Learn C++ and Make a Game from Scratch from Udemy

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

Fundamentals of C++

Install Visual Studio and C++

Our First Project, Visual Studio and the Entry Point

The Hello World Program, Statements and include

Variables

Other Variable Types and Details about Variables

Baiscs of Array

The Vector Type

The Map Type

Operators

Inputs

If Statement

Foor Loop

Using Foor Loop with Arrays and Vectors

While and Do While Loop

Switch and Enum Types

Simple Tasks 01 Convert Miles to Kilos

Simple Tasks 02 Odd or Even Number

Simple Tasks 03 Count Repeated Words 01 Clean up Input

Simple Tasks 03 Count Repeated Words 02 Count the Words

Simple Tasks 04 Find the Smallest Number

Simple Task 05 The Bubble Sort Algorithm

Fundamentals of Functions

Pass by Reference and the const keyword

Basics of Templates

Variadic Templates and Template Specialization

Structures of a C++ Project and Library Linking

Building Stages of a Program and Multiple files

Header Files and Inlines

Separate Utility Code into A Library Project

Link the Utility Library

Link the Utility Library with DLL

Package and Use Our Library in Other Solutions

Memory and Pointers

Basic Structure of Memory

Pointers

Debugging and Detailed Examination of Pointers

The Array Type and Pointer

The Stack Memory

The Heap Memory

Access Violation and Memory Leaks

Unique Pointer

Shared Pointer

Weak Pointer

Classes

Basics of Classes

Constructors

Destructors

Member Functions and Setter and Getter Pairs

The Const Keyword in Classes

Basics of Inheritance

The Protected Keyword and Function Overriding

Poly Morphism and Pure Virtual Functions

Problems with Shallow Copy

Deep Copy and the Move Semantic

The Copy Assignment Operator

Operator Overloading

Move Assignment Operator and the Big Five

Move Class to Header and Cpp Files

Template Classes

Binary Operators and the Issue with the Friend Keyword

The Static Keyword in Class

Git

Git and GitHub

Basic History Tracking with Git

Basics of Branches

Reset the History and Reflog

Revert Commits

Merge Conflict

Push our Repo to GitHub

Update Local and Remote Repositories with Push and Pull

Git Ignore

Light Years Engine

Install CMake

Using CMake to Make Our Project

Setup in Linux

Add Light Years Game Project

Refactor the CMake Source Files and Setup Git

Fetch SFML to Our Project

Add Post Build Command to Copy Shared Libraries to Build Target

Setup the Application Class

Setup the Game Loop

Setup the Rendering

Entry Point and Separate Engine and Game Code

Create the Core and the Logging Macro

Defining Common Data Types

Implement the World Class

Implement the Actor Class

The Object Class and Handle Object Destruction

Add Rendering Sprite to Actor

Use a Config File to Setup Asset Path

Create the Asset Manager

Setup Asset Clean Cycle

Implement the Actor Transformation Interface

Spaceship and Player

Create the Spaceship Class

Player Spaceship and Move Input

Normalize Player Input

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Learn C++ and Make a Game from Scratch with these activities:

Review Basic Programming Concepts

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Strengthen your understanding of fundamental programming concepts like variables, loops, and conditional statements. This will provide a solid foundation for learning C++ and game development.

Browse courses on Variables

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Review notes from previous programming courses.
Complete online quizzes on basic programming concepts.
Write simple programs to practice using variables, loops, and conditional statements.

Review 'Effective C++'

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Familiarize yourself with effective C++ programming practices. This will help you write cleaner, more efficient, and maintainable code for your game development projects.

View Effective Modern C++: 42 Specific Ways to... on Amazon

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Read through the first few chapters of 'Effective C++'.
Identify key principles and best practices.
Apply these principles to your C++ code.

Create a Simple Command-Line Game

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Practice your C++ skills by building a simple command-line game like Tic-Tac-Toe or a number guessing game. This will reinforce your understanding of C++ syntax, control flow, and data structures.

