I'm an experienced software engineer who has worked mostly with Go and Python in recent years. I spent about two years using C from 2019 to 2020, and now I'd like to use C++ for some side projects. Most courses and books I've found are extremely long or start with basic programming concepts I already know. I'm looking for something concise that can refresh my syntax and modern C++ fundamentals within a few days, so I can begin my project and learn the deeper details as needed. I enjoyed A Tour of Go and would love something with a similar, compact approach for C++. Courses, books, or project ideas are all welcome.
3 Answers
A small text adventure is a good way to ramp up. Build systems for rooms, inventory, dialogue, quests, and items. It gives you practical exposure to the syntax and modern C++ memory management without forcing you through every advanced topic up front.
A small rendering project can be motivating, especially if you use OpenGL. It exposes you to lower-level work and resource management while giving you something visual to build. I’d avoid Vulkan for a quick introduction, though—setting up even a basic triangle can involve a huge amount of boilerplate. With OpenGL, much of the interesting work shifts toward shaders and math, but it can still be a fun way to practice C++.
LearnCpp.com is a solid option. Since you already know how to program, you can skim or skip the very introductory sections. The material is broken into manageable chapters with short quizzes, so it’s easy to move quickly while checking your understanding. For a compact book, A Tour of C++ is worth considering, though it may still be more detailed than what you’re looking for. If you prefer videos, The Cherno’s beginner C++ series covers the fundamentals in a practical way, although some parts are getting dated.
Vulkan is probably too much for a short refresher project. OpenGL is a much more approachable starting point, even if the graphics concepts themselves become the main challenge.