Hey everyone! I'm a high school student who just got my hands on a new RX 9070 XT, and while it's awesome for gaming, I'm really interested in diving into GPU programming. The issue is, I have zero coding experience—like, I haven't even tried languages like Python or C++. I've started a free course called Fundamentals of Accelerated Computing with OpenACC from NVIDIA, but even the basics have been pretty confusing for me so far. I'm starting to pickup some concepts like parallel processing, but I'm feeling pretty lost on where to go from here. I'm curious if I absolutely need coding knowledge before I can get into GPU programming, and I'd love some advice on good starting points. I'm interested in areas like graphics and shaders, especially with AI/ML, but I just want to learn enough to get my feet wet. Thanks!
5 Answers
C programming is a solid choice as it's foundational for understanding system-level code. It's where a lot of graphics programming starts, so dive into that! Once you get that under your belt, you can explore more about GPUs and graphics. And don’t forget—you can always follow along with online courses for a structured learning path.
If you’re keen to learn more about GPU programming, check out some live streams from people like George Hotz. They often cover interesting topics and practical coding advice that could help you connect the dots as you learn!
You'll find that strong math skills really help in programming, especially in graphics. But you don’t need a degree to get started; just keep practicing with coding basics! Since you’re already interested in GPU stuff, start with some online tutorials for C++ and OpenGL. It’s challenging, but that's part of the fun. Don’t rush into the advanced topics until you feel comfortable with the basics!
Parallel processing is definitely key for GPU programming, but remember that it builds on coding fundamentals. Focus on mastering one programming language first, then you'll find it much easier to understand GPU concepts down the line!
Great advice! I’m looking forward to starting with C and C++.
Getting into GPU programming sounds great! But honestly, it would be super beneficial to get comfortable with coding first. Learning C or C++ will definitely help since many GPU languages are based on those. I recommend starting with some online tutorials in those languages, then maybe dive back into that OpenACC course when you feel a bit more confident! It can seem steep at first, but once you get the hang of it, things will start clicking for you. Good luck!
That makes sense! I’ll definitely check out some C/C++ tutorials first, thanks!
Thanks for the encouragement! I’m great at math, so hopefully that helps a lot!