How to start Learning C++

Question

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What is the best source to learn C++?

I have been coding in C for quite some time now (around 3 years). Now i wish to learn programming in C++ and code in object oriented methodology.

There has been some discussion on how to start learning C++ http://stackoverflow.com/questions/525726/the-best-place-to-start-learning-c

That points to some good resources, but what i am looking for exactly is how do a hard core sequential C programmer should move to object oriented programming in C++ ...Any good starting directions/any sample applications which you suggest would be very usefull. Thanks in advance...

Answer 1

Read a C++ book. One of those mentioned in your link. There is no better way to learn a complex language like C++.

Answer 2

For a "hard core sequential C programmer", it might be worthwhile to learn how common implementations of objects and polymorphism and related concepts actually work in C++. As long as you're comfortable with function pointers and dynamic memory allocation, implementing most of the principal C++ features is reasonably straightforward in C.

A reasonable place to start might be the Virtual method table article on Wikipedia.

Once you have that foundation, then you can learn to use the concepts offered by C++ without having to think of the implementation as being some kind of black magic.

Answer 3

Is your interest more a matter of learning C++ syntax or really getting into object oriented design? There are a lot of books appropriate for learning C++ syntax and OO coding... I really liked Lippman's "C++ Primer, 2nd edition" as a means to learn the C++ language. The 3rd edition added a bunch of stuff I didn't like, but it looks like they trimmed it back for the 4th edition.

I would really encourage you to get into unit testing though. I think thats were you find the most practical insights on OO design. Michael Feathers "Working Effectively with Legacy Code" does a good job of introducing testing techniques for C and C++ code, I would recommend looking at it. Then move onto any other testing book, I really liked www.xunitpatterns.com. I am currently reading "Growing Object-Oriented Software, Guided by Tests", and I like how it ties testing and OO design together. The book is also more accessible (translation:shorter) than www.xunitpatterns.com, but I think still prefer www.xunitpatterns.com for its completeness/objectivity.

Answer 4

I suggest you to read Design Patterns. It is a very helpful reading which can introduce you to the architecture problems you can find in an object oriented language.

Answer 5

I really liked 'Accelerated C++'. Recommended if you have prior programming experience.

http://acceleratedcpp.com/

Answer 6

The site I found very useful and user-friendly for beginners is cplusplus.com's C++ tutorial:

http://cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/

Answer 7

You can read as much as you want, if you don't try to get it 'in your fingers' then you won't get far.

Read a book, get a C++ compiler (e.g. on Windows you can use the free Visual C/C++ Express Edition), and start experimenting.

Don't just read. Read, test, experiment.

Answer 8

courtesy of http://abstrusegoose.com/249