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The Best Ways to Learn C++: Top Courses to Consider

The impact of technology across the globe has been tremendous. Fields that appeared to be fine on their own are now more reliant on technology. This way, more people are being forced to be tech-savvy if they are to remain relevant, even if their fields are not directly related to technology.

For many years, programming was left to Computer Science specialists and developers. Still, today, more jobs need people with basic programming skills to enable them to manipulate software and understand their core operations better. Luckily, you do not have to enroll in a University to learn a programming language as the internet has a plethora of courses for you.

C++ is one of the most popular object-oriented programming languages, and it is the best for anyone looking to manipulate low-level operations.

It is applied in many fields such as server-side environments, gaming, trading applications, and database management systems, among others. However, C++ has a steep learning curve, and you need an excellent online course to grasp the key concepts and apply them effectively.

In this piece, we are going to outline some of the best ways to learn C++ today and give you options to look at if you are interested in grasping a few object programming concepts.

Before we dive into the courses, let us look at a brief recap of C++ to enable you to understand the history behind it and how you can apply it.

Overview of C++

C++ is one of the oldest programming languages, and you will find several variations of it today. It was invented in 1979 by Bjarne Stroustrup when working on his Ph.D. thesis at Bell laboratories. It was initially designed as an extension of the C programming language. The idea behind it was to improve the flexibility of C and introduce the benefits of object-oriented programming for better software development.

It was first launched commercially in 1985, but different people had their versions. The first standard version of C++ was released in 1998, called the C++98. It consisted of the Standard Template Library, which provided common data structures and programming functions. It underwent various revisions in 2003, 2011, 2014, and 2020.

Top C++ Courses

1. Beginning C++ Programming-Beginner to Beyond

The Beginning C++ Programming course was designed by Tim Buchalka’s Learn Programming Academy. The instructor is Frank Mitropoulos, who is a seasoned C++ guru with over 20 years of practical experience involving this language. He has previously lectured in many Universities.

It is very detailed, something that makes it perfect for those with no previous knowledge in programming seeking to learn C++. It is well structured and puts learners on a fast track to understand key C++ coding skills within a short period.

Throughout the course, learners get short theory lessons about C++ concepts, coupled with live examples of how they apply for better understanding.

It starts from the basics of programming in general and then narrows down to advanced C++ topics such as inheritance and polymorphism. Learners will understand various key concepts, such as how to manage memory, create and use functions, classes, and many more.

Features

  • Updated course that teaches you the latest version of C++
  • Learning program is designed in line with the approved curriculum used in many Universities
  • Interactive course with quizzes live exercises and challenges that improve the whole experience
  • Learners get lifetime access to the course material that includes 40 hours of video lectures, articles, and coding exercises

2. C++Courses and Online Tutorials on Pluralsight

This is a versatile C++ learning course that is suited for beginners looking to understand the basics and experts seeking to sharpen their skills. The classes are categorized into three levels namely;

  • Beginner – Here, learners are equipped with the fundamental concepts of C++ and basic programming skills that allow them to come up with simple applications.
  • Intermediate– The courses here introduce learners to the more advanced C++ concepts such as design patterns, algorithms, and data structures. On completion, one should write and design a functional C++ code using the standard library.
  • Advanced– These courses dive into the most in-depth C++ concepts such as threading and synchronization to give learners an understanding of how to optimize code for maximum performance.

The way these courses are grouped into tiers makes it easy for one to learn a set of skills and then build up on them by progressing to the next level. The learning path is comprehensive and covers all the essential concepts in detail to allow learners to work in C++ comfortably at the end of it all.

Features

  • Contains an IQ assessment tool that determines which level of the course you should start from depending on your knowledge gaps
  • Has clear guidance all the way to enhance the learning experience from the basic concepts to the advanced ones
  • Multiple practicals and exercises help to improve your coding competence as you learn
  • The first few lectures give you an introduction of the scope of the course and what will be covered in all the classes

3. C++ Tutorial: From Beginner to Expert on Udemy

The C++: From Beginner to Expert Course is created by Arkadiusz Wlodrczyk, who is an expert lecturer and programmer in various niches surrounding web development. It is intended to help people who have zero knowledge in programming but want to program in C++. It aims to bust the myth that programming is hard and for the few by helping anyone learn how to code in C++.

The learning material here is straightforward and aims to teach you C++ concepts in a fast and efficiently. In addition to the theory classes, learners get the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in more than 51 lessons that span for about 15 hours

.C++ from beginner to expert

Features

  • Instructional and direct teaching methodology for quick understanding of the concepts
  • Learners get to understand how to use C++ standard libraries and use them to build anything
  • All topics are coupled with practical examples and coding exercises
  • Over 100 downloadable exercises at the end of the course to test a learner’s grasp of the concepts

4. Learn Advanced C++ Programming at Udemy

The Learn Advanced C++ Programming was crafted for those with intermediate to expert knowledge of C++ programming and want to sharpen their skills. Besides, it is also useful for those that learned this language using the older versions such as C++ 98 and wish to update their knowledge and get to speed with the newer features introduced by the latest versions of C++.

It starts with relatively basic concepts like reading and writing files, exception handling and then dives deeper into creating template classes, operator overloading, and passing functions to functions. At the end of the course, John Purcell, the instructor, will show you how to create a program that generates fractal images using the features covered.

