How to get some C++ proficiency

[Olli Plough]

Hi folks,

I have been developing a bit with C++ earlier here and then, mostly at
technical college and also for my bachelor's thesis. But I can't claim
to have any professional experience, always took on Smalltalk and now
Java jobs. I want to get a bit more into C++ in a way that it can be
used for my CV as well to apply for a combined C++/Java job for
example. Might be unrealistic, but if it ends up only to have been for
the fun of it, it's also okay.

Question is now what to do. Thought of taking some Microsoft C++
developer exam. I'm not particularly fund of Microsoft, but that would
be something I could do. Now I can't find on Microsoft's homepage any
specific C++ exam, all the MCTS Self-Paced Training Kits are for VB or
C# but not for C++.

Anybody some ideas what I could do?

Thanks, Oliver Plohmann

 

[Victor Bazarov]

I have been developing a bit with C++ earlier here and then, mostly at
technical college and also for my bachelor's thesis. But I can't claim
to have any professional experience, always took on Smalltalk and now
Java jobs. I want to get a bit more into C++ in a way that it can be
used for my CV as well to apply for a combined C++/Java job for
example. Might be unrealistic, but if it ends up only to have been for
the fun of it, it's also okay.

If you got spare time, why not learn something that is as much fun as
C++, eh?

Question is now what to do. Thought of taking some Microsoft C++
developer exam. I'm not particularly fund of Microsoft, but that would
be something I could do. Now I can't find on Microsoft's homepage any
specific C++ exam, all the MCTS Self-Paced Training Kits are for VB or
C# but not for C++.

Anybody some ideas what I could do?

The simplest is to either get some C++ work at work, or join an open
source project being developed in C++. The former depends on what you
(and your colleagues) do. Often development groups need to be too
agile to serve their customers, and without products besides their own
services, they tend to use other [than C++] languages. Joining an open
source project is simple, just go to www.sourceforge.net and pick one
that is closer to what you know. Talk to existing developers and ask
them to suggest the area of your participation (usually newcomers start
by fixing some bugs, or so I heard).

I am not aware of any Microsoft C++ certification, although I've been
involved with programming MS Windows on and off for many years now.
You could ask in 'microsoft.public.vc.language' newsgroup, but I've
not seen it mentioned there yet, either.

V