   The foot in the door.
  well i got my hands on a C++ book and would like to start programming. Yes i am a beginner so i'd like to find out how to  start programming independently on some simple 2D games. where can i get my hands on the this type of software?   
  In order to write C++ programs at all, you will need a C++ compiler; this is what takes your code and turns it into a real program.  Visual C++ 2008 Express Edition is a good free compiler if you're running Windows.As for 2D games, you'll need to use a (also free) graphics library like SDL, OpenGL, or DirectX, with SDL probably being the most beginner-friendly.  However, before jumping right into making a game, I'd recommend that you write some simpler C++ programs with a text interface first, so you can get the hang of writing programs in general.   