Chapter 4: C and Programming

Overview

The computer is often represented by analogy to be a brain. Unlike a brain, however, a computer cannot think for itself. Whatever intelligence a computer might have, or appear to have, has been set in motion by human operatives. If a computer makes a decision, it is because it has been instructed to do so. When a user is writing a letter in a word processor or arranging a spreadsheet for accounts and decides to print the document, he or she usually does so using a keyboard shortcut or a button click. When the button is clicked, the document prints. Of course, something in between needs to occur-something, when the button is clicked, needs to instruct the computer to print. In fact, considered on a wider scale, the computer is a brain that follows instructions, and everything it does it has to be instructed to do. These instructions are written by programmers. The process by which they do this is called programming, and the language in which they communicate with a computer is called a programming language. C++ is one of many languages, and the most popular choice for games. This chapter begins our journey into the world of C++. Specifically, this chapter explains the following:

• Basics of C++

• Integrated development environments

• Source and header files

• Visual Studio

• Code::Blocks

• Dev C++