Chapter 1. How to Get a D in Programming

Before diving into the core features of the D programming language, some laying of groundwork is in order. This first chapter serves as a gentle introduction to D and as a guide to installing the prerequisite tools of the trade we'll be using throughout the book. The example program shown here isn't anything earth-shatteringly amazing, but it does demonstrate a couple of features of D that do not exist in other languages. The sample project that is developed over the course of the book is also introduced here, with a look at the motivation behind it and the features that will be implemented. Here's what you can expect to see:

• Say hello to D: This examines a simple D program and gives you advice on where to go for help with D
• The Digital Mars D compiler: This covers how to install and run DMD
• Say hello to MovieMan: This is an introduction to the two versions of the sample project developed throughout the book
• DUB—the D build tool and package manager: This covers how to install DUB and configure it to build the first version of MovieMan