C++ from the Ground Up [Paperback]

Herbert Schildt (Author)

Book Description

Series: From the Ground Up | Publication Date: January 1, 1998

Designed to teach readers how to program C++, this text presents examples of source code and shows the results that each code produces. The book encourages experimentation with the code presented to gain firsthand experience. C++ is the current state-of-the-art as applied to computer programming languages and is the choice of professional programmers worldwide. C++ combines power with flexibility, efficiency with elegance and tradition with innovation. Each element of C++ has real purpose and very few redundant features exist. The book covers the basics through to advanced topics and provides numerous examples to aid the learning process. Although the overall structure of the book remains the same (tutorial in nature), there are updates and changes to nearly every page, plus two additional chapters on the Standard Template Library (STL) and Run-Time Type ID (FTTI), as well as many other smaller language modifications. Herbert Schildt is the author of "C: The Complete Reference", "Teach Yourself C++" and "C++: The Complete Reference".

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Authoritative Guide to C++. Second Edition, Covers All C++ Compilers.

Herb Schildt, the world's leading programming author, has updated and expanded his best-selling C++ from the Ground Up to include all of C++'s newest features. In this fast-paced new edition, Schildt fully explains the entire C++ language, from its fundamentals to its most advanced topics.

Written in the clear, uncompromising style that has made Schildt's programming books the choice of millions worldwide, C++ from the Ground Up, Second Edition starts with the basics, including an overview of C++ and the general form of a C++ program. You'll then progress to the fundamentals of C++ programming, including control statements, operators, variables, expressions, and data types. Next, you will learn about object oriented programming using classes and objects. By the time you finish, you will have learned about some of C++'s newest and most advanced features, such as the Standard Template Library (STL), namespaces, runtime type ID, and much more.

You will learn about:

• The general form of a C++ program
• Data types operators and expressions
• Control statements
• Functions
• Pointers and References
• Classes and Objects
• Function and operator overloading
• Constructor and deconstructors
• Templates
• Inheritance
• Virtual functions
• The C++ I/O system
• Namespaces
• The Standard Template Library
• Object oriented programming principles

Numerous, practical examples clearly illustrate each feature of C++. In addition, useful tips and points of interest are included throughout. Whether you are just beginning to learn C++ or simply want to come up to speed on all of its newest features, C++ from the Ground UP, Second Edition is the book for you.

About the Author

Herb Schildt (Mahomet, IL) is a leading authority on C and C++ and a best-selling author whose books have sold more than 2 million copies. His acclaimed C and C++ books include Teach Yourself C, C++ from the Ground Up, C++: The Complete Reference, Java Programmer's Reference, STL Programming from the Ground Up, Windows 98 Programming from the Ground Up, and co-author of C/C++ Annotated Archives.

Product Details

• Paperback: 668 pages
• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill Osborne Media; 2nd edition (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0078824052
• ISBN-13: 978-0078824050
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,387,922 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the skill level, it meets its goal, February 17, 2004

By 

Melissa J. Newman "msolomon25" (Elizabeth, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: C++ from the Ground Up (Paperback)

The book says specifically that it is written for beginner to intermediate level. This book meets that goal very well. I have an BS in computer science and I have worked in industry as a developer for over 6 years, several of these using C++. I brought this book, because I learned C++ by using it. Therefore, I only used a small subset of C++'s capabilities in my job, and I really wanted to know the language well.

There are several things that need to be taken into account when trying to learn C++. First, the authors of the actual C++ language estimate that it will take 6 months - 1 1/2 years to truly learn C++. Second, all college level computer science students take a class in algorithms, datastructure, object oriented programming, file systems, and software engineering. Chapters 1 - 9 cover the material that is usually taught in a standard "algorthims" class. Chapters 10 - 15 would cover the material that would be expected in a hands on object oriented programming class. Chapters 16 - 22 would cover the material in an advanced C++ class. Even after you finish this book, your education is not complete. This book only covers 1/3 of what is actually in the C++ language standards. "The C++ Standard Library" will teach you about STL: Standard Template Library -- material taught in a standard data structures class, and is another 1/3 of the language standards. Then you will need "Standard C++ IOStreams and Locales". This will cover the last 1/3 of the C++ langauge standards, file systems. Finally, you will need a book about interfacing with databases, so you can save the data, and GUI, so you can interface with the user.

