I don't think that C/C++ is different, this is exactly how I learned those as well. Be aware though, that C++ and C are very different languages and you should

I don't think that C/C++ is different, this is exactly how I learned those as well. Be aware though, that C++ and C are very different languages and you should choose one. If you want to do kernel-level stuff or embedded code, C is probably a better choice than C++, whereas if you want to go into gaming or complex desktop applications (think Photoshop), C++ might be the one to choose. Pointers may be scary but they are just a concept that you need to grasp, like recursion. You first read about it and kind of get it, then you apply it over and over until suddenly you realize that you have developed a true understanding that allows you to build new abstractions on top. You will hear people telling you to start with C first because C++ is a superset of C, but I always advice against this. Memory management is "manual" in both, but the idioms you apply are very different between the two. Unless you are looking to truly spend years perfecting both, pick one and go with it.