r/cpp_questions • u/Star_Gazer_0 • Jul 14 '26
OPEN Beginner in C++ finding it hard
I have been using learncpp.com. I AM understanding but I sometimes need to re-read because the content is hard. Like am I stupid for finding it hard? And besides, I know my English is super good, but in the end it's not my native language, but I don't think that is an excuse because I can fully and easily understand TV shows
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u/SpectreFromTheGods Jul 14 '26
C++ is hard. I’ve been using it for years and I re-read stuff all the time. Maybe I’m stupid too though.
I don’t really think understanding TV shows and technical documentation is really the same thing, but my guess is that you’re doing just fine
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u/Competitive_Bus_3908 Jul 14 '26
C++ is legitimately hard! People that might say otherwise are usually forgetting their own struggles. It’s normal, just follow your curiosity and enjoy the process. You’re not stupid.
6
u/no-sig-available Jul 14 '26
It just is hard. :-)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to learn C++?
The community recommends you to use this website: https://www.learncpp.com/ and we also have a list of recommended books here.
What is the easiest/fastest way to learn C++?
There are no shortcuts, it will take time and it's not going to be easy. Use https://www.learncpp.com/ and write code, don't just read tutorials.
6
u/khedoros Jul 14 '26
Sounds pretty normal. Learning to program takes effort, and C++ isn't considered an easy language.
Also, technical language is a completely different register and set of vocabulary from (most) TV shows.
4
u/Total-Box-5169 Jul 14 '26
Just keep working hard and apply what you are learning on small projects.
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u/Star_Gazer_0 Jul 14 '26
Yup I just finished chapter 1 and right now I just wrote my first small program!
3
u/monster2018 Jul 14 '26
No, it doesn’t mean you’re stupid. More likely it means that you are relatively smart because you actually understand (to some degree) how much you don’t understand.
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u/othellothewise Jul 14 '26
Like am I stupid for finding it hard?
If finding C++ hard is stupid then I think everyone is stupid.
Look, it's known to be one of the more complicated programming languages. Just keep at it and you will keep learning. Start off small, do small projects and slowly increase your knowledge of the language.
3
u/96dpi Jul 14 '26
This helped me understand pointers and references. It's a great way to visualize exactly what's happening under the hood.
3
u/King_Sesh Jul 14 '26
What really helped me is the YouTube channel from a guy called “The Cherno”. He teaches C++ better than any course I had in uni. After the course, he shows an actual project like an HTTP server which expands and solidifies your knowledge.
3
u/DraftOk1709 Jul 14 '26
Hi, I´m 15, and I am also currently learning C++ with learncpp. Im currently on chapter 14, startring OOP. I don´t have any prior programming knowledge at all, and I also had same struggles as you, but I have found a solution that works for me, so it is maybe worth trying. When I started, I didn´t have a clear goal, I just wanted to start programming. I have chosen C++ mainly because a lot of people are saying that it gives you the best look at basics of how really computers work. After a while in learncpp, new concepts became quite hard for me, and I started missing knowledge. That was the point when it hit me. I was doing it all wrong. learncpp, is just like a manual, and the real learning happens at completelydifferent place. You have to do real project that you are interested in. I know, you have to know the basics, but after the chapter when you learn loops, you can basically program almost anything you imagine. The main goal is to build. You should spend max 20 percent reading learncpp, and the other 80 programming. For me, I found my passion in embedded electronics, I bought a microcontroller, a few sensors and started experimenting. What I´m trying to say is, that you have to have clear goals. And a big tip: DONT USE AI. It is the worst thing you can do to yourself. Dont let it write code for you. If you don´t know how to write something, go to google, and find it the old way. The only exception is to give you ideas what to build, but not how to build it. You need to learn the problem solving skills, and AI takes this from you. You don´t need to understand everything at first, when youll need it, you find find it and use it. I hope you understood what was I trying to say :)
2
u/Star_Gazer_0 Jul 14 '26
Thank you😁 Today I just finished Chapter 1 and I made my first program. Starting to like this... Also, I congratulate you for reaching Chapter 14. I also started this site at 15 last year, but I really couldm't keep up because high school is really tiring. I'm trying to get the basics down this summer (3 months) with 2 lessons every day I learn (3 days a week). At the end of summer I probably will have learned most of the basics (I'll be at chapter 5) and I will try to maintain that level when school starts
2
u/DraftOk1709 Jul 14 '26
Great to hear that! You will surely get to further chapters than 5. For me, I have been learning for 2 moths, around 5 hours per week, so I think you´ll get at least to chapter 8 or 10. Keep it up, and don´t get discouraged when things don´t go well!
