1. Getting Started with C++ (1-2 weeks)

Topics to Cover:

• Introduction to C++:
  • What is C++?
  • Installation of C++ (Using IDEs like Code::Blocks, Visual Studio, or online platforms like repl.it).
  • Writing your first program ("Hello, World!").
• Basic Syntax:
  • Variables and Data Types: int, float, char, bool, etc.
  • Input and Output (cin, cout).
  • Comments, whitespace, and naming conventions.
• Basic Control Structures:
  • Conditional statements (if, else, switch).
  • Loops (for, while, do-while).

Expected Time:

Spend about 1-2 hours a day for 1-2 weeks on these topics. You should be able to comfortably write small programs, like a basic calculator or temperature conversion tool.

2. Intermediate Concepts (3-4 weeks)

Topics to Cover:

• Functions:
  • Defining and calling functions.
  • Function parameters and return values.
  • Scope of variables (local vs global).
• Arrays and Strings:
  • Declaring and using arrays.
  • Manipulating strings using C++ string library.
  • Multi-dimensional arrays.
• Pointers:
  • Understanding memory, addresses, and pointers.
  • Pointer arithmetic.
  • Passing pointers to functions.
• Structures and Unions:
  • Defining and using structures.
  • Structs vs classes.
  • Unions in C++.
• Dynamic Memory Allocation:
  • Using new and delete for dynamic memory.
  • Understanding memory leaks and handling them.

Expected Time:

About 2-3 hours a day over 3-4 weeks. By the end of this phase, you should be able to write programs like a simple student management system.

3. Object-Oriented Programming (4-6 weeks)

Topics to Cover:

• Classes and Objects: Defining classes and creating objects.
• Access modifiers: public, private, and protected.
• Constructors and Destructors: What are constructors and destructors? Overloading constructors.
• Inheritance: Single and multiple inheritance.
• Polymorphism and virtual functions.
• Operator Overloading: Overloading operators like +, -, =, and [].
• Friend Functions and Friend Classes: Why and when to use friend functions?
• Templates: Function and class templates.
• Exception Handling: Using try, catch, and throw statements. Standard exceptions.

Expected Time:

Devote around 2-3 hours daily over 4-6 weeks. By the end, you should be able to write more complex applications like a banking system or inventory management software.

4. Advanced Topics (6-8 weeks)

Topics to Cover:

• STL (Standard Template Library):
  • Introduction to STL: Why use STL?
  • Containers: vector, list, set, map, etc.
  • Iterators and algorithms in STL (sort, find, count).
• File Handling:
  • Reading from and writing to files.
  • Working with streams.
• Smart Pointers:
  • Understanding shared_ptr, unique_ptr, and weak_ptr.
• Multithreading:
  • Introduction to multithreading in C++.
  • Creating threads and synchronizing them.
  • Using C++ thread library.
• Move Semantics and Rvalue References:
  • Understanding move semantics in C++.
  • Use cases of rvalue references and std::move.
• Lambda Expressions:
  • Introduction to lambdas and their use in modern C++.

Expected Time:

Spend 2-3 hours daily for 6-8 weeks. You should be able to work on real-world projects involving file handling, algorithms, and data structures.

5. Competitive Programming and Problem Solving (4-8 weeks)

Topics to Cover:

• Algorithms and Data Structures:
  • Sorting and searching algorithms.
  • Recursion and dynamic programming.
  • Advanced data structures: Linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, graphs.
• Time Complexity and Optimization:
  • Big O notation.
  • Writing efficient code.
• Solving Problems on Platforms:
  • Practice on platforms like Codeforces, LeetCode, CodeChef, and HackerRank.

Expected Time:

You should dedicate around 2-4 hours daily to solving algorithm-based problems. This phase can last anywhere from 1 to 2 months, depending on how comfortable you get with algorithms and data structures.

6. Projects and Real-World Applications (Ongoing)

Ideas for Projects:

• Build a simple game (e.g., Tic-Tac-Toe, Snake Game).
• Create a personal library management system.
• Develop a basic web server using C++.
• Implement a command-line tool for specific tasks.
• Contribute to open-source C++ projects on GitHub.

Expected Time:

Work on projects as you learn new concepts. Aim to build at least one substantial project every few months.