shaund303

This whole independent project I've been waiting for the robots to get here. I've been VERY patient in waiting. What I've been doing while waiting was learning more c and c++ programming. Hopefully the robots will get here within the next two weeks.

I'll keep my fingures crossed.

Pointers are CRAZY! I just don't understand them. I understand all aspects of c++ except for classes and pointers. I will study more about pointers next week but until then I'm so fricken puzzled! I've begun to code a program that's to function as a simple calculator but a calculator doesn't need pointers only functions.

 Coding the robots will be a real challange so I must, MUST learn this!

This week I partially learned c++ pointers. Why the title you ask, well I stumbled upon the robot code and found that it was easy. Then I looked a little closer POINTERS ARE USED FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING.  I only know functions and lower level facilities of c++. I will do my best to learn the basics of poniters perminently and I will try to teach myself at home. In the mean time waiting for the bots to arrive, I'll keep learning c++ and learn pointers and classes.

 The self made projects I will attempt with the robots are first to go forward backward and in a circle. Then to use the sensers and chase a user around the room.  Third put the robot on the table and have it sense height (or the edge of the table) so it doesn't fall off. Then after all is said and done display it to the class in a maze of books and slopes.

This week I have "Semi" mastered c functions. May I point out that these are not like java classes they are very much different. These are the characteristics of lower level facilities. This is why I like c++ you can choose to use functions or classes which means you can use c++ for Systems programming and light network programming. For instance this is what is known as a function prototype: "int get_num(int num1, int num2);" Notice the semicolon at the end this tells the compiler that it is a protoype function.

C++ in my views is very difficult but is workable in sense of logic understanding. Next for week 3 I plan on learning pointers and classes - pointers being the most difficult aspect of c and c++- What pointers do is they reference a point in memory for a variable. If I'm not mistaken this is how to use a pointer.  int *i = 4;  (hypithetically arris already declared) arr = &i;   where * is the point to operator and the ampersand is the reference to operator. I've just bought a book last weekend called c++ without fear I shall read all of this book until the robots come upon which I should have a firm grasp on the c++ language and coding the bots should be a breeze.

(I hope )