This is an advanced C++ course, and it is assumed that learners have some knowledge of basic C++ concepts and how to use a C++ compiler. John Purcell has a free C++ beginners’ course, and if you have no prior knowledge coding in this language, ensure that you go through it before taking this advanced one.

Features

  • Teaches you industry-grade C++ skills that put you in a better position to apply for C++ jobs
  • Contains exercises, both easy and tricky, spread throughout the course to test your understanding of the concepts
  • •Lifetime access to all the course materials including 105 video lessons, articles, and downloadable resources

5. C++ Nanodegree Certification for Programmers at Udacity

If you have gone through the basics of C++ and wish to take your skill to the next level, the C++ Nanodegree Certification for Programmers is the course for you.

It is taught by various C++ experts who go over all the intermediate topics comprehensively. It is designed for those who don’t prefer to go for the fast-tracked courses as it takes four months, assuming you spend 10 hours per week.

The course is broken down into five units namely;

  • C++ foundations
  • Object-Oriented Programming
  • Memory management
  • Concurrency
  • Capstone Project

This is a certified nano degree program, and on completion, one can pursue various careers such as IoT, AI, Networking, or Embedded Systems.

Features

  • Course is made of quizzes and practicals to enhance the learning experience
  • The course is taught by various instructors to allow learners to get a better perspective of the C++ programming language
  • Learners get the opportunity to get tips for understanding the language better from the original designer – Bjarne Stroustrup
  • Study materials are available for free
  • Access to multiple support services such as project reviews from Udacity’s reviewer network

6. C++ Essential Training on LinkedIn Learning

Bill Weinman, a programming expert, is the name behind the C++ Essential Training course. It is one of the best options for starting with C++. It is well structured, something that makes it suitable for both beginners and experienced programmers seeking to refresh their C++ knowledge.

The course starts with beginner units and advances gradually to the more complex concepts that are aided with tutorials on how to set up the environment (Visual studio and XCode) when attempting the provided coding exercises.

C++ Essential Training

Features

  • Understand critical concepts of the object and template systems so you can come up with useful objects
  • Learners can download the course and view it offline
  • Learners understand how to use data structures and create custom functions
  • Understand robust container classes and algorithms in Standard Template Library

7. C++ for Programmers by University of California

This is a top-rated C++ course instructed by Ira Pohl, a Computer Science professor at the University of California. It is made for experienced C programmers who want to learn C++.

C++ for Programmers course is also suitable for anyone looking to upgrade their C++ skills to the latest version. All the tutorials, examples, and exercises require some basic understanding of Object-oriented programming and algorithms.

It is divided into four modules and a final test exam to assess one’s skills at the end of the learning period.

C++ for progammers

  • Module 1 – Contains lessons on how to convert a C program into C++ and usage of type-safe input and output
  • Module 2 – Teaches one how to use Dijkstra’s shortest path algorithm, C++ functions, and C++ classes
  • Module 3 – Covers default constructors and initializing syntax, memory allocation concepts, and deep copy
  • Module 4 – Entails container classes, iterators, and algorithms

Features

  • Course material is free, but you have to pay a small fee to take the exam and get a certificate of completion
  • Teaches some of the key and advanced algorithms used to write code in C++ such as Prim’s and Kruskal algorithms
  • Multiple quizzes and assignments for better understanding of the concepts

8. C++ Certification by Microsoft

Microsoft offers a three-part C++ learning course on edX. It helps one to learn about C++ concepts from the basic level to the advanced through a series of structured lessons. The course contains easy to follow tutorials created by some of the top experts at Microsoft.

The learning material is available for free on edX, but learners have to pay a small fee to take the final exam and get a certificate of completion.

The course breakdown is as follows;

  • Beginner C++ – It contains beginner tutorials that introduce learners to C++ language. They will learn the basics of C++, syntax, how to create simple functions. It sets the foundation for the intermediate and advanced courses.
  • Intermediate C++ – It contains four modules that expand your knowledge of C++ language with low-level control and OOP features. It covers memory, pointers, memory addresses, memory management, and read/write functions.
  • Advanced C++ – It dives deep into the sophisticated high-level C++ development techniques. It covers exceptions, C++ templates, object iterators, and design patterns, among others.

These courses are designed in such a way that learners should go through the initial modules before looking at the Advanced C++ course. However, experts with knowledge of C++ can attempt the Advanced C++ course directly.

Features

  • Comprehensive learning series that is well structured to learn C++ from the basics up
  • Suitable for both beginners and experts
  • Access to some of the best industry experts from Microsoft
  • Course material is available for free

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to learn C++?

You are spoilt for choice if you are looking for the best way to learn C++. Some of the top courses available on the internet today have been listed, and there are plenty more. All you need to do is to nail down one that fits your requirements, skill level, and timeframe and start learning.

Is it worth learning C++ in 2020?

Many programming languages are being used today in various applications, and it is easy to imagine that C++ will be rendered obsolete. Most low-level systems, such as operating systems are written in C++. If you want to be a system-level developer, you should understand this language. Besides, C++ is still used by many programmers since it is stable and fast. We recommend to also go trough this auto clicker tutorials since this tool might be useful for you.

Is C++ better than Python?

C++ is more machine-oriented and has more syntax rules than Python, which is designed to imitate the English language. They are used in different settings as C++ is widely applied in large systems and game development, while Python is used for machine learning and data analysis.

Bottomline

Some of the top C++ courses available on the web today have been highlighted, and you should no longer find it hard to nail down a suitable way to learn C++.

See how C++ compares to other languages

John Hughes
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