I don't mean to discourage anyone from learning C++. I just wanted to provide realistic expectations. Starting at Chapter 6, I have been going through this book slowly, and I have been learning a lot about the details of C++. The book will not teach a person how to write algorithms or how to write object oriented code. It will just teach you how to do it in C++. Therefore, if you don't know the theory of these ideas, you will need a book to explain the theory.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY! A programming book I understand, October 9, 2001

By 

Mark Wieczorek (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: C++ from the Ground Up (Paperback)

I've owned a computer since 1982 (no, not the same one, different ones). In the 7th grade they taught us a little Basic, though I already knew some from some computer magazines I subscribed to & one or two books. I've modified JavaScript code and I'm conversant in HTML. That's the extent of my programming knowledge.

I've tried to pick up programming from time to time over the years but never had any success. I could never find a book that was clear. They either assumed you knew programming and were picking up a new language (like the Ivor Horton books), or started from "the gray box sitting on your floor is a computer" and I couldn't stomach the first chapter, let alone the tone of the book itself.

This book, however, neither assumes you know programming (but does seem to assume you understand some of the concepts) nor talks down to you. My girlfriend, who understands much less about computing than I do had a hard time with it when she read through the intro.

I read the introduction and first chapter "The Story of C++" in the store and knew this was the book for me. Chapter two is an overview and goes through some of the data types, compiling, what "(" and ")" do, what "Q$ do, etc. Really basic stuff.

Chapter 3 goes over the basic data types (variables).

All of this stuff was familiar to me, though the particulars and nuances are new. I would certainly need a reference until I got used to what each type was. I was beginning to worry that once I got into territory I didn't know I would find myself in over my head. That he was going too fast and what I had previously thought was concice I would find later to be not enough explanantion.

Chapter 4 covers program control statements - "if" "else" "for" "do/while" etc. Again, this was largely familiar to me, but I was quickly adding to my knowledge, and once he started to cover stuff I didn't know, I found it easy to pick up.

I'm up to Chapter 5 - Arrays and Stings. I trust I'll be able to add that to my knowledge just as easily as I have everything else.

While I doubt I would be able to consider myself a competent programmer simply by reading this book & doing the exercises (because of my lack of "hands on" experience), I'm confident that once the training wheels are off I can be coasting in no time.

I'll post another review in a few months time when I've gotten through some more chapters of finished the book (depending on my level of laziness).

I've read reccomendation (on amazon) that you pick up Schildt's other book, "Teach Yourself C++" and I probably will. It's more exercise/example driven, while this one is more explanations. I also picked up the C/C++ Programmer's Reference by Schildt.

I'm also interested in the C++ FAQ, both the free online version (which you should look up) and the more robust book version. They say you should find a mentor and buy three books - a "legality" guide, or what you can do, a "morality" guide, or what you should do (of which, the C++ Faq book is an example), and a "program by example" guide. Perhaps their approach is best. I'm going in without a mentor, just trying to have fun and learn something. All I know is that I found Schildt's book to be very readable and he walked the balance between being just factual and being descriptive.

Maybe between the reference, this book, and the Teach Yourself book I have all 3, and all I need is a flesh and blood mentor.

I hope this review helps you, I know it's hard finding a good programming book, and I'm sure it's even harder if you can't flip through it in the store. If you're like me, I think you'll really like this book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, but could use exercises for the reader., March 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: C++ from the Ground Up (Paperback)

This is a very good book. I have 4 books on learning C++ and this is the best one yet. It's extremely well organized and more indepth than any book I've seen yet. Reading is easy to understand but doesn't treat you like an idiot. The way it is written would make it a great book as a reference as well. The only complaints I have are the lack of any exercises for the reader to do so that he may understand how each subject works. Merely reading someone else's code isn't good enough. Secondly, the author doesn't tell a beginner how to get started in any compilers. I realize that there are many, but instruction on how to get started with the major 3 (C++ Builder, Visual C++, and CodeWarrior) would help users get started using the code that you can download. This book is a must, but don't let it be your only book...