Average Customer Review: 
| Easy to read Intermediate C++ book | |
While this book came out before the ISO C++ (99) standard was finalized it still has a lot of relevant material in it. It is clearly presented, and the underlying design choices are explained and expanded on.A word of caution, the topic on Smart pointers is interesting, but don't just copy it out, get a tested version from the C++ library "boost". Its like the string class every text seems to use, copy it, use it to learn from but don't use it in an actual project. You'll just have to go through the debugging process that everyone else has already done. This book focuses on C++ Design and that is a hard subject to teach well. The mechanics of the language are much easier to master, the putting it all together in the correct way is what this book focuses on. I'd also like to say that I think this book is better written than any of the C++Report articles that A.Koening wrote. My guess is that the review process is more stringent and he and B. Moo had more time to work the text over. In any case it is one of the easier to understand and read intermediate level C++ books.
| Superior Read, Top 5 programming book | |
Nestled between 'learn in 24 hour' books, uml tomes, and vc references is a smallish, silly looking book called Ruminations on C++. At first glance you may be nervous as you find cows on the cover, but this gem is one of the best programming books I've every enjoyed. This book is targeted to the intermediate C++ programmer who has mastered syntax and basic idioms, and wants to move beyond into more complex uses. The book introduces (some may say, pounds) the concept of smart pointers, containers and iterators, templates, and function adapters in a ah-ha! enlightening kind of way. Once you understand these concepts and start employing them in your programs, you'll wonder how you could have ever written programs without them. Some readers may be bothered by the fact that the chapters are 'regurgitations' of previous articles the writer had written, but I would highly recommend that you pick this up. The treatment on the SmartPointer alone is worth the price. Buy it now!!
The book lives up to it's title. It is a must-have for any C++ programmer who claims to be an expert. The insights offerred in this book are the kind that are truly gained only after a decade of programming. If you have fallen in love with C++, this book will consummate your love.
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