Average Customer Review:  
| Get this book, Get this book NOW..!!!! AWESOME | |
Simplified introduction to C++ and the concept of object oriented programming. I recommend this book to students and instructors of C++. This is the most enjoyable, casual reading C++ book based on ANSI/ISO standards at the moment. It makes reading C++ an enjoyable experience, unlike the classroom doldrums, with glazed eye students. However, in addition to this book, you must have Bjarne Stroustrup's "The C++ Language", Scott Meyer's "Effective STL", Steven Holzner's "C++ Black Book", Herb Sutter's "Exceptional C++" and Lippman's "C++ Primer"; if you ever hope to be an effective professional C++ programmer. And moreover, only those who eat, live and breath code will enjoy these books.
| Excellent bridge to intermediate or advance C++ status. | |
Last May, I learned of this book from a reference to theauthors web-site,... made in a post to one of the comp.lang.c++ news groups. I downloaded the on-line version and worked through the first chapter. I was so impressed with the book, that I immediately ordered a copy (fortunately, the print version had just been published). The book is aimed at the person who is ready to move to the intermediate or advanced status. The first (tutorial) part of the book does cover some basics, but the reader has to bring some experience - perhaps a course or two in C or C++, or several months of self study. A programmer in another language moving to C++ probably would not have difficulty. ("Why This Book" above explains the book's purpose.) The first program in chapter one is an unusual version of the traditional "Hello" program. The main function body is empty. All the work is done by a class object. Building on that first program, the author goes on to teach about classes and objects: scoping, embedded objects, inheritance, member functions, and interfaces. It all seems simple at first, but the pace picks up quickly. The exercises are based on the text, and working them helps greatly in reinforcing the principles covered in the chapter. Part 3 (see the Table of Contents above) is a condensed (85 page) tutorial on writing Windows programs using the Win32 API. I jumped to that early, but found it best to read the chapters in sequence. On the book's CD is an evaluation copy of ReliSoft's version control system, Code Co-op. You have to install it to work with the five projects in the book. Each project is built in a series of steps with successive versions of the source code in "scripts" . You open the scripts sequentially to see revisions, which are highlighted - a very nice feature. Other non-project programs, and exercise solutions are also on the CD. This is not the only C++ book someone should have. In the few months I have been studying C++, I have bought about 8 books. All are excellent in certain areas, and they complement each other. This one will be a great addition to that group. The author is an excellent, clear writer. C++ is a dry subject, but he helps to keep it interesting. He has opinions to spice things up, which he states unequivocally. I hope this book is a great success, I would like to see more from this writer. (He has written another on Supersymmetry and Supergravity, 1983. No thanks, C++ is tough enough.)
| A must-read for any programmer ....Get it now. | |
if you are a C++ developer,if you ever wanted to do serious Windows development, and create rock solid application for your users to enjoy and have been looking for the right architecture to base your work ...
if you have tried MFC ( or any other OWL and the like ) and want to get rid of them, not for the sake of it, but because you think that a 'platform' that generates an 'Hello World' program that is 1.5 Mo and generates 2 pages of warnings when run with BoundsChecker, might not be the right 'platform' for a commercial application ...
Then this book is a must have.Part 1 Langage : Although it is not a tutorial per say , as the intention is to summarize the major C++ features that will be used in the rest of the book , it is certainly one of the best tutorials on advanced C++ programming !! just this part is worth buying the book , if you don't plan to develop for Windows. Part2 Techniques : This part covers more advanced topics that will help you build dynamic software : software that don't have any other limits that the capacity of the machine .If 'resource management' doesn't mean much to you, after reading about it, you'll wonder how you did before.And there is no magic tricks : only plain C++ , cleverly used ... Part 3 Windows : A must ! Thought of reusable components, of wrapping the Windows API into an OO entities that can be (really) reused and augmented ? read it!
and in fact it is not only about Windows : you can create applications that will be portable to any other 'XEROX Parc' based GUI operating system , but without the 'smallest common denominator' syndrom that strikes most commercial packages aiming at that. Part4 : Scaling up.
If your project involves more than one person , this part is full of information and techniques to help you achieve serious 'group development'. And it doesn't come out of thin air : Mr Milewski has been 'building ' those rules on his own experience at MSFT where he was in charge of the Index Server. This guy has a great experience and want to share it. One can't miss such an opportunity. But if you have any doubt , just go to Relisoft web site , take a look at the Web based version of the book and I bet that in no time you'll order the paper version ...
BTW you'll also find on their web site additionnal tutorials for more advanced windows techniques , and plenty of other stuff besides Code Co-op which is THE version control system that will enable your group to achieve your goals wether working in the same room or in remote locations. One last word : the audience : anyone that does softare development. The VB developer might find that real programming is not that far away, and the advanced programmer will have the impression that someone did put on paper all the things he has had in the back of his head for years ...
Mr Milewski , thanks a lot for your work.
|
