Review of beginner C++

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Review of beginner C++

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Resources online to learn C++

I'm a nontraditional student returning after a several year gap from school to study as a CS major. I've taken intro programming classes ages ago, and in about a week and a half I'm facing my first semester of classes since then. I'm taking a data structures course, and I just want to take a little time to get myself feeling ready for day one. Fortunately, my previous school taught C++ and that's what my new school uses as well. I'm looking for suggestions on what sources I should look at to try to jog my memory as to basic syntax, classes, etc. I've dabbled over the years in various languages, never getting too far with any, so I have an undifferentiated C syntax family soup in my head. Web sources would be best; I'm about to buy plenty of books so I don't need to spend on yet another now, and anyway I'd have to get it in time to use it. Also, any ideas on anything I might program to make sure I have some clue and I'm not just fooling myself that I understand what I'm reading? I'd think I should touch on #includes, calling functions, classes, using pointers, etc. I'm thinking I should write something a step or two beyond "hello world" just so I don't have to start from a dead stop when the first assignment rolls around.

+4 A:

'Modern' C++ is very different form the C with classes style C++ you wrote 10years ago.

Any of the books by accelerated C++, Modern C++ books by Herb Sutter and Andrei Alexandrescu (Addison-Wesley Professional) are good.
edit: Sorry I was thinking of "Accelerated C++" by Andrew Koenig and Barbara Moo, AA/HS are the series editors.

It's also worth reading the C++ programming language again, especially the new edition.

I haven't any personal experience - but Stroustrup has a new comprehensive learning to program with C++ book.

Martin Beckett 2010-01-16 01:56:44

As well as Alexandrescu (which I wouldn't call a beginner book) and Sutter, the books by Scott Meyers are very good.

P-Nuts 2010-01-16 02:31:21

Well, only you can knwo what's best for you.

I could recommend some books, or you could go to Amazon.com and look for C++ booklists.

But, since you want something web based, why not do the obvious and Google?

http://www.google.com.sg/#hl=en&source=hp&q=c%2B%2B+tutorial&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=c%2B%2B+tutorial

Mawg 2010-01-16 01:58:11

because that's one sure way to get "tutorials" and guides written by people who are themselves learning the language, and will "teach" you every bad practice ever invented.

jalf 2010-01-16 04:57:48

coudl be, jaif, could be. But if he does as one normally would and start at the top of google page one and read down, he is likely to find reputable URLs first.Also, the URLs themselves might give clues, for instance, the first hit is from a domain called "www.cplusplus.com". No guarantee, of course, but it looks good ...Just Google 101 - common sense and caveat emptor ...

Mawg 2010-01-16 12:18:25

+1 A:

I think that skimming over the introductions to the first few chapters of Eckel's "Thinking in C++" (Vol.1 mostly) might prove beneficial. AFAIR, it's available on the web for free. Stroustrup I find to be a little bit too dry and academic.

neuviemeporte 2010-01-16 01:58:33

I meant the classic "C++ Language" book by Stroustrup of course, no experience with any new books of his.

neuviemeporte 2010-01-16 02:02:34

The Bruce Eckel book is available here: http://mindview.net/Books/DownloadSites

Chinmay Kanchi 2010-01-17 03:58:13

+2 A:

www.stackoverflow.com

Great source for tons and tons of beginner C++ questions

Terry Mahaffey 2010-01-16 02:45:25

I think you should have added a <sarcasm> tag to that, eh?

Peter Rowell 2010-01-16 02:53:32

Why? It's a good answer.

jalf 2010-01-16 04:56:35

Web sources would be best; I'm about to buy plenty of books so I don't need to spend on yet another now, and anyway I'd have to get it in time to use it

If you are just getting started learning C++, I would recommend the free "C++ Beginner's Guide". It's extremely easy reading and basic. Also, it's not one big html file. You can download only the section you want in XPS or Adobe Reader format. It might be too easy for some but it's a quick way to get a refresher course.

Jason Rowe 2010-01-16 04:36:51

Having skimmed this and the Eckel book, I think I'm going to go with this one. This one looks more mindless pedagogically at first glance, which probably doesn't make for the better book to learn from, but looks perfect for my purposes. Sections in it look easier to understand taken out of context. Thanks, all!

alki-or-die 2010-01-17 20:19:05

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