Re: Can pre-innitialized array be changed?

On Tue, 7 Feb 2006 14:20:29 -0800, "Robby"
<Robby@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I found it strange, because compared to me, he is a genius in
C/C++/VC++/Delphi, so at first I didn't know what to do... But I read up on
the stuff anyways. I don't know if I did good or not, but I did put alot of
time with classes, array of pointers to classes and so forth, (I fully
understood linked lists but didn't really practice much with them since I was
told that it wasn't neccessary in VC++)

Can you share your sincere opinion with me! Is it true that most of the
programming in VC++ doesn't really require you to know linked lists, and
string class etc.. ?

I'm sorry, but your friend is a fool. Perhaps a seemingly smart fool,
but one nonetheless.

An analogy I have used before is: Say your friend told you not to
learn simple mathematics. "Forget addition, subtraction and division!"
you're told. "Here is a wondrous new tool: an electronic calculator.
Never do those dreary math problems in your head or on paper again. My
aren't we smart..."

Now suppose you're on your way to a new job interview as a
Mathematician and you lose your shiny new calculator. What then? You
don't even have the simple skills to do your job.

Here's one that is more realistic. You arrive at your job interview
and you whip out your calculator. The interviewer is instantly annoyed
and tells you: "Put that calculator away, we don't use them here. We
expect out math people to understand the fundamentals of their
profession and not rely on a calculator for the simple stuff. If you
can't do that then how are you going to handle algebra?"

It's about knowing the fundamentals. How are you going to get anywhere
without them? Sadly I have worked with people who knew a few things
they had learned by rote and that was it. They stunk when it came to
anything outside their realm of "fake knowledge." Of course, they were
then put on the management track.

If anyone, anywhere tells you "Oh, you don't need to know that."
Run, I mean RUN away from that idiot. Now, if they say: "Well at your
current level you need to learn "this" before "that" okay then. We all
have to learn and grow.

Expecting some "tool" - in this case VC++ - to substitute for real
knowledge is just plain stupid. And btw, Petzold's book is *exactly*
the place to start to really understand and program Windows.

Show your "friend" this post, he needs a "math" lesson.

"The only real education is self-education." - Aristotle
.