I was checking this C++ mining project to start with Bitcoin mining and understand better how mining works.

This is the project: https://github.com/gavinandresen/bitcoin_miningsim

But now i want to experiment with one real situation to verify what will happen. What more do I need to implement? I need to include the connection to my pool and then let the miners work to send the different blocks that they are mining?

I am little lost so if someone can tell me if this a good example for learning or know others that can help me.