IDE - overwhelmage!!!

Question

I started a few attempts to use IDEs and quickly closed them again because there were a million functions, I didn't know what's what, couldn't find anything, when I tried to compile stuff I'd get an absurdly long list of errors even when I copypasted from a textbook ...

Have any of you also had this sort of 'culture shock' and what's the best way to get accustomed to using IDEs?

(Basically I'm a beginner playing around with Python and tentatively touching C++.)

Answer 1

Dealing with a bunch of errors...

TL;DR: practice looking for "first errors" -- those that spawn lots of related errors -- and fix those first.

Many times the first error is the most important, because additional errors are caused by the first one.
Those often vanish with the first, because the compiler's guessing after an error + trying to synchronize with good lines again.
(Basically, don't trust later ... errors as much)

When they don't all disappear, those are often the new "start" errors, after the compiler's resync'd.
As you get used to seeing those, you'll be more confident putting "related" where the "..." is, above.
Then it gets easier to fix several (instead of one) before running again.

Answer 2

What ide are you using?

Answer 3

HonFu I couldn't figure out codeblocks so I deleted it.
sorry I can't help you more

Answer 4

HonFu Maybe try Visual Studio Code?

Answer 5

Codeblocks now.

My main confusion was about how to set stuff up with separate c++ files, headers and such.

Major bug storm, whatever I did!

Then I watched a youtube video, understood maybe half of it, tried again ... and suddenly it worked. oO

I guess I better don't question it, right? ^^'

I can share the video at least, if some other noob also needs a bit of magic. ;-)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9RJTQmK0YPI

Answer 6

I had Visual Studio first - that was way worse.

Answer 7

If you're programming in C++ I would suggest you download the community version of Visual Studio on Windows, XCode for Mac, but I can't make a recommendation for Linux as I don't use it.

Next, I would suggest you watch an intro video on YouTube. Try not to be overwhelmed. Though there are a lot of options to things you can do in these IDE's, you only need to worry about learning some basics.

Here is a series of free C++ videos from a guy who works at EA Austrailia. He's a game engine engineer for mobile platforms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18c3MTX0PK0&list=PLlrATfBNZ98dudnM48yfGUldqGD0S4FFb

Answer 8

What do you use with python? If you're using IDLE I can say that the "culture shock" you mentioned is normal because it has a very simple interface compared to things like visual studio, codeblocks, etc.

Don't let the complexity of the IDEs scare you. As a beginner, you 're not going to use most of its functions. At this point, you need to learn how to create a project, how to create files inside a project and how to compile projects.

As for errors, I agree with Kirk Schafer. You need to look at the very first error you see as the later errors will probably be the more explanations about the first error. You're going to see a lot of these kind of errors when dealing with more advanced C++ features like templates (they are awesome but they are also a major headache).

Linking also can be a source of issues you'll face. Linking is the process of connecting the compiled files and external libraries you're using together in order to create a binary file (.exe for example). [1/2]

Answer 9

[2/2] Linking problems are more complex and I don't think I can explain it probably so for that I recommend you to check some videos about it. The guy Jeff Cales mentioned (TheChernoProject if I guessed correctly) has an awesome video about linking. (and C++ in general).

Answer 10

with python i would say it is quite simple to adapt, but stuff like MS visual studio for c++ or eclipse for java can indeed overwhelm newcommers to programming with their billion different tabs and windows and buttons.

Best advice i can give you - find a tutorial for making a simple project specificaly for your IDE and follow it as close as possible. This will tell you the basics of how to make at least a simple program. After you are accustomed to this, you can either read about other functions or discover what they do by yourself, either through experimentation or by stumbling into them while trying to explore the posibilities of the language like i did with separate files for classes in my self-learning c++ experience

Answer 11

Visual Studio could be hard to understand in the beginning, but it will paid off later once you figure it out. it provides lot of features than any other free IDE. I would say pick a language first, then look for tutorials about how you can use it with Visual Studio. VSCode is also good.

https://www.youtube.com/user/kudvenkat

That youtube channel has really good videos. Unfortunately not C++ or Python.

Answer 12

pycharm is amazing for begginers with python

Answer 13

Thank you all so far for your recommendations!

Some have referenced ChernoProject, who's accidently the guy I linked myself up there. His videos are really helpful, because he explains, what the compiler, linker etc. 'think'.

I have managed to build a file from two cpps and a headerfile SOMEHOW - and it worked. So I suppose I'm at a good point to learn more functions as they come.

For Python I actually don't care as much because IDLE works well enough for me (for now).

Answer 14

If you're programming in python i think you need to try pycharm 😄

Answer 15

hello