lnet_tutor/learning_plans/cpp

C++ Advanced Learning Plan

🔧 Welcome to Your C++ Mastery Journey!

This comprehensive learning plan will guide you from wherever you are now to expert-level C++ development.

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📚 What's Included

1. Master Plan (00_CPP_MASTER_PLAN.md)

Your complete roadmap containing:

• 42 detailed modules organized in 6 phases
• Module-by-module breakdown with time estimates
• Resource recommendations (books, online resources, practice platforms)
• Milestone achievements to celebrate progress
• Specialization paths (Game Dev, Systems, HPC, Embedded, Graphics)

2. Knowledge Graph (01_KNOWLEDGE_GRAPH.md)

Complete dependency map showing:

• 12 knowledge levels from basics to expert
• Topic dependencies - prerequisite relationships
• Parallel learning opportunities
• Visual knowledge tree
• Prerequisite matrix for planning

3. Initial Assessment (02_INITIAL_ASSESSMENT.md)

Determine your starting point with:

• Self-assessment questionnaire covering 60+ topics
• 6 coding challenges (beginner to expert)
• Proficiency level determination
• Personalized recommendations

4. Assessments Directory (assessments/)

Track your exam performance:

• Personalized exam assessments after each exam
• Strengths and weaknesses identified
• Study recommendations based on results
• Progress tracking over time
• Current: howard_cpp_easy_v1_assessment.md (89.34% - Excellent!)

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🎯 Learning Path Overview

Phase 1: Foundations (2-3 months)

Goal: Master C++ fundamentals

• Getting Started, Basic Syntax, Control Flow
• Functions, Arrays, Strings
• Pointers & References (critical!)

Phase 2: Object-Oriented C++ (3-4 months)

Goal: Master OOP in C++

• Classes & Objects
• Constructors/Destructors, Operator Overloading
• Inheritance, Polymorphism
• Templates basics, Exception Handling

Phase 3: Modern C++ (4-5 months)

Goal: Master C++11/14/17/20/23

• Memory Management, Smart Pointers
• Move Semantics, Lambda Expressions
• STL (Containers, Algorithms, Iterators)
• Template Metaprogramming

Phase 4: Advanced C++ (4-5 months)

Goal: Master advanced techniques

• Concurrency (threads, mutexes, atomics)
• Advanced Templates, Performance Optimization
• Build Systems, Testing & Debugging
• Design Patterns

Phase 5: Expert C++ (3-4 months)

Goal: Achieve expert-level proficiency

• Advanced Memory Management
• Type System Deep Dive
• Undefined Behavior, ABI
• Embedded & Low-level Programming

Phase 6: Specialization (Ongoing)

Choose your path:

• Game Development
• Systems Programming
• High-Performance Computing
• Financial Systems
• Embedded Systems
• Graphics & Rendering

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🚀 Quick Start

Step 1: Environment Setup (30 minutes)

1. Install compiler (GCC/Clang/MSVC)
2. Set up IDE (VS Code, Visual Studio, or CLion)
3. Install CMake
4. Test with "Hello World"

Step 2: Assessment (1-2 hours)

1. Open 02_INITIAL_ASSESSMENT.md
2. Complete self-assessment
3. Try coding challenges
4. Determine your level

Step 3: Planning (30 minutes)

1. Review 00_CPP_MASTER_PLAN.md
2. Identify your starting phase
3. Note topics to skip/review
4. Set timeline

Step 4: Study (Daily)

1. Read theory (30-60 min)
2. Code practice (90 min)
3. Build projects
4. Take quizzes

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💻 Recommended Study Schedule

Full-Time (4-6 hours/day)

• Timeline: 10-12 months to expert
• Daily: 2 hours theory + 2-4 hours coding
• Projects: 2-3 per week
• Pace: 1 module per week

Part-Time (2-3 hours/day)

• Timeline: 14-20 months to expert
• Daily: 1 hour theory + 1-2 hours coding
• Projects: 1 per week
• Pace: 1 module per 1-2 weeks

Casual (1 hour/day)

• Timeline: 20-24 months to expert
• Daily: 30 min theory + 30 min coding
• Projects: 2 per month
• Pace: 1 module per 2-3 weeks

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📚 Essential Resources

Books (Must Read)

1. "C++ Primer" - Stanley Lippman (Comprehensive intro)
2. "Effective C++" - Scott Meyers (Best practices)
3. "The C++ Programming Language" - Bjarne Stroustrup (By creator)
4. "C++ Concurrency in Action" - Anthony Williams (Threading)
5. "Modern C++ Design" - Andrei Alexandrescu (Advanced)

