I'm almost never buying books for my courses, it's quite funny because I'm still one of the best students in my program when it comes to grades ^^.
I have Starting Out With Java - From Control Structures Through Object, and Absolute Java. Haven't looked at them for years.
And I borrowed C++ for Dummies from my library
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@Sato last post of the previous page, if you haven't seen it already:
I'm honestly not sure what to pick between C# or C. C# has XNA, C has Allegro, and it'll make it easier for me to learn C++ (which I want to do eventually, but not in the near future). Thoughts? Most people would say C as it makes it easier to learn everything else.
Also, I've come up with a fun idea for a new Python text game, so I'm happily planning it. InDev title is "Dark Adventure".
I would suggest C# because you won't have to deal with explicit memory allocation and pointers when you don't want to.
Personally, my learning process in programming (suggested by school) was to start with Java, then give a try to Visual Basic .NET and then start C#. Java has a very consistent and legible syntax and logic, and it takes minutes to write a working application. Visual Basic was just to apply what we know in a less instinctive syntax, while introducing the .NET framework. Then C# combines the .NET framework with Java-like syntax.
For having tried C for a networking class, I know it makes simple functions extremely complex because you have to constantly think about what to do with the objects and variables you create. Errors pop up and you can't understand a thing they say because they target the problem at a totally legit line while the problem started dozens of lines before.
C++ made things a bit more instinctive with object-oriented programming, but you still need to deal with pointers and a bit of memory allocation.
C# has all functions combined. You can use some keywords (ref and const) to use dynamic pointers and thus allow multiple return values for functions (great advantage over Java), you can explicitly manage memory, but it's optional. Event management is incredibly simple and strong. You can use properties rather than getter/setter functions, so when you say myChild.Age = -10; it can validate the data and throw exceptions if needed, while in Java you'd need to do myChild.setAge(-10);.
I would also say that Java is a safe bet, it has loads of libraries available, I still use Java to create games and applications, except the independent project I'm working on, where we use C#.
