The C++ Standard Template Library [Paperback]

P.J. Plauger (Author), Alexander Stepanov (Author), Meng Lee (Author), David R. Musser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 21, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0134376331 | ISBN-13: 978-0134376332 | Edition: 1

This text was created to provide C++ programmers with a suite of reusable programs, or lines of code, that could be used by everyone to increase programming productivity and quality. Every C++ programmer will need at least one off-the-shelf STL reference guide. Each chapter covers one STL component, and includes background, a review of the standard, using the component, implementing the component, and exercises.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Written by its inventors, The C++ Standard Template Library is a must-have for any serious intermediate or advanced C++ developer. Containing a full reference to all available Standard Template Library (STL) features and filled with expert advice, this book will give you the means to use this powerful library more effectively.

As most C++ developers know, the STL bundles robust container classes and nearly 100 algorithms (used to efficiently search, sort, and manipulate data). However, tapping its power can be a challenge. Many books on STL resort to the arcane syntax of templates and can be couched in the language of computer science. The C++ Standard Template Library breaks this mold with a clearly presented tour of STL from top to bottom, based on the individual header files that make up this library. Because it was written by its original inventors, you get a true insider's perspective.

Starting with iterators (used to navigate through data) and an in-depth guide to STL algorithms, you'll learn the right way to use STL from the ground up, including specific features and APIs. Each chapter is organized so that newcomers can learn the basics first, with a reference and guide to APIs and how to use them. The nitty-gritty details follow. (Each chapter includes the full source code from Hewlett-Packard's implementation of each STL header file, along with annotations and suggested programming exercises to try out on your own.) Besides full source code, expert readers will benefit from the description of the design choices made by the STL author/inventors, as well as tips for performance.

The book closes with a full tour of STL containers (including the vector, list, set, and map classes), plus hints for selecting the right containers based on your programming needs. (It helps that the discussion on containers occurs after the material on algorithms, making STL containers even more flexible.) In all, The C++ Standard Template Library looks to be an important book, one that will help anyone with some C++ experience get productive with STL. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered:

• Introduction to the Standard Template Library (STL)
• Guidelines for using STL features and test code
• Programming exercises
• Iterators (output and input iterators, forward, bidirectional, and random access iterators)
• Utility templates
• Allocators and memory templates (including smart pointers with auto_ptr)
• Guide to over 90 STL algorithms (including searching, sorting, and manipulating STL data)
• Numeric templates
• Templates for function objects
• Guide to STL containers
• Vector and resizable arrays
• List and linked lists
• Deque and double-ended queues
• STL associative containers (set and map containers, trees (including balanced, mostly balanced, and red-black trees), multisets and multimaps, stacks, queues, and priority queues
• Reference and tutorial to all STL classes and APIs
• Full source code for the Hewlett-Packard implementation of STL
• Sample programming exercises

From the Publisher

Standard Template Libraries (STL) were created to provide C++ programmers with a suite of reusable programs, or lines of code, that could be used by everyone to increase programming productivity and quality. This book is the definitive reference on C++ programming using STL, as it was written by the team that created the library. Every C++ programmer will need at least one off-the-shelf STL reference guide. Each chapter covers one STL component, and includes background, a review of the standard, using the component, implementing the component, and exercises. For C++ Software Development Managers and C++ programmers at all levels.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (December 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0134376331
• ISBN-13: 978-0134376332
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #133,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > C > Language

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for a highly specialized audience, April 5, 2001

By 

"microtherion" (Sim City, CA (Somewhere in the Bay Area)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The C++ Standard Template Library (Paperback)

Just a few months ago, I bemoaned the fact that Plauger's _The Draft Standard C++ Library_ had never been updated to the actual standard. I'm happy to report that this book contains an answer to a considerable part of my prayers: It contains an in-depth discussion of the STL, along with a complete, high quality implementation in source code form (Contrary to what the "Topics Covered" section on this page implies, however, the source code is NOT the Hewlett-Packard implementation, but a proprietary derivative which is commercially licensed).

It's hard to pin down exactly why, but this book was not quite as pleasurable a read as its predecessors. One of the reasons might be the typography: The use of underlining for emphasis of the actual makes the standards sections of the book unpleasant to read. There might be an issue of the subject: For all its power, there is not all that much interesting algorithmic stuff going on in the STL. Lastly, it seems that C++ template code as such, no matter how brilliantly written and how useful to the library client, is rather unpleasant to read-a somewhat sobering insight to a C++ aficionado as myself. As a result, the code that *was* algorithmically interesting was quite hard to understand-I would not recommend this book to somebody trying to learn about red-black trees, for instance.

If you buy just one book about the STL, buy Josuttis' _The Standard C++ Library_. If you want additional in-depth insight into the workings of the STL, and are willing to invest the time it takes to study the code, buy this book. I certainly never regretted reading it, and I hope that Plauger will update his implementation of the rest of the C++ library to publish a standard compliant version of the iostream and string libraries sometime in the future.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars *THE* book you need if you want to extend STL, February 23, 2001

By 

Burc Arpat (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The C++ Standard Template Library (Paperback)

If you are new to STL or if you just want to sharpen your STL skills, this book is *not* for you. It's of very little use to STL client programmers, i.e. users of STL. It's even a little bit advanced for a programmer who is interested only in developing new STL algorithms but not containers/iterators.

But, if you're serious about extending STL, especially if you want to write new container and iterator classes, this is *the* book you need.

Personally, I make use of the information provided in this book to write a 3D container class and a couple of highly complex 3D iterators for an academic study demanding high speed and reliability. I have other STL books like Austern's Genetic Programming and the STL or, Musser's STL Tutorial and Reference Guide which are both extremely good references for *using* STL. But, those books did not help me even a little bit when I was trying to write a 3D iterator. I believe, The C++ Standard Template Library is the only book around that's really meant for serious STL developers.

So, if you ever want to develop a new container with a fair amount of new features or a new iterator with fancy tricks, buy this book. But, If you're only after using STL and/or developing new algorithms, stick with Austern's Genetic Programming or some other similar book...

53 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not for working programmers, January 5, 2001

By 

Mark Tutt - See all my reviews

This review is from: The C++ Standard Template Library (Paperback)

Looking at the list of authors, I had high hopes for this book being an indepth guide to *using* the STL. So much so that I ordered it as soon as it was available, before seeing a review.

The book is a reference to the STL, why things were done the way they were, and what the features of the various components are. The extensive sample code is a reference implementation of the STL itself, comprising a good deal of the text. I found few examples of actually using or extending the STL, these were left as exercises for the reader.

The book is a strong reference for language purists (You know, those people on the newsgroups who quote from standards documents) or for someone implementing the STL (why?). In my opinion, someone learning to effectively use the STL would be better served with another reference.