Take Up Code

One of the biggest differences between C++ and C# is in how object lifetimes are managed. I was going to have a general topic on destructors just like constructors but there are just too many differences. So today, we are going to look at C++ destructors.

What is the best way to handle errors? Things will not always go the way you expect and you are going to need to plan how to handle errors. Should you use return codes or exceptions? Plus, this episode will help you in other ways. You will be glad you listened.

Constructors are your first opportunity to make sure your custom types are well formed. This episode explains the different kinds of constructors and how you should use them.

Object-oriented programming, or OOP, is a powerful way of designing software by creating your own types that encapsulate behavior and data. Your types can make use of other types through relationships. When I am teaching programming, I do not start out with this topic right away but I do recommend that you learn it as soon as possible because you will need to get used to a new way of thinking about your software designs.

Scope is another concept that is amazingly similar to your everyday experience. Imagine you are at home and ask your mom, Where are my slippers? You mom says, Upstairs. That is scope. And you need to understand it to program. Let me explain.

So far, our game does not do much and we are going to fix that. The most important thing for you to realize is that when you are programming, you are not going to write your final code at the very beginning. I know, I have said this before, but I cannot say this enough. Programming is a journey.

In the last live weekend programming class, I created a variable called scrambledWord and then later created a method called scrambleWord. What do you do in this situation? Is this okay?

Follow along as I explain how to program a word guessing game in C++. This episode builds on a free 5-day email course that shows you step-by-step how to design and build WordGuess.

Follow along as I explain how to program a word guessing game in C++. This episode builds on a free 5-day email course that shows you step-by-step how to design and build WordGuess.

References behave a lot like pointers and are what many language designers use when trying to claim that their language is simpler because it avoids pointers. Do not fall for it. Take the time to learn pointers and references properly and you will build a foundation that will serve you well in all your future projects. This episode has a bias towards C++.