Online

• cppreference.com - Best reference
• learncpp.com - Tutorial
• isocpp.org - Official site
• CppCon - Conference talks (YouTube)
• Compiler Explorer (godbolt.org)

Practice

• LeetCode - Algorithms
• HackerRank - C++ track
• Codewars - Kata
• Project Euler - Math problems

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🏆 Key Milestones

Milestone 1: C++ Basics ✅

• Timing: Month 2-3
• Skills: Syntax, pointers, basic OOP
• Project: CLI utility
• Exam: 80%+ on basics

Milestone 2: OOP Mastery ✅

• Timing: Month 5-7
• Skills: Classes, inheritance, templates
• Project: Custom container library
• Exam: 75%+ on OOP

Milestone 3: Modern C++ ✅

• Timing: Month 9-12
• Skills: Smart pointers, move semantics, STL
• Project: Data structure library
• Exam: 70%+ on modern C++

Milestone 4: Advanced C++ ✅

• Timing: Month 13-17
• Skills: Concurrency, performance
• Project: Multi-threaded app
• Exam: 75%+ on advanced

Milestone 5: Expert Level ✅

• Timing: Month 18-20
• Skills: Deep C++ expertise
• Project: Specialization project
• Certification: Professional portfolio

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💡 C++ Learning Tips

Do's ✅

• Master pointers early - they're fundamental
• Use compiler warnings (-Wall -Wextra -Werror)
• Read STL source code
• Profile before optimizing
• Practice memory management
• Learn modern C++ (C++11+)
• Use sanitizers (AddressSanitizer, etc.)

Don'ts ❌

• Don't ignore compiler warnings
• Don't use C-style casts
• Don't manually manage memory when smart pointers exist
• Don't use raw new/delete in modern C++
• Don't optimize prematurely
• Don't skip const correctness
• Don't ignore the Rule of Five

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🎓 C++ Specializations

Game Development

• Unreal Engine C++
• Game engine architecture
• Graphics programming
• Physics engines

Systems Programming

• OS development
• Device drivers
• Kernel programming
• Low-level optimization

High-Performance Computing

• CUDA programming
• Parallel algorithms
• Vectorization
• Distributed computing

Embedded Systems

• Microcontroller programming
• RTOS
• Hardware interfaces
• IoT applications

Financial Systems

• Low-latency trading
• High-frequency trading
• Real-time data processing

Graphics & Rendering

• OpenGL/Vulkan/DirectX
• Ray tracing
• 3D engines
• Shader programming

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🔧 Development Tools

Compilers

• GCC/G++ - GNU Compiler Collection
• Clang - LLVM-based compiler
• MSVC - Microsoft Visual C++

IDEs

• Visual Studio - Full-featured (Windows)
• CLion - JetBrains (Cross-platform)
• VS Code - Lightweight (Cross-platform)
• Xcode - macOS

Build Tools

• CMake - Cross-platform build system
• Make - Traditional build tool
• Ninja - Fast build system

Debugging & Analysis

• gdb - GNU debugger
• lldb - LLVM debugger
• Valgrind - Memory analysis
• AddressSanitizer - Memory error detector
• ThreadSanitizer - Data race detector

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🎯 Your Next Steps

1. ☐ Read this README
2. ☐ Set up development environment
3. ☐ Complete 02_INITIAL_ASSESSMENT.md
4. ☐ Review 00_CPP_MASTER_PLAN.md
5. ☐ Check 01_KNOWLEDGE_GRAPH.md for dependencies
6. ☐ Schedule daily study time
7. ☐ Join C++ community
8. ☐ Start Module 1.1!

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🌟 Why Learn C++?

Performance

• Fastest compiled language
• Zero-cost abstractions
• Direct hardware access
• Fine-grained memory control

Versatility

• Systems programming
• Game development
• Embedded systems
• High-frequency trading
• Scientific computing
• Graphics & rendering

Industry Demand

• Major companies use C++ (Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon)
• Game engines (Unreal, Unity native)
• Financial systems
• Operating systems
• High-performance applications

Career Opportunities

• Higher average salaries
• Specialized roles
• Critical systems
• Performance-critical applications

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C++ is challenging but incredibly rewarding. Master it and unlock unlimited possibilities! 🚀💪

Last Updated: October 21, 2025 C++ Version: C++23 Next Review: January 2026