Should I learn C++11?

A book that has been recommended to me is C++ Primer Fifth Edition for learning C++ because it has been updated to support C++11. I've tried it, but the book seems more geared towards people who are new to programming. I have Python and Javascript experience so the book is kind of slow.

I tried Accelerated C++ and I like that book a lot better, but it doesn't support C++11. So, is C++11 necessary? Is it necessary for hacking? Why should I learn it?

Originally Posted by 4pp13J4CK

A book that has been recommended to me is C++ Primer Fifth Edition for learning C++ because it has been updated to support C++11. I've tried it, but the book seems more geared towards people who are new to programming. I have Python and Javascript experience so the book is kind of slow.

I tried Accelerated C++ and I like that book a lot better, but it doesn't support C++11. So, is C++11 necessary? Is it necessary for hacking? Why should I learn it?

TLDR; No.

The reason why people think learning this language is good is because of how unique and very very VERY optimized it can be. This is really only mainly used for big company's that need top of the line products or software to be optimized for 110% effectiveness and saving money. It's also extremely difficult if you don't understand a full extent of another language. It's also very ugly code and even uglier for when something goes wrong.... the entire thing dies.

I'd recommend learning either Python, Ruby, Perl first then moving mainly onto other languages. If you're going to attempt to make this career you're going to most likely end up coding in either PHP, Java, C#, Objective C, SQL. Javascript and HTML5 are going to also become really wanted jobs in the future when more and more people get faster internet for more heavier use in browsers.

You could learn an older C++ first then just update your knowledge to C++11...

Yes. Initializer lists, auto, range based for, and lambda make life so much easier and of course better typing and standard library. Modern C++ is functional yo (sort of).

Also, if you're smart you don't prematurely optimize and picking C++ because you think it automatically makes your code faster is... ignorant to say the least. That's not how companies are run. Anyways, language is not the same as implementation of a language. Thoughtful C++ is beautiful.

Yeah I recommend learning Python first.... it's a great base language to start off on. Im at UCF for computer science and it's pretty great to learn.

Originally Posted by `Bobs Bees

TLDR; No.

The reason why people think learning this language is good is because of how unique and very very VERY optimized it can be. This is really only mainly used for big company's that need top of the line products or software to be optimized for 110% effectiveness and saving money. It's also extremely difficult if you don't understand a full extent of another language. It's also very ugly code and even uglier for when something goes wrong.... the entire thing dies.

Meh. Yes, people often use C++ for performance reasons, but it's not exclusive to that. (C's purpose was not to be fast or something; believe it or not, at the time it was developed because of lack of certain features in alternatives) Difficulty and ugliness are arguable (so it's fine to say it's difficult, sure) but also subjective. For example, speaking off of my own opinions, C++ isn't really that much more difficult than other languages, especially statically typed ones, and there are certainly harder languages. I believe that well-written C++ is very readable. However, the last bit about about C++ dying when something the programmer didn't account for goes wrong is true for almost any language.

Anyway, OP, _corn_ is right; C++11 is essentially a set of additions to C++. There are a set of corner cases where it behaves differently, but really, for all intents and purposes, C++11 is C++ with some more (very nice) features. You can read straight through Accelerated C++ and then learn the extras you get from C++11 afterwards if you want.

Originally Posted by Shanks_

Anyway, OP, _corn_ is right; C++11 is essentially a set of additions to C++. There are a set of corner cases where it behaves differently, but really, for all intents and purposes, C++11 is C++ with some more (very nice) features. You can read straight through Accelerated C++ and then learn the extras you get from C++11 afterwards if you want.

Yes I completely agree, learn C++ then when you learn C++11 it will just be additions to the language which will make your life easier

Should I learn C++11?

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