C++ in a Nutshell (Paperback)

by Ray Lischner (Author)
Key Phrases: expression rules, access specifiers, control statements, Library Reference, Language Reference, Technical Notes Precondition (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
C++ in a Nutshell packs an enormous amount of information on C++ (and the many libraries used with it) in an indispensable quick reference for those who live in a deadline-driven world and need the facts but not the frills. The book's language reference is organized first by topic, followed by an alphabetical reference to the language's keywords, complete with syntax summaries and pointers to the topic references. The library reference is organized by header file, and each library chapter and class declaration presents the classes and types in alphabetical order for easy lookup. Cross-references link related methods, classes, and other key features. This is an ideal resource for students as well as professional programmers. When you're programming, you need answers to questions about language syntax, or parameters required by library routines quickly. C++ in a Nutshell is a concise desktop reference that answers these questions, putting the full power of this flexible, adaptable (but somewhat difficult to master) language at every C++ programmer's fingertips.

About the Author
Ray Lischner began his career as a software developer, but dropped out of the corporate rat race to become an author. He started using C++ in the late 1980s, working at a company that was rewriting its entire product line in C++. Over the years, he has witnessed the evolution of C++ from cfront to native compilers to integrated development environments to visual, component-based tools. Ray has taught C++ at Oregon State University. He is the author of Delphi in a Nutshell and O'Reilly's upcoming C++ in a Nutshell, as well as other books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 704 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc.; 1st edition (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059600298X
• ISBN-13: 978-0596002985
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,055 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #5 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Programming > Languages & Tools > Compilers
  #27 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Microsoft > Development > C & C++ Windows Programming

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful, June 11, 2003

By	uniq "uniq" (El Dorado Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This is an excellent reference designed to give you precise definitions and usage for the C++ language features and library according to the C++ Standard. Unless you are a novice, it will save you time. In the past, when I needed to lookup something, I used to gladly dive into the Stroustrup's "C++ Programming Language" or Josuttis's "The C++ Standard Library". While indispensable and authoritative, these volumes are *NOT* designed for easy reference work; reading them takes time, and what should have been a 30-second lookup inevitably turned into a 30-minute reading. The "C++ In A Nutshell" helps to solve this problem, in addition to putting all the relevant resources at your fingertips in one volume.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect reference, doesn't try to teach at all, November 19, 2003

By	Dave O'Hearn (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews

If you're famililar with the Java "Nutshell" books, they go half-way towards trying to teach you Java, assuming you might know a C-syntax language already, but not Java. This book does not waste space trying; it assumes you know C++, and have a fairly good proficiency with it. It is impossible to sit down with this C++ nutshell book and just read it for the heck of it; I tried, but there is just no casual, conversational language to curl up with and space out. And that is a good thing, because the book doesn't try to do two things at once, and it doesn't waste space on material you will only read once and then wish wasn't there.

Well over half the book contains terse descriptions of classes and functions, organized by header file. The earlier third does have chapters on I/O, chapters on templates, and things like that, but most of the earlier chapters are named things like "Statements", "Declarations", "Expressions", etc. It's the kind of thing you flip open to, skim until you find the few paragraphs you want, and then put down and get back to writing code. It is wonderful; every C++ programmer must have 5 or 6 long-winded books full of professor's lectures and hand-holding examples, Strotroup's being the obvious example, but this one just sits on your desk until you want it, then goes away until you want it again. Saves tons of time!!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference for the practicing programmer, November 13, 2003

By	Terry A. Smith (Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews

Most of the "reference" books I've seen for C++ have been more advanced primers (lippman/lajoie, pratta, josuttis). This is the first book I've seen for someone who knows C++, has been using it for some time, and needs a library and language reference. A welcome addition to my desk, especially since I learned C++ in 1992 and sometimes still need a gentle push away from archaic usage.

The language reference is concise but appears complete, and I disagree with the reviewer who said it is poorly organized (the library reference is alphabetical by library, the language reference follows the same convention everyone else does: Basics,Declarations,Expressions,Statements,Functions,Classes,Templates,I/O,Containers). The library reference is very, very valuable, often providing usage and code snippets as well as syntax.

This won't replace all the books on your shelf (you do have Effective C++ and More Effective C++, right?) but it will be a well used reference if you are a professional software guy (or faking it).