Hello everyone,

As far as multimedia development is concerned, I am a complete newbie. I have a fair amount of experience with C, and Java, however, not much with C++. I thought that the best way to learn C++ would be to take on an already established project. Perhaps I'll try to make my own component soon. Anyways, what I am trying to get at, is that I need your help to point me in the right direction! Just so you know, I am not necessarily looking for help as to how to learn C++, but simply how foobar2000 works. I am quite aware that I'll need to learn C++ in order to be successful. So I think it is best if we just assume that I know how to code in C++.

First of all, which program do you recommend to start coding? I'm currently using eclipse, and have been using it for almost all my programming. Should I use Visual C++ from Microsoft?

Secondly, how should I start learning the software? Are there some specific classes that I should be aware of? Are there some header files that I absolutely need to learn? What are the most important files? Is this even the best way to get started?

Thirdly, what do I need to know? From your experience, how do you think I should get started? When you look back when you started developing for foobar2000, is there something you wish you knew when you started that you could tell me? =)

Thanks.

Okay, here's some tips.

Short version
Look at the sticky threads in this forum.

Long version
You will need to get Visual C++ Express Edition and the Windows SDK. All the project files in the SDK are for the Microsoft IDE. The Windows SDK contains the native Microsoft C++ compiler that you will need to get ABI compatible (i.e. on the binary level) component DLLs. Plus Eclipse CDT cannot use the Microsoft tool chain (yet).

Get a good book on C++. C++ is not a language that can be learned by observation only, i.e. looking at existing code and trying out what it does will not teach you the language in a reasonable time frame. Just to give you a start, Bruce Eckel's book "Thinking in C++" is available as a free download from the author's homepage.

Once you have a grasp on the language, read the foobar2000 SDK readme. Then move on to my component tutorial.

Start with a component without a GUI to make things easier for yourself.

Exactly what I was looking for.
Thank you.