Code Typing Practice App

As my typing speed with normal text has improved, my disproportionately lower skill in typing the kinds of character combinations that are found in code (and in error messages in my help desk job) has begun to grate on me. I looked for a typing program specialized for coding but didn't find one. So I decided I would make it. This version establishes basic functionality. The only time pressure is my desire to type faster, so it isn't ideal, but it does work.

Initially I was hung up on the idea of using actual commands, which would have been a great learning tool, but also harder to implement. Then I realized what I really cared about was teaching my fingers to find the weird keys, and random text works fine for that. So I created the following. Characters I've been having trouble with are listed multiple times so I get more practice on them.

// TypingCode.cpp : Defines the entry point for the console application.
// by Jeff Fisher
// 7/30/2012
// This is a simple typing practice application.
// Data entry is not timed and speed is not measured.

#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <time.h>
using namespace std;

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
   string goalStr; // The string we want to type
   string typedStr; // The string we do type
   const int numSymb = 122; // The total number of symbols in the array
   string symbStr[numSymb] = {"\"", "\'",   
      "*", "-", "--","-=","_", "+", "+", "+=", "=", ",",
      ".", "?", "/", "<","<<","<=", ">", ">>",">=","->",
      "\\", "@","!","||", "]", "}", "}", "}", ")", ")", ")",
      "(","(", "(", "{", "{", "{", "[", ";", ":", "~", "`",
      "1", "1", "2", "2", "3", "3", "4", "4", "5", "5",
      "6", "6", "7", "7", "8", "8", "9", "9", "0", "0",
      "a", "A", "b", "B", "c", "C", "d", "D", "e", "E",
      "f", "F", "g", "G", "h", "H", "i", "I", "j", "J",
      "k", "K", "l", "L", "m", "M", "n", "N", "o", "O",
      "p", "P", "q", "Q", "r", "R", "s", "S", "T", "t",
      "u", "U", "v", "V", "x", "X", "y", "Y", "z", "Z"};
      // All of the symbols that initialize the numSymb array
   float score = 0; // Tracks the net number of correct words
   int strLength = 2; // The starting length of the string we need to type
   srand(time(NULL)); // Seeds the RAND function

   // Main game loop using do-while
   do{
      // for loop builds the string for the user to type
      for( int i=0; i<strLength; i++ ){
         goalStr += symbStr[ rand() % numSymb ];
      }

      cout << goalStr << endl; // Gives the user the goal
      cin >> typedStr; // User input

      // Checks if the typed string is correct
      if(typedStr==goalStr){
         cout << endl << "WIN!" << endl << endl; // Lets the user know
         score = score + 1; // Increments the score
         strLength = sqrt(score)+2; // Updates the length based on the current score
         goalStr = ""; // Clears the goal string
      } // If the string is not correct
      else{
         cout << endl << "FAIL!" << endl << endl; // Lets the user know
         score = score - 1; // Lowers the score
         strLength = sqrt(score)+2; // Updates the length based on the current score
         goalStr = ""; // Clears the goal string
      }
   }
   while( strLength < 12 ); // If the string length gets to 12 the game ends

   cout << endl << "Good job. I need to make this harder!"; // Lets the user know
   system("pause"); // Gives them a chance to revel in their glory
   return 0;
}