Requirements to write a program

Before we start programming in C++ we need a compiler. We will be using a

command line compiler for this tutorial. I will be using Borland C++ Compiler

5.5, Dev C++ and Dev Pascal compilers. You can use any other ANSI/ISO compliant compiler such as gcc. 

To make our compiling process easy, as these days are the days of Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) You can download a free Code-blocks IDE (Integrated Development Environment) at www.codeblocks.org/

When you have your C++ compiler and or Pascal compiler then you are ready to start programing.

You may find the Links listed below to be very useful as they are download sites for most of the compilers that you can find on the internet.

Downloading the Bloodshed Dev Compilers (For Dev Pascal and Dev C++)

http://www.bloodshed.net/

Downloading the GNU GCC compiler & GDB debugger

Go to http://www.mingw.org/download.shtml and download the file named MinGW-x.y.z.exe, where x, y and z are version numbers. At the time of this writing, this file is MinGW-3.1.0-1.exe.

This setup file contains everything needed to compile and debug windows programs.

Downloading the Microsoft Visual C++ Free Toolkit 2003

Go to "http://msdn.microsoft.com/visualc/vctoolkit2003" and click on the link labeled "Download the Visual C++ Toolkit 2003". This will download the setup file.

Downloading the Borland C++ Compiler 5.5

NOTE: At some point, by following the steps described below, you will be asked to register with Borland and fill out a survey. Registration is free.

Go to "http://www.borland.com/products/downloads/download_cbuilder.html#" and click on the link labeled "Compiler". After you accept the license agreement, you will be provided with download links to the setup file.

Downloading the DigitalMars Free Compiler

Go to "http://www.digitalmars.com/download/dmcpp.html". Accept the license agreement and you 'll be redirected to a page containing download links. Download the compiler (current version is 8.41). You might also want to download the resource compiler (in basic utilities), as well as the STLport.

Downloading the OpenWatcom Compiler

Go to "http://store.scitechsoft.com/product_info.php?products_id=37" and click on the link labeled "Download Site". You will be taken to an http listing. Select the version you want to download (current version is 1.3).

HOW TO BE A PROGRAMMER

I decided to start this blog in-order to encourage the aspiring programmers in Malawi as well as worldwide to venture into the field. There are a lot of people who are afraid to join the programing field because they heard from someone that it is very difficult to acquire the necessary knowledge in this field and that the field itself is a dynamic one. There is always the good side and the bad side of everything. Lets consider the natural food that we eat daily. When we take it in normal quantity its very good to our healthy we overeat it problems ha!

 If you have an ambition to start writing your own programs then you are on the right place. Let me not waste your time but introduce you to what you want to know.


How to Learn Programming

Firstly, you need to know why you want to learn programing, is it for a change of carrier or just as a hobby? This will help you to make a good decision on the learning mode that you are going to use that is are you going to study programming at college or from your friend/internet like you are doing now.


If you are lerning it for a hobby the i would recommend you start learning languages like Visual basic or Delphi otherwise start with C or Pascal and then C++ and or Java languages

Here i will be giving tutorials in Pascal and C/C++

Another thing that i want to tell you is that no matter what mode of learning you are using, to make a tremendous progress in programming and to be an up to date programmer you MUST join an online programming community, work on an open source project, do personal projects, read programming books, program in another language or field, learn about non-programming things and refresh your knowledge.


Programming is always difficult at first but becomes easier later, so dont quit if you think it is too difficult for you because most programmers (including myself) once thought it was difficult but have no problems today.

Learning how to program is very rewarding and is worth all the hard work.
Good Luck!

Programming

On This blog i will be giving you programming tutorials.

You are free to contact me or visit my website(the link will be provided shortly) for more information about programming. You will also be able to download games and some of the software that i have developed including the trial version of the first Malawian antivirus.