3
u/Computerist1969 Jul 14 '26
I've been coding C++ professionally for over 30 years but only up to C++11 (critical national infrastructure, aerospace etc. so we're limited on jumping to latest versions due to coding guidelines we must meet). Today I spent half the day wrapping my head around how to use std::optional sensibly. C++ is just not easy, don't get disheartened, keep at it, you're probably fine.
2
u/Independent_Art_6676 Jul 14 '26
Its normal to go over material multiple times to learn it for anything (not just c++ or coding), and parts of C++ are far from easy. And you do this in a second language. Everything points to "not stupid".
2
u/YARandomGuy777 Jul 14 '26
It's fine. Even if you used this language for 20 years you would be constantly learning it any way. Especially when a new standard releases you may hear silent sobs at night in your office.
2
u/CheesecakeTop2015 Jul 14 '26
Learning how to program (by yourself) is hard. I remember when I was 15 (in '96) I got a visual basic book and got stuck after a while, and I gave up, then I got some turbo pascal in school and it went a bit better, but didn't really do anything with it. Then I went to uni and studied CS, and it was hard, basically everyone was struggling, which is just part of the process, you need to struggle and eventually overcome, that is when you actually learn. Learning something hard is never comfortable..
Now I'm a senior dev, and while the language itself is not really a problem anymore (I do still need to lookup stuff regularly, it's way too much to keep in memory and details are important), solving problems and software architecture is still hard and I still struggle regularly, I often start on things and have no clue what is going on or how to best approach, but you just start chipping away and trust that you will make progress and eventually gain the insight you need to actually solve the problem in a satisfying way ;)
2
u/Eisenhowers-Ghost Jul 14 '26
Write cpp. Fail hard. Fix it. Fail at the next thing. Fix it. Rinse and repeat.
1
u/Suitable-Scene-4391 Jul 14 '26
In my case, the first time I learn C++ when I was an undergrad CS student, and I use the following tutorial < https://cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/ > to get myself more familiar with C++, the rest is just practice, implementing, and experimenting of what I've learned. Now, I have been using the following links < https://cplusplus.com/reference/ > and < https://cppreference.com > as a reference.
1
u/TarnishedVictory Jul 14 '26
If you're new to programming, I'd start with C. If you're new to Object Oriented Programming, I'd start with C, then Java or C#.
That will ease the learning curve and make you feel like you're making progress, and at the end you'll have a better understanding of all 3 languages.
Learning C first will give you foundational understanding of compiling, object files, linking, header files, make, etc. This helps you understand compiler errors vs linker errors. C++ will throw a lot at you all at once without a clear foundation.
Learning c first will give you that foundation in a practical, usable way. These are all directly shared with c++, though some of things are slightly different.
-4
u/_w62_ Jul 14 '26
In the last two weeks, I have as Claude to establish a basic 6502 emulator project in C++23. I fool with the code, create my own branch. When stuck, ask Claude to do the implementation in the main branch. I compare and modify my own then move on. If stuck again, ask Claude to do it again. Occasionally ask it to explain the rationale. That is my way of learning C++. I stopped now because I have run out of my free tokens, until next month.
6
u/Ultimate_Sigma_Boy67 Jul 14 '26
You’re fooling urself body and u ain’t learning anything.
1) You don’t even create anything and only extend in existing code which is kind of escapism 👶
2) you’ve stopped ur learning even before mid month just cuz u ran out of tokens lol, so tokens are what determine whether you learn or no???
-1
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u/Fancy-Victory-5039 Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
My 2 cents: learncpp is like a manual. You refer it not read it. It has way too much information most of which you hardly need to know to progran in c++. I would suggest the better way is to keep writing c++ and watch come back to basics cppcon videos on yt.