Learning C++. How to get off the ground?

Question

Programming

Read Eckel's Philosophy of C++. It seems that there is a theoretical reserve, but when I try to write something - a dead end on something seemingly elementary. I began to study algorithms, for example, the task was to write a merge sort: everything is written in the book, the algorithm itself and + the principle of operation of the function, which should merge arrays, are written in pseudocode. It is clearly written, but I spent 3-4 hours on it and in the end nothing.
Those. It's hard to know what to use and when. Everywhere advice - come up with a problem and solve it. I thought for a long time, but I didn’t come up with such a comprehensive one for myself. Can someone here help with this? And what else is worth knowing in order to better understand all this? In the future, he is interested in working with networks (I have not studied it yet, though), files and databases; where speed, high performance is required.

Answer 1

Start with games, there are files and a network and algorithms, maybe you can work with graphics.
For example, tic-tac-toe / sea battle / checkers / sapper.
Games make coding more visualized and interesting. IMHO, of course.

Answer 2

Well, what happened with the merger in 3 hours? Show code.

Answer 3

Harvey and Paul Datle's How to Program in C++ has great assignments at the end of each chapter that you can use to practice.