Excellent Introduction to C++ for C programmers

Lippman's primer is the first book on C++ programming that I read. It happends to remain one of my favorites. The first part of the book is devoted to the "basic" syntax of the language. The differences with C are pointed out and for those unfamiliar with C programming this material is essential. The second half of the book coveres C++ specific topics like templates and object-oriented constructs. I find Lippman's examples superb.

I would rate the book a 9 out of 10 for technicalcontent, but unfortunately C++ has changed appreciably in the 6 years since it's publication. Overall I'd have to give it a 7 since it does not cover the recent changes to the language, for example the Standard Library (STL). Of course, only one introductory text does cover STL anyway, so I have high standards.

Conversly, since the book was written about the time of the Annotated Reference Manual (ARM) it is a great introduction for experienced programmers who don't already know C++ and who might not want to know right away about the latest and esoteric features of the language.Persons entirely new to programming might not want to start with this book.

I teach C++ programming courses to part-time graduate students at the Johns Hopkins University and of the 20 or 30 C++ texts on my shelf I consider C++ Primer one of the top 2-3.

Paul McNamee

The complete E-plan for C++ (E for easy)

     Years ago I asked a professor from Brazil for his recommendation of a C++ book. He flashed his copy of 2nd edition of Lippman. Then I asked a graduate student from India and he said the same thing.

You are the boss, believe me if you want to. Following its publication in 1991, the 2nd edition of Lippman remained for several years the most admired book in the world. It was partly because the book had won the approval of the academic world.

I spent a year pondering how someone who does not know any programming at all could understand Lippman. I have come up with a plan. Read the following books in order and you'll know C++.

1. Getting started with C++ Programming Language (S.K. Jain)

2. Introduction to Programming with C++ (Diane Zak)

3. Object Oriented Programming with C++ (Joyce Farrell)

4. A book of you choice, e.g., C++ How to Program (Dietel and Dietel)

5. C++ Primer (Lippman)

You can probably finish the first 3 books within a month. Then spend about 3 months each with Dietel and Dietel, and Lippman.

Again, you are the boss. If you want to think I'm writing this review to publicize my book, you may say so. The truth is this. I compiled the little 95 page book just to complete the plan. I leave it for you to judge -- you are the boss.

beginner

     I think most of reviewers who wrote reviews for this book are experienced programmers or at least they know how to buy computer books. Well I am a C++ beginner and I bought this book and I've used it for a while. See how a real beginner think. I bought this book 2 months ago when I started programming in C++. Nobody recommended it to me. The reason I decided to buy it because it looked to me that the book was very well organized. Well it really is. When I started reading and practining with it, I found that this book is definitely not for beginners. The autor wrote in preface "Knowledge of the C language is not assumed... this book is intended as a first book on C++; it is not intended as a first book in programming!" I think if he changed to " this book is intended to be used with other C++ books", would be much better because it's really hard to understand C++ by using this book alone. If you use this book as your first book for C++ and you understand well what are presented in the book, you may be one of the following.

1. You hold the head of the department of computer science

2. You just received bronze medal for computer olympic or the like

3. You should found your own software company soon

4. You are cheating

The book starts with a program contained several funtions, followed by processor directives and pointer. I didn't understand most of first 100 pages but when I go to other books and came back to this book, I could understand much better.

However I give this book 5 stars. What I can say is the book is great but not for beginners. Now I have about 12 books on C++ and I regrete that I bought some of these but I never regrete that I bought this book. I think that this book is the best of all I have. Why? Other viewers already mention it all. If you know a litle bit of C or C++ and you are thinking to buy a book, think of this one. You never regret.