the language you focus on an API (application programming interface) or try to make a small project of your own, like a small game maybe.
You probably could have guessed all this by yourself, but i don't think there is much more to say.

don't think you need to learn 100% of what's going on 100% of the time.
no one can do that. So modern programming is about how we use the configure script but could care less about how it does what it does. Just like we use the kernel syscalls but don't actually know exactly how they work either. Just like we use gkt or Qt/kde libraries and we don't know how they actually work either.
and we use the stdlibc provided by glibc and we don't know exactly how that works either. You get what i'm saying -- you just have to develope an atitude like "that's not what i'm doing right now" "right now i'm writing my hello world program in c" "next i'l figure out how to compile it" "later if i want to distribute it i can figure out configure scripts"
programming is nothing more than confidence you can figure it out when and if you need to.

noteventime:

I have not programmed before so some theory would be nice as well. I know I use some Python programs, but could not tell you which ones of the top of my head right now. I was thinking of looking at and learning code to contribute in projects such as Firefox, Thunderbird, KDE, etc. What do you suggest I google for (keywords) to get the desired results. Every thing I have tried I either come up with crappy sites with useless info, or sites that may let you know what you are looking for if you only have a Phd.

foo_bar_foo:

Thanks for your 2 cents as well. I am not looking to know everything about everything, just something about nothing (GRIN). I get your logical point, I am just trying to learn a good solid foundation so I can do some good in the Linux universe. It's time to start giving back and actually be a part of the community. Yes, I know there is documentation, translators, etc. But english is not my thing.

Thanks for everyone's input so far.

0be1

Sorry for not providing you with any good tutorial links. I know they are quite hard to find but here are some that look ok:

This looks quite good and its for people who have never programmed before:
http://honors.montana.edu/~jjc/easytut/easytut/

This one is a bit out of date but that shouldn't be nay problem at all:
http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld/

Don't know about this but it looks ok, and has a fun name:
http://www.ibiblio.org/obp/thinkCSpy/

These should keep you entertained for a while.

PS. about the python programs, it's used for BitTornado and for Blender3D plugins.

C++ hasn't changed fundamentally in several years, and since you are going for learning the beginning stuff I'd recommend heading to your local used book store to their computer section. Those places ALWAYS have C++ books for cheap. Look for an older version of "Programming and Problem Solving in C++" by Weems, Dale, and Headington. That is what I learned on and it was invaluable!

The new version (4th) is $75 bucks on Amazon. Ouch! I wish I could give you some free links, but because I own hardcopies for reference I never needed or looked for good online docs.

Maybe also take a look at Bruce Eckel's Thinking in C++. I haven't used the books myself, but heard they're good. You can download them from that page as well.

hi ,
i have feeled just like u about a year ago ... and i'd recomend that you start learning scripting and i don't think it is right to start with c++ nor c ... start with java or python but don't give it a lot of time , just be sure you know the ideas ( it's the same in java c and cpp ) and that you know how to use it then switch to c and cpp ...

i'd recomend that u understand the structure of the linux OS so that u could understand things better ... in other words do it step by step ...
this is good tutorial about linux ...
http://www.linux-tutorial.info/modul...ial&pageid=224

thats it i quess ,
have fun ,

muhammad-sameer