C++ things / topics that appear in Geant4 code that are the most difficult ones to learn

Getting Started
1

Hi, What are the C++ things / topics that appear in Geant4 code that are the most difficult ones to learn?; Are “pointers” one of those C++ things / topics?

Geant4 Version: 11.2.1
Operating System: Windows 10
Compiler/Version: Visual Studio 2022
CMake Version: 3.29.0-rc2

2

What do you find most difficult? Every new person is going to have a different answer to that.

3

Okay, thanks for your reply. For me, “pointers” would be one of the hardest C++ topics to learn. I have seen “pointers“ in several Geant4 toolkit codes, but, I still don´t fully understand “pointers”. I think I’m going to have to learn “pointers“ and other C++ things / topics that I don´t understand well with a course or tutorial

4

There are several excellent courses on both C++ and object oriented programming in general. You can do very good OO even in Python, but not unless you understand the conceptual basis.

5

Ok, thank you for the reply. So, I´m going to have to understand / brush up on the concepts first, and then I’m going to have to practice by writing C++ programs

6

Dear @alfredo10110

There are many courses (books, videotutorials, etc) of C++ and Object Oriented programming. Personally, I started with the book “C++ in 21 days”, but it is a bit oldie.

There will be an course on basic C++ at CERN 9-13 March, in case it is of your interest

And the recordings of many courses are publicly available in the CERN CDS,

Best,

Alvaro

7

Ok, Thank you for all the information. It has been useful. I would like to attend the basic C++ course you mentioned, but, I´m not sure if I will be able to attend the basic C++ course because of tasks / work I have to do at home.

What level of English language is required to attend the one week basic C++ course at CERN?, Intermediate? Advanced?. How much does it cost to attend the course?. If I decide to attend the basic C++ course at CERN, Is accommodation / personal room included at CERN?. I’m going to take a look at the videos related to C++ and Geant4 that you shared.

If I am unable to attend the basic C++ course, I will watch the basic C++ course recordings in the CERN CDS.

I would also like to add that in year 2024 I was learning basic C++ with the help of around 100 Youtube videos (each video with an approximate duration of 5 minutes) (in Spanish language) (this course lasted approximately one and a half months); I think it was a very good basic C++ course, both theorical and practical.