C++ Comilers and Text Editors - new guy needs help.

I am very new to programming. In fact, I just began my quest to 
become a computer game programmer about 4 weeks ago.

So far, I've been working my way through three book: "Sam's Teach 
Yourself Game Programming in 24 hours," by Michael Morrison 
(although I admit that it has taken me a lot more than 24 hours), 
but that book requires a working knowledge of C++, which I don't 
have yet. So I also bought "C++ for Dummies,"--I'm about half way 
through that book, and I have just recently acquired a book 
called "C++, An Introduction to Computing," by three fellows: Joel 
Adams, Sanford Leestma and Larry Nyhoff–which is a college text book 
that I got from a friend who took the course some years ago, and 
who, unfortunately, never became a programmer, so he forgot all of 
it as soon as he was through with the final exams.

But so far, the biggest problem that I'm having is in working with 
and configuring compilers. I've been using Dev-Cpp, because the 
author of one of these books recommended that one, saying that it 
was the easiest to work with (and it's a windows program). 
Unfortunately, I am having a terrible time getting windows programs 
to compile while using Dev-Cpp.  I don't have this problem with 
console programs though. However, I also have Borland Builder 5.5, 
but for some reason, I can't figure out how to get it to run. I've 
even contacted Borland twice asking them how to make their program 
run (like what do I type in at the DOS prompt?), but I have gotten 
no help at all from Borland--which doesn't make me want to buy their 
new compiler.

Besides that, I also don't really understand text editors, like the 
Scintilla Text Editor. And, well, I have about a million other 
questions too . . . but I'm sure I can't post them all hear.

It would be a really big help if someone could just tell me how to 
get the C++Builder 5.5 how to run so I can switch over from Dev-Cpp 
and try the Borland Compiler.  Also–can someone please tell me what 
exactly you do with the text editors?  Do you write your program 
code in the test editor when your just making first drafts, or 
what?  I know this sounds dumb to all you real programers, but I'm 
coming from ground zero here: I've never taken a computer course in 
my life, although I certainly plan to as soon as I can.

The thing about it is, that even though it's been very 
frustrating . . . I love it!  And I can't put it down.  I just keep 
going back for more.  And I'd really greatly appreciate it if anyone 
could help me out with the questions I asked about the Borland C++ 
Builder 5.5, and about test editors.

And one more thing:  I'm using Windows XP.

Thanks in advance,
Anthony Marlow



 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cppug/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
     [email protected]

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
     http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/