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Choose a simple game to implement.
Design the game's logic and user interface.
Write the C++ code to implement the game.
Test and debug your game.

Four other activities

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LeetCode C++ Problems

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Sharpen your C++ problem-solving skills by tackling LeetCode problems. Focus on problems related to data structures and algorithms, which are essential for game development.

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Select a set of LeetCode problems in C++.
Attempt to solve each problem independently.
Review solutions and optimize your code.

Document Your Game Development Process

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Create a blog or journal to document your game development journey. This will help you reflect on your learning, track your progress, and share your knowledge with others.

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Choose a platform for your blog or journal.
Write regular entries about your game development experiences.
Share your blog or journal with the online community.

Review 'Game Programming Patterns'

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Learn about common game programming patterns to improve your code architecture. This will help you design more robust and scalable game systems.

View Crafting Interpreters on Amazon

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Read through chapters on relevant game programming patterns.
Understand the benefits and drawbacks of each pattern.
Apply these patterns to your game development projects.

Contribute to an Open-Source Game Project

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Gain real-world experience by contributing to an open-source game project. This will expose you to different coding styles, collaboration workflows, and complex game systems.

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Find an open-source game project that interests you.
Familiarize yourself with the project's codebase and contribution guidelines.
Contribute bug fixes, new features, or documentation.

Career center

Learners who complete Learn C++ and Make a Game from Scratch will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Game Programmer

A Game Programmer brings video game concepts to life through code. This role involves writing and implementing game mechanics, artificial intelligence, user interfaces, and other interactive elements. This course focusing on C++ and game development from scratch helps build a strong base for a Game Programmer. The course's coverage of fundamental C++ aspects, object oriented programming, building executables, and memory management helps one understand the underlying principles of game programming. Furthermore, the practical experience of developing a game with the Light Years Engine prepares you for real projects. The course provides valuable experience in building a game with C++ and industry standard tools such as Git and CMake.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Programmer

Gameplay Programmer

A Gameplay Programmer implements the interactive elements of a game, such as player controls, character abilities, and game mechanics. This role requires a strong understanding of both programming and game design principles. The course helps build a solid foundation for a Gameplay Programmer, as it provides a practical understanding of C++ and game development. Through the Light Years Engine project, learners gain experience in implementing game mechanics and player interactions. The course's integration of industry tools such as Git and CMake also helps in collaborative projects and version control.

See salaries and explore the career path for Gameplay Programmer

Engine Programmer

Engine Programmers are responsible for developing and maintaining the core technology that powers video games. This includes creating and optimizing game engines, rendering systems, and physics simulations. This C++ centric game development course is valuable for an Engine Programmer. The course provides experience in engine creation with the Light Years Engine project. The course's focus on memory management and optimization helps in building efficient game engines. The skills taught in this course aid in the development of the core systems that define the performance and capabilities of a game engine.

See salaries and explore the career path for Engine Programmer

Technical Artist

Technical Artists bridge the gap between art and programming in game development, creating tools and workflows that empower artists while ensuring technical constraints are met. The course is a strong foundation for a Technical Artist. The course on C++, combined with practical game development experience with the Light Years Engine, sets you up to understand how an engine works and how art assets are brought into them. The course's coverage of industry tools and asset management within the Light Years Engine project provides relevant skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist

Graphics Programmer

A Graphics Programmer specializes in the visual aspects of software and video games, working on rendering, shading, and visual effects. This role involves a deep understanding of graphics pipelines and optimization techniques. This course introduces the fundamentals of C++, game engine architecture, and rendering implementation, equipping learners with the foundational knowledge needed to begin as a Graphics Programmer. The course's emphasis on C++ combined with game specific components such as SFML and rendering can be useful for creating visual elements. The Light Years Engine project is particularly relevant, offering hands on experience in building a game with visual components.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphics Programmer

