I started by printing out portions of the stock Diku codebase and I would go through it at the same time I was taking my programming class. I ran through the code from the mindset of a player. Figuring out how logging in works, finding out how a player typed command turns into mud action, etc. I'd make little notes here and there, look up stuff in my text book, ask someone, or whatever I needed to do to understand what was going on.
When I decided I understood enough of the 'big picture' I figured a good place to start my own would be to make a C++ server class. The actual socket code isn't teriblly complicated so it turned out to be a good place to start. Then I added a 'Mud' class I think. It was mostly empty but provided a place to start game type stuff. Then I would add stuff piece by piece. I rewrote all of the early stuff at least a couple times and am always wanting to 'improve' something or other, but that's the way it goes.
That's how I started. Maybe it will help. Good luck.
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