Customer Reviews

C++ for Programmers

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Buy this if you don't have one for C++ by Deitel yet.

Deitel has written great books on C++. I have read 2 editions of C++: How to program (3rd and 6th) and C How to program 3rd ed. ( actually just the C++ section of it). One thing you will find is that for every new edition of a Deitel book, you wind up reading a lot of the same words in verbatim, over, and over, and over again. Especially the balloon/bee tips.

So I'm happy to say this finally, it's all here. Actually it's all here in less pages and even more content because 0x stuff is in here too. All the balloon/bee tips are in this that I have ever seen in any other Deitel book, as well as the code examples. In fact, I'm not too sure what is missing from this book that is in the other more expensive ones besides less paper. It's just magically has 500 pages less (that could explain why it looks like it has a magic castle on its cover, or maybe that is just "creative" HDR).

This book's explanations are great, they get lengthy however. At some point you will just tune out some things the author is conveying because the author just keeps conveying the same thing in different ways. That doesn't make it a bad book, just, well you understand.

I think this book is the "best of" on the discussion of pointers, I'd have to say even if you know this material already, you will find it refreshing that someone is explaining them this well with this much detail dedicated to a introduction on them.

As usual, per the last few editions, classes come early. I've heard a few people say things along the lines towards the author of "O lord! It's way too early man, way too early. Man you're crazy! Crazy!". Whatever to that rubbish, it's not. However what is too early is to not cover nearly enough of them if you are going to cover them early. Don't get me wrong, what is covered early, is covered very well. It just leaves off too much, too much that can still be covered in this early chapter. Again, what is covered early is covered very well, and it will not confuse you on later chapters that set focus to classes.

Finally, this book is not for Programmers, at least not C++ programmers in early chapters. I just heard someone cry "What are you talking about man, you're killing me! Killing me!". What I mean is that it starts with int foo = 12; cout << foo;. This book focuses at the beginning for more like non-programmers. Heads to classes after that, then right back to if (foo);. You could probably skip the first 10 or 11 chapters with no problem if you know C. If you know only some language like VB, just read chapters 1 and 2, ROSE != rose, and skip to chapter 11 or so.

To sum up, I would of just gave this book 4 stars like I probably would the upcoming edition of C++: How to Program 7th ed. due to the fact it is way over drawn in chatter, but this book is pretty much the "Best Of" Deitel on C++. I'm not sure how the publisher plans to sell their upcoming edition of C++: How to program (7th edition), not at all.

It's been a long time coming, and for me Deitel finally wrapped up all their C++ work with this one book.

Whew!!! I finally finished this book. It took me several months to do it. I didn't skip a page, literally licked the plate clean. Before starting this book I was a scripter. I have 8 years experience with Perl and shell. So I knew most of the concepts being covered. But it was still a challenging read. I found myself reading difficult sections over two and three times. After finishing, I now feel that I know the C++ language. Of course now comes the hardest part, spending years using the language. When it comes to programming there is no substitute for experience. The book does have some excellent real-world case studies with lots of code. The largest is an ATM program.

To sum up, it's 1000 pages of pure technical material regarding the C++ language. Absolutely no filler, jokes, stories, etc. But when it comes to programming books, I find the best ones to do just that.

I would NOT recommend this to a beginning programmer. The very first chapter hurls you into the dark forest of object oriented theory. For a beginner I would recommend "C How to Program" which is also a Deitel book. Then move on the objects. The title sums it up... this book is for people who already know at LEAST the basics.

I've programmed in many languages and now have an assignment in C++. I was hoping to find a book that would leverage my already solid understanding of programming and focus more on the tricky, advanced aspects of C++. In this book, I find chapters like Introduction to: Classes, Objects, Recursion. Plus many pages allocated to loop structures, logical operators, etc. I already know these concepts. I want to know how accomplishing them in C++ is different from Pascal, Ada, Perl, Python, etc. Plus many many pages are allocated to software engineering with UML which is out of scope for a book of this title. In addition, some advanced subjects (i.e. -> operator ) are glossed over to the point that I've had to resort to Google (gasp!) to find out how they work. I believe this book should be trimmed down from 970+ pages to about 600 and focused on experienced programmers, or the title should be revised to reflect it's beginning programmer's perspective.