Tools Programmer

Tools Programmers create software and scripts that assist other developers in the game creation process, streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity. This includes developing level editors, asset management systems, and debugging tools. The course with its grounding in C++ and the Light Years Engine project offers a strong foundation for a Tools Programmer. The skills relevant to the software development lifecycle, such as Git and CMake, help in the creation of robust and maintainable tools. Furthermore, experience in library creation and usage, as covered in the course, is crucial for building reusable software components.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tools Programmer

Mobile Game Developer

Mobile Game Developers adapt and optimize games for mobile platforms. This requires handling touch input, performance constraints, and platform specific features. This course covering C++ and game development can be valuable for a Mobile Game Developer. The course provides a foundation in C++, the Light Years Engine game project, and the usage of SFML. Knowledge and experience gained in this course is a stepping stone towards mobile game development.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, test, and evaluate software systems and applications. This role requires a solid understanding of programming principles, data structures, and algorithms. This course may be useful, as it delves into the fundamentals of C++, object oriented programming, templates, memory pointers, classes, and data types. Software Engineers with game development experience can create applications outside of gaming. Skills in Git and CMake, also covered in the course, are used throughout the software industry and help in collaborative projects and building across platforms. This course can provide a broad foundation for programming in general.

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Augmented Reality Developer

Augmented Reality Developers blend virtual elements with the real world. This involves computer vision, spatial tracking, and creating interactive experiences. This course, with its foundation in C++ and game development, can be helpful for an Augmented Reality Developer. The course provides core programming skills, along with experience in creating dynamic and interactive applications. The course's introduction to rendering and game components may be useful for the development of AR applications.

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Software Developer

Software Developers create applications for various platforms. This requires proficiency in coding, algorithms, and software design. The course introduces the fundamentals of C++ and the software development process, which helps build the base skills of a Software Developer. The course covers programming basics, data structures, and software design, while also preparing students for more advanced topics. Practical experience with Git and CMake enhances collaboration and project management abilities.

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Virtual Reality Developer

Virtual Reality Developers create immersive experiences for VR platforms. This involves optimizing performance, handling spatial audio, and designing intuitive user interfaces. This course in C++ game development can be valuable to a Virtual Reality Developer, as it introduces foundational concepts. The course provides a strong base in programming C++ as well as practical experience with creating game mechanics, user interaction, and rendering. This course is suitable as a first step toward VR development.

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Simulation Developer

Simulation Developers create software that models real world scenarios, used in training, research, and entertainment. This requires both programming skills and an understanding of the simulated environment. The course provides a valuable skillset for a Simulation Developer. The course's focus on C++, combined with the practical aspect of building a game from scratch, helps in creating interactive simulations. Skills such as memory management and optimization, also covered in the course, are important in developing detailed simulations.

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Physics Programmer

Physics Programmers specialize in creating realistic simulations of physical phenomena within video games and other applications. This requires a strong foundation in physics, mathematics, and programming. This course in C++ and game development can be valuable for a Physics Programmer. The course provides core programming skills, along with experience creating the engine and game mechanics. The course's introduction to rendering and game components may be useful to a Physics Programmer by providing a foundation in which simulations are written.

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Artificial Intelligence Programmer

An Artificial Intelligence Programmer designs and implements the behavior of non player characters and other dynamic systems within a game. This involves creating algorithms for decision making, pathfinding, and learning. This course provides a base for an Artificial Intelligence Programmer. By studying variables, operators, controlflow, structures, and fundamental algorithms, students better understand how to conceptualize and actualize game mechanics. The course, focused on developing a game from scratch, can be helpful in building AI systems that operate within the gaming environment.

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Quality Assurance Tester

Quality Assurance Testers evaluate software and games to identify defects and ensure a high level of quality. While testing does not require coding, understanding the structure of code and how programs are made can speed up the testing process. This course may be useful to a Quality Assurance Tester. The course provides an understanding of C++, software architecture, and the use of Git and CMake to help create more robust and stable software. This course may lead to better testing insights and efficiency.

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Learn C++ and Make a Game from